BRATISLAVA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Slovan Bratislava ice hockey club unexpectedly lost 2-1 in Poprad on Sunday and its lead was cut to four points in the Slovakia's premier hockey league the Tipsport Liga.

The opening goal was scored by Poprad's Michael Vandas who left Bratislava's roster in October due to insufficient ice-time. Ninth-ranked Poprad served the team from the capital city their second defeat in a row.

Kosice has its sights locked on the top position after winning its third straight match and trailing Bratislava only by four points. Kosice's forward Branislav Rapac scored twice in the third period and single-handedly turned the score of the 24th-round match around, enabling the visitors to win in Detva 3-2.

Banska Bystrica's third spot in the rankings is in jeopardy after the defending champions lost their third match out of the last four. Newcomers Michalovce scored three goals in the last period to put the home game away at 3-1.

Zvolen is on a roll after winning their fourth straight match. The team from the central region of Slovakia started well in Budapest, scoring the first of its three first-period goals 27 seconds into the game. The home team tried to rally but Zvolen kept its distance and triumphed 4-3. Eleventh-ranked Budapest, one of the two Hungarian teams playing in the Slovak league, lost its fifth match in a row.

Trencin, placed fifth, is also riding a winning wave, celebrating its fifth straight victory. Nitra managed to rally twice and push the game into overtime but the visitors' Canadian forward Brandon Alderson scored the game-winner (his second of the night) to put the game away at 3-2. Nitra lost its fourth straight match.

The other Hungarian team Miskolc had little trouble defeating the second from bottom club of the league Nove Zamky 4-1. The home team's third straight victory keeps it in the upper half of the rankings. Enditem

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