EBEL; Second part of the season - round 8

TOP 6  games:

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – KHL Medvescak Zagreb  5:2 (0:0, 4:2, 1:0)

The game between first and second team in EBEL took place last night in Linz. Black Wings and Bears both started the game in offensive manner, creating chances one after another. Linz players were probably more active on the ice, but Matt Siddall hit the post for guests in seventh minute. Michael Ouzas in front of guest’s goal was forced to perform on a high level; he stopped 14 shots on his goal during the first period. Second period probably decided the winner. Martin Grabher-Meier was first to score in 24^th minute power-play for Linz (1:0). Curtis Murphy extended the lead in following minute (2:0) and Mike Ouellette added the third goal in 27^th minute (3:0). Grabher-Meier added his second PP goal in 28^th minute and he winner seemed to be known. Bears were of course destroyed at that point of the game and Black Wings were pressing against their goal even further. But, as the time passed, guests again created their chances and they resulted in Slava Trukhno’s goal in 34^th minute (4:1). Andy Sertich added another for Medvescak in PP in the same minute (4:2) and Bears were all of a sudden a bit closer. Following minutes were goalless and home team anyway had a nice gap of two goals before the final period. Instead of guest’s offensive at the beginning of third period, Black Wings presented their own. Ouzas was on top of his job and did not let home team score. Grabher-Meier hit the metal frame of Medvescak’s goal in 51^st minute. Guests tried to come closer and equalize without their goalie, but Justin Keller scored an empty-netter for home team in 59^th minute (5:2). That way Linz once again produced a gap between them and second placed Medvescak to four points.

HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana – SAPA Fehervar AV19  3:5 (1:1, 1:1, 1:3)

The game last night in Ljubljana was a fight for the third place. SAPA won all previous season’s games in Slovenian capital and Olimpija was determined to change that tradition. Management of home team once again invited spectators in ancient Tivoli ice hall for free and that’s probably the right recipe for Ljubljana fans to gather on Olimpija games. As everyone expected, Olimpija was more active from the start of the game, but guests - as they always do - carefully closed home team. Miha Verlic anyway almost surprised Bence Balizs in Hungarian’s goal in the second minute. Harlan Pratt, once Olimpija’s player, nearly scored on the other side. Justin Taylor then put home team in the lead in 11^th minute (1:0). Guests were not impressed and they continued with their very well-known play; strong in defence and dangerous on fast break-away. They missed few chances before Krisztian Palkovics equalized in 17^th minute (1:1). Home team’s power play at the beginning of second period actually offered a chance for a lead to guests, but JP Lamoureux saved a dangerous Marton Vas’ try. Another PP situation for dragons followed and they almost scored, but Justin Dacosta cleared the puck that already beat his goalie from the goal line. Taylor scored his second of the night to renew home team’s lead in 26^th minute (2:1). Ziga Pance (Olimpija) and Justin Dacosta (SAPA) fist-fighted in 33^rd minute and Dacosta was clear winner of boxing match. Palkovics also scored his second for another equalizer in 38^th minute PP for SAPA (2.2). The importance of the game forced both teams to concentrate on defence at the beginning of the final period. Guests got in the lead in 50^th minute, when Istvan Sofron scored (2:3). Chad Klassen added another goal for SAPA in the next minute (2:4). Lamoureux lost his nerves minutes later, when one of the guests was pushed by home defence right into him; Lamoureux got two minutes of penalty for tripping. It was actually beneficial for Olimpija, as Bostjan Golicic scored short-handed in 54^th minute (3:4). Marton Vas scored in 59^th minute for SAPA and decided a winner before Olimpija even managed to pull their goalie off the ice and put the final pressure. Bostjan Groznik had to pick up a fight – as he usually does on every game – seconds later, but it didn’t change anything for home team. SAPA remains on third place with ten points; Olimpija is down to fifth place with eight.

EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC KAC  2:1 (2:0, 0:1, 0:0)

Last season’s finalists are struggling in this EBEL season so far. There are some indications that Red Bulls are slowly warming their machine, but KAC looks out of form at this point of the season. Home team dominated right from the start and Ramzi Abid scored in the second minute (1:0). Robbie Earl hit the metal frame of guests’ goal in following minute. Guests were in their first chance in 8^th minute, but Marty Turco was cautious enough. Brent Aubin extended home team’s lead in 17^th minute, scoring only his third goal of the season (2:0). Thomas Hundertpfund scored a short-handed goal for KAC in 28^th minute (2:1) to give guests some hope. Both teams spend a lot of time on penalty bench in following minutes, but no goals were scored. Turco was forced to perform his best against Christoph Brandner to save his team from equalizer in following minutes, and Markus Pirmann even hit the post of Turco’s goal, but the result did not change. Spectators saw quite the same game during the third period. Both teams too nervous, with too many penalties, were unable to score and Salzburg won this game. That way Red Bulls overtook Olimpija and are now fourth with 9 points, KAC remains sixth with 5 points.  

QUALIFICATION Group games:

HK Acroni Jesenice – HC Orli Znojmo  5:4 (1:0, 3:1, 1:3)

Orli Znojmo were in good position for a play off before the game. They also were unbeaten in previous away games against Jesenice in this EBEL season. It was also the last EBEL home game for Jesenice in what seems to be one of the darkest seasons for them in history.  Young home team however showed their heart and was dominant right from the start. They opened the scoring in 15^th minute, when Anze Kuralt benefited on his own rebound (1:0). Guests were supported by some 50 loud fans, but they could not equalize in the first period. Kuralt scored again in 29^th minute to double the lead (2.0). The most beautiful moment of the game happened in 32^nd minute, when Miha Brus over-skated his opponent in a fast break and scored effectively off the upper post (3:0). Referees checked the video and the goal was allowed to enormous joy of some 1000 home fans. Peter Pucher scored in 35^th minute in PP situation for Orli (3:1). Brus added another goal in 38^th minute after marvellous passes by Matic Zajsek and Tomi Hafner (4:1). Adam Havlik scored for guests at the beginning of third period (4:2) to warn home team. Klemen Pretnar scored on rebound in 44^th minute and the gap was once more three goals (5:2). Guests did not give up anyway and Jan Seda scored their third goal in 46^th minute. Inexperienced home team was forced to defend their lead after three consecutive minor penalties were whistled against them; Orli scored on third such occasion – Martin Podesva did it in 55^th minute (5:4). Final pressure from guests actually wasn’t all that dangerous and home team deservedly won the game. They remain on the bottom of the league with six points anyway; Znojmo is on top of Qualification Group with nine.

UPC Vienna Capitals – EC REKORD VSV  4:2 (1:1, 2:1, 1:0)

It was another must win game for the Capitals last night in Wien. Their season so far is pure disaster, despite great names inside the team and on their bench. Guests from Villach are also close to qualify for the play-off spot, and they desperately need the points, too. Peter Casparsson was first to score in front of 6500 fans – he did it in the second minute already (1:0). Shayne Toporowski equalized two minutes later (1:1). Both teams were surprisingly disciplined in following minutes; VSV survived two penalty minutes between 16^th and 18^th minute, before Filip Gunnarsson (Vienna) was penalized in 20^th minute for checking against head and game misconduct. Guests capitalized on that at the beginning of second period, when Tomaz Razingar first hit the post of home goal and Mike Craig scored on rebound (1:2). Nathan Robinson equalized for Vienna 43 seconds later (2:2). Jonathan Ferland then renewed Capitals’ lead in 30^th minute PP situation (3:2). Both teams were quite nervous in following minutes, had to defend with a man down and were unable to score. Nicolas Petrik (VSV) was penalized for another misconduct in 39^th minute. Guests were unable to equalize during the last twenty minutes. They had a chance to do that in PP situation between 44^th and 46^th minute, but they failed. Guests became too nervous because of that and they committed their own fouls in following minutes to ease the pressure from home team. VSV tried to equalize in the last minute, pulling their goalie off the ice, but Francois Fortier scored an empty-netter (4:2). That way Vienna overtook VSV on second place and is currently on play-off spot; VSV actually also has 9 points on their account, but are on the third place on goal difference.

Schedule for next round, Sunday, February 12^th, 2012:

TOP 6 games:

Szekesfehervar (HUN): SAPA – BW Linz

Zagreb (CRO): Medvescak – RB Salzburg

Klagenfurt: EC KAC – Olimpija

QUALIFICATION Group games:

Znojmo (CZE): Orli Znojmo – EC VSV

Graz: Graz 99ers – Vienna Capitals

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