EBEL - 34th round comment

Both teams started the game very offensively and were trying to impose their style of playing to the opponents. Tyler Scofield missed a penalty shot for KAC in fifth minute. Guests from Linz were more successful and they materialized their first power play in eighth minute (0:1). Stil shocked, KAC players let guests score another goal 70 seconds later (0:2). KAC was the better side during second period, but home team players just couldn't push the puck into Alex Westlund's net. They did it though in 43rd minute (1:2). Instead of equalizing goal spectators saw another goal from Black wings only two minutes later (1:3). Markus Pirmann renewed home side hopes in 55th minute (2:3). KAC goalie was pulled off the ice and substituted with a sixth player in 58th minute, but KAC did not equalize. In fact, Rob Hisey scored an empty net goal (2:4) to give Linz another two points. KAC remains fourth in the league, Linz is still on top. 

The one and only Slovenian derby took place last night in Jesenice. Impoverished home team now experiences trouble with lack of players, guests from Ljubljana are trying to keep sixth place in the league. 4500 fans gathered to see the game, including some 200 fans from Ljubljana. Guests were considered favourites for the game. But it all went wrong for them, as Jesenice scored after nine seconds of power playing in second minute (1:0). Guests tried to equalize, but home team played solid defense. Home team captain Andrej Tavzelj then hammered the puck into Olimpija's goal almost from half of the ice in 18th minute (2:0) and the crowd was in extasy. Jesenice failed to score after that playing with two men advantage for almoust two minutes. Great deal of luck helped guests from being three goals down at the beginning of second period. Instead of that, guests scored on rebound in 25th minute (2:1) and it really boosted their play. They continuosly attacked, their fans were loud and an equalizer came in 38th minute power play. But that wasn't all: indecision in Jesenice's defense during last seconds of period gave Olimpija another goal (2:3). Jesenice turned it all around inside 20 seconds of 42nd (3:3) and 43rd (4:3) minute. Guests became nervous after that, but equalized once again in 51st minute power play (4:4). Young and unexperienced home team begun to loose steam after that and guests were dangerous. On the other side - quick counter attacks from Jesenice youngsters sow panic into guests defense. One of such breaks ended in fifth Jesenice goal in 56th minute (5:4). Guests were desperately trying to equalize after that. They substituted their goalie with sixth skater and actually scored, but referees decided that the game ended moments before puck entered the net. Olimpija's captain couldn't agree with that decision and hit the referee - he was "awarded" for that move with 5+20 minutes of penalty. Fans publicly delivered a check for more than 13000 EUR they collected as help to Jesenice players. Jesenice are still on the bottom of EBEL, Olimpija holds the sixth spot. 

They said it was worth four - not only two points - to win last night's game in Villach. Both teams are desperately trying to grab position Nr.6 as it automatically secures play off spot. VSV was on seventh place before the game, three points behind sixth place, Capitals another two points shorter. VSV started the game with enormous pressure and they scored in fifth minute (1:0). Guests equalized in eighth minute (1:1) and were the better side until the end of first period. Second period was goalless, but very nervous with many penalties on both sides. Guests were first to score in final period - Benoit Gratton did it in 44th minute (1:2). Slovenian international Tomaz Razingar equalized for VSV in 54th minute (2:2), but one of Villach's lost sons - Philipp Pinter scored a winning goal for Vienna in 57th minute. Both teams now have 30 points - VSV is seventh, Vienna eighth and they both trail three points to sixth place. 

Dom sportova arena was once again sold out. It didn't help Medvescak though. Guests from Graz played very solid in defense  and helped their goalie for his first shut-out of the season. Michael Ouzas substituted Robert Kristan in Medvescak's goal and he also did it well. The only goal of the game was scored in 54th minute, unfortunately for home fans it was not Medvescak who did it. Despite defeat Medvescak holds the third position in EBEL, Graz jumped up one place and are now ninth. They believe they can still grab sixth place, but they trail six points at the moment. 

Fans saw many missed goal scoring opportunities during the first period. Both goalies saved 13 shots in first twenty minutes, but no goals were scored. Both teams performed similar in second period,  fortunately for home fans Istvan Sofron scored an opener in 37th minute (1:0). Sapa doubled the lead in power play in 42nd minute (2:0), but Znojmo came closer with Mike Danton's first EBEL goal in 47th minute (2:1). Sapa scored another power play goal in 52nd minute (3:1) and sealed the game with short handed goal in 57th minute (4:1). Sapa remains on fifth position in the league, trailing one point to KAC on fourth place. Znojmo are tenth.

 

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