EBEL: Troy Milam’s hattrick takes down the Czech Eagles

19 Feb 2016Lucas Bradelj»

With only two games left and all EBEL playoff spots played out, the right to pick your opponent in the quarters remains up for grabs. Two heated rivals met in Vienna for a crucial game to determine one of those spots, as Orli Znojmo visited the Austrian capital.

In the opening minutes the Czechs clearly had the better start into the contest. Especially Martin Podesva seemed eager to get the win and qualify for the Champions Hockey League. However, Znojmo did not capitalize on the man advantage and the Capitals took control on their first power play. MacGregor Sharp perfectly delivered the puck from behind the net to Troy Milam, who did not think twice and gave the home team the lead. The game’s first marker encouraged the home team to show some more. Julian Grosslercher, nicely opened up in the slot by Jamie Johnson, could not beat goalkeeper Jan Lukas in his first start in EBEL. The 22-year old net minder was only acquired recently to improve the team’s depth between the pipes.

Vienna did not wait long to put themselves up by two in the middle frame. On the 4-on-3 man advantage Simon Gamache dished the puck over to Troy Milam, whos’ one timer punished the Czechs. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Milam was not done yet and completed his hattrick in the 30^th minute. The defenceman gifted with great offensive instincts could again unleash his one timer from the point to strike on Lukas again. Znojmo tried to respond, but Nathan Lawson remained a brick wall in the Caps’ net

In the final 20 minutes of game action, Mario Fischer even improved to 4-0 with a gorgeous coast-to-coast shorthander. Lubomir Stach brought some life back to the red-and-black, but it would not be enough to erase Vienna’s 4-1 win.

Playoff Round still highly contested

They playoff spots are now all assessed: While the top 6 teams earned qualification to the post-season already prior this season, the bottom-6 team fought for the remaining two spots in the so-called Qualification Round. Klagenfurt and Villach have clinched this spots and will compete in the playoffs. For Innsbruck, Fehervar, Graz and Ljubljana the season will end on Sunday, as the last round will be held.

In the Playoff Round, no team has clinched any position yet. The teams who end on of the top 3 positions will have the right to pick their opponents in the quarter finals. So also on the final round before the start of the playoffs, there will be three crucial games. A spot in next year’s Champions Hockey League will be on the line this Sunday as well.Salzburg will want to finish on first place with a win against the Bolzano Foxes, whereas Dornbirn-Znojmo and Linz-Vienna will battle for a top-four placement.