Berlin best second-placed ET team

Hamburg Freezers needed desperately the three points when they faced unbeaten Luleå HF from Sweden in Rostock. In a close game Colin Murphy and Thomas Oppenheimer received two-minute penalties within seconds at the begin of the second period. The following power play was crucial for the guests who first used the two-man advantage to open the score through Jens Jakobs at 27:09. Just 48 seconds later Finnish forward Kim Hirschovits was at the right spot to add another on in the same power play, this time in a 5 on 4. Nicolas Krämmer cut the lead to the half in the third period before Cam Abbott made it 1-3. Czech Pavel Skrbek even earned another one into the empty net at 59:28. With 33 to 11 goals and the full 21 points Luleå is playing an excellent group stage.

In the other game on Saturday Eisbären Berlin beat Finnish side Kärpät Oulu thanks to two goals by Jim Sharrow and one by Mark Katic. Rob Zepp not only earned a shutout for the Germans, but also three European stars. Double scorer Sharrow gained two stars while Tomas Pilhal was the only player for Kärpät to be awarded a star. With 16 points the Polar Bears are the second-placed team in ET with most points (16). Although they have to still face Luleå HF, they have good chances to make it to Red Bull Salute as one of the two best second-placed teams even with a loss.

Only half of the eight teams going to Red Bull Salute are already known. These are the two hosts Slovan Bratislava and Vienna Capitals along with
Luleå HF and HV71 who have won their groups. So you can see there is still a lot left open for the rest of the group stage.

For those who cannot wait for the next ET action. The league continues October 15 with two games in Finland.

 

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