EBEL 2011/12 Finals; opening game

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – EC KAC  2:3 (0:0, 2:1, 0:2)

Finally – here’s this season’s EBEL finals. 3650 fans gathered in small Linz ice hall to see the first of this best-of-seven final series. Both teams finished their semi-final series in five games and were resting for the whole week and preparing for the finals. Guests were under the pressure right from the start of the game. Andy Chiodo in front of KAC net had to do some early saves. Pucks flew towards him from all positions and occasionally he had some real trouble to stop it, but he managed to keep his sheets clean. Johannes Kirisits was the first of guests to fire a puck towards Alex Westlund, but it was only good for keeping the goalie warm. John Lammers’ slashing in 9^th minute gave Black Wings first power play situation of the finals. Not that it was of any benefit – KAC players were focused and killed it without any real problems. Martin Schumnigg (KAC) was next to go to the sin bin in 15^th minute and Justin Keller failed to score in for Linz in following moments. KAC came out of the penalty unharmed and was given a chance to score in 18^th minute, when Michael Mayr (BW Linz) earned minor penalty for hooking. Period however finished goalless.

Home team had to play shorthanded first in the second period, as Curtis Murphy’s hooking sent him to the penalty box in 24^th minute. Penalty proved to be beneficial for home team, as Phillip Lukas scored a shorthanded goal after clever passing by Mayr. Guests were shocked and Franklin Macdonald almost doubled the lead moments after. Penalty for guests followed in 28^th minute. They came out of it non-beaten, but received another puck in their net seconds later: Rob Hisey’s deflection in 30^th minute extended home team’s lead (2:0). Joey Tenute (KAC) was next to take his place in penalty box, but guests killed another power-play for home team. Missed opportunities cost Black Wings in 36^th minute, as Tyler Scofield pulled one back for KAC (2:1). Danny Irmen could have scored the third goal for home team right in the last second of the second period, but he missed the target.

Final period offered early pressure towards Westlund. Home team goalie had a lot to do and things got worse for him in 44^th minute, when Brian Lebler was expelled for hooking. Pucks flew from all positions in following power-play for guests and Westlund somehow managed to keep his team upfront. He was unable to save Johannes Kirisits’ blue-liner eight seconds before Lebler’s penalty expired and guests leveled the score (2:2). Both teams created some opportunities in following minutes. KAC killed two penalties between 47^th - 49^th minute and 51^st – 53^rd minute. Kirisits made himself a hero for the Carinthians when he fired a one timer into the corner at 57:59 mark (2:3). Home team of course pulled Westlund off the ice and tried to equalize with an extra skater, but they couldn’t. Record-holding champions from Klagenfurt took the lead in this EBEL finals.

Second game is on schedule for Sunday, March 25, 2012 in Klagenfurt.