Panthers put Bulldogs in doghouse

Home side Odense Bulldogs open the hunt for a place in the Superfinals facing Nottingham Panthers, qualified from the second round and followed by a decent number of pitoresque supporter. Many empty chairs, instead, in the Odense Arena.

The Panthers immediately takes the lead, with goalie Galansky decisive on Jeff Brown after two minutes and with a brave dive on Matt Carter after 6 minutes. Odense call goalie Wiikman at the first important save at minute 8 with Mikkel Nielsen, followed by a spectacular save on a one-timer by Sebastian Strandberg. After another chance for Carter rebounded, Panthers open the score at 12:52 with Oliver Betteridge, reactive after an indecision of goalie Galansky, who stopped the shot from Brian McGrattan but lost the visual contact of the puck, allowing the tap-in of Betteridge. Bulldogs need less than a minute to equalize: also Panthers’ goalie Wiikman isn’t perfect on Robin Sterner shot.

Bulldogs fans celebrating the first goal

Odense seems to control the game after the goal, but another mistake from defence give Panthers the second advantage at 16:58: Brad Moran, smartly lurking near the post, deflects a puck getting out from behind the cage. Galansky deflected with the shoulder an insidious shot by Farmer at minute 18.

The second period opens with a nice solo by Brian McGrattan, stopped by Galansky with a difficult save. Czech goalie made a couple of another good saves, but have to capitulate at 25:15 when Matt Carter is ready to deflect in front of the cage a shot from Alex Nikiforuk. The goal is a blow for the home team, unable to seriously threaten the British cage, while a cynic Nottingham scores the fourth goal at 29:43 with Petr Kalus. Whilethe home boat is sinking, a lucky deflection by Robin Sterner on a shot from Rasmus Bjerrum keeps Odense alive. Bulldogs closed the period pressing the opponent.

Goalie Miika Wiikman is injured after 30 seconds in the last period after a contact with an opponent, tries to remain on ice but has to be replaced after 2 minutes by back-up Jindrich Pacl.

The injury of Miika Wiikman

On the opposite side, Galansky saved with the pad on McGrattan. The injury of Wiikman disoriented the Panthers that bravely survived a power play, but when it seemed only a matter of time for another Danish goal, a perfect counterattack puts Brian McGrattan in front of the cage for a timely deflection on Robert Farmer assist. Game over? Not yet, because the pride of Odense yields the third goal, scored by Rasmus Lyo at 49:43: Pacl intercepts the shot but can’t stop it. Galansky rebounds twice on Farmer during a power play for Bulldogs. This goal really sap strength of home team, that calls all the remained force to the last assault: at 59:09, with goalie Galansky in the bench, Dale Mitchell finalizes a confused move in front of Nottingham cage for the fourth goal, too late for a last miracle.

MVP: Robin Sterner – Petr Kalus

Tweets by @eurohockey