The flames were invisible but Vítkovice Ridera and their powerplay were on absolute fire on Game Day 2 of the 2023/24 Champions Hockey League season. Ostravar Aréna was the battleground between the two teams, both of which had collected two points each in the Regular Season Standings so far.

The game-winning goal was scored by captain Dominik Lakatoš, while teammate Matěj Machovský made 19 saves to bring home win number two of the season. This is the first victory in regular time for the Czechs.     

Although the opening period was scoreless, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers set the tone early, sending bodies into the boards and picking up adrenaline along the way. That strategy gave the Swiss visitors an extra kick in their step, including the lion's share of the puck possession, where they would outshoot their hosts 11-5 during the first 20 minutes of play. 

The first powerplay of the evening went to Rapperswil, after defenceman Mario Grman was sent to the bin for high-sticking, but the Czechs intercepted loose pucks reliably, while netminder Machovský collected anything that came his way. American forward Peter Krieger had a sensational chance to put Vítkovice up, but his attempt on the short side was swallowed up in the red jersey of Melvin Nyffeler.

A contentious call in the second period saw Rapperswil's Inaki Baragano called for interference. Vítkovice capitalised on the man-advantage moment almost immediately with a goal at 22:09. Marek Kalus was credited with the tip, which was rocketed in from Lakatoš off an initial pass from Stuart Percy. With the powerplay still running, Nyffeler was working overtime to stem any further damage to the scoreboard. 

In quick succession, two further penalties would see a 4-on-4 unfold. Moments later, and back on equal strength, Lakatoš would pick up his second point of the night with a highlight-reel-worthy dangle through the slot and five hole of Nyffeler to make it 2-0 for his team.

The visitors had a chance to claw their way back into the game thanks to another powerplay sent their way, but the closest they managed was a bullet from forward Roman Červenka which pinged off the crossbar. The persistence of Rapperswil was finally rewarded courtesy of a wrist shot from Baragano, but with less than five minutes remaining in the period, things slid downhill.

A tripping penalty called on Rapperswil's Dominic Lammer would see the side from Czechia secure two more goals on the same powerplay: the first a one-time bullet from Lakatoš, off a pass from Roberts Bukarts, and the second from blueliner Juraj Mikuš. That would culminate in a 4-1 lead for the hosts who now had three powerplay goals. 

With a hefty deficit to cover in the third, it was all or nothing for Rapperswil. The Swiss managed to stay out of the box for the final 20 minutes and had every puck directed to the net but struggled to find openings on Machovský.

The closing minutes would see Rapperwil dominate the play, but the clock was against them. The buzzer would sound 4-1 in favour of the hosts, giving Vítkovice their first win in regular time while Rapperswil would head home emptyhanded despite a huge effort in which they played two great periods.

The win gives Vítkovice three additional points towards their Regular Season tally, for a total of five, while Rapperswil close out their first round of away games with a duo of points acquired on Game Day 1.