EBEL, round 44

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – EC Red Bull Salzburg  6:3 (1:1, 1:0, 4:2)
It was the decisive game for the second position after regular part of the season in EBEL last night in Zagreb. Both teams were precautious at the beginning of the game. First goal of the night came in 12th minute when Brent Aubin scored for guests from Salzburg (0:1). Home team answered with strong pressure and managed to level the score in 18th minute (Adam Naglich, 1:1). Bears were the only team to score in the second period as Matt Siddall did it in 26th minute (2:1). Daniel Bois took advantage of power play for guests in 42nd minute to equalize (2:2). It all looked tight afterwards until 51st and 52nd minute of the game when Medvescak scored as much as FOUR goals inside 69 seconds!!! First, Tom Zanoski scored a short-handed goal in 51st minute (3:2). Guests in shock received another goal seconds later when Andy Sertich scored (4:2) and another one when Frank Banham did it (5:2). Red Bulls committed unnecessary foul due to nervousness after that and Banham added his second of the night in power play (6:2). It was all decided afterwards, the game faded and Manuel Latusa’s goal for Salzburg in 58th minute (6:3) didn’t really mean anything. Medvescak finished the regular part of the EBEL season on the second place, Red Bulls are third.

HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana – EC KAC  0:4 (0:2, 0:2, 0:0)
It was a game between direct opponents for the fourth place in EBEL in Ljubljana last night. Despite the fact that Olimpija needed a win to conquer fourth place – home team performed probably the worst hockey in this season. Guests from Klagenfurt hit the frame of home goal in the first minute already to announce what was coming. Home team star John hughes commited foolish foul in 12th minute and his team mate Ograjensek was given 10 minutes of penalty for misconduct and Christoph Brandner scored an opening goal (0:1) for KAC. John Lammers scored the second for guests in 19th minute (0:2). Manuel Geier deflected Maximillian Issop’s shot into home net in 26th minute (0:3). Igor Cvetek, John Hughes and Erik Pance tried to score for Olimpija in following minutes, but Rene Swette in front of guests’ goal did not allow any puck enter his net. Lammers added his second of the night in 40th minute power play (0:4). All that is worth mentioning from the final period is yet another Bostjan Groznik’s fist fight, this time with Mike Siklenka, but guests easily lead the game to the shut-out ending. KAC is therefore fourth and Olimpija fifth before start of the second part of the season.

EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – UPC Vienna Capitals  4:3 (1:2, 1:0, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0) PS
It was a fourth consecutive win for Linz against Capitals this season. Both teams missed some important players. Guests were more aggressive right from the start and Martin Oraze put them in the lead in 3rd minute already (0:1). Guests were dominant afterwards, but couldn’t score. Rob Hisey then scored for Linz in 10th minute, but his goal was disallowed by referees. Andre Lakos extended Vienna’s lead in 16th minute (0:2). Danny Irmen then scored in 19th minute power play for Black Wings (1:2). Both teams were quite equal on the ice during second period. The only goal of the period was scored by Gregor Baumgartner in 31st minute PP for Linz (2:2). Danny Irmen and Patrick Spannring injuries additionally reduce home team at the beginning of third period. Andre LAkos scored his second of the night to reneq Capitals’ lead in 47th minute but Martin grabher Meier managed to level the score once again in 57th minute. There were chances to score in overtime for both teams, but both goalies were on top of their job. Gregor Baumgartner decided the game in Black Wings favour in penalty shooting. Black Wings conquered the EBEL in this part of the season they are eight points clear on top of the league. Capitals are eighth.

EC REKORD-Fenster VSV – HC Orli Znojmo  7:0 (1:0, 3:0, 3:0)
It was almost a try-out game in Villach last night as both teams will compete for the two additional play-off places in following weeks. Villach though totally destroyed guests from Czech Republic! Derek Damon scored after 14 seconds of the game already (1:0). Marco Pewal and Robert Shearer failed to extend the lead on two additional opportunities in the first minute. Home team dominated the ice and Tomaz Razingar, Markus Peintner and Shayne Toporowski missed nice chances. Nico Toff extended VSV lead in 30th minute (2:0) and Mike Craig added another goal 30 seconds later (3:0).  Slovenian international Tomaz Razingar scored the fourth VSV goal in 40th minute (4:0). Derek Damon added another quick goal at the start of the final period (5:0) and Andreas Wiedergut in 52nd (6:0) and Shane Toporowski in 53rd minute (7:0) added their names on a score shield. Both teams meet again on Sunday. VSV finished the regular part of the season on seventh place, Znojmo is tenth.

Moser Medical Graz99ers – HK Acroni Jesenice  4:1 (2:0, 2:0, 0:1)
There’s not much to say about last night’s game in Graz. 99ers easily won the game over guests who are dealing with all sorts of problems. The main question is – will they be able to finish this season. Shocks during the week were big in Jesenice and the club is now without the President of the Board as Slavko Kanalec resigned on Thursday. Andrej Tavzelj, captain of the team also left on Friday and there might be additional departures.
Sven Klimbacher put home team in lead in 8th minute (1:0). Matthias Iberer added another goal in 10th minute (2:0). Guests were totally harmless during the first period. Spectators saw some similar situation on the ice in the second period, although 99ers weren’t as dominant as they were in the first period.  Yvan Busque (3:0) and Sebastien Bisaillon (4:0) added goals in 32nd and 34th minute. Jaka Ankerst was the only guest to score, as he did it in 46th minute. Graz finished this part of the season on ninth place, Jesenice are eleventh.


Commentary: teams are now split in two groups. Top six teams are playing for the best play-off positions and are already qualified. They start with four points leader, three points second positioned team and so on. Fifth and sixth placed teams start this part of the season without points. Each team meets every team in the group twice – in home and away games.
Bottom five teams are playing for the two remaining play-off spots, although the destiny of impoverished Acroni Jesenice is not clear at this moment. Sevwnth placed team starts with three points, eighth with two and both last teams without points. All teams meet also both in home and away games.

Schedule for Sunday,January 22nd, 2012:
Zagreb (CRO): Medvescak – BW Linz
Klagenfurt: KAC – RB Salzburg
Szekesfehervar (HUN): Sapa – Olimpija
Villach: VSV – Orli Znojmo
Wien: Vienna Capitals – Graz 99ers

 

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