EBEL - third round review

That's what's all about: fans gathering, media attention, emotions on ice, no favourites in the game and a nice, fast game with full of chances on both sides and the teams exchanging the lead – Slovenian classic Olimpija against Jesenice. The crowd in Ljubljana was in fact a bit disappointing, but that is just the start of the season. Jesenice missed four important players at the beginning of the match but the guests were determined to win their first game of the season. Olimpija on the contrary won both of their previous games and had no plan to change their winning streak. Both goalies were in good form, there was a lot of quick skating, shooting, and exchanging in the lead. The game finished 4:3 for the home team. Olimpija is the only team in the league with all three wins in three matches and is the surprise leader of the league. On the other side – Jesenice is the only team with all three games lost and they are on the bottom of the league.

The second game was played in Salzburg between the champions of the league Red Bull Salzburg and the Hungarian champions Sapa Fehervar. The guests hit the post in the first minute and had another big chance in the second. They played their well known game: tight in the defence with quick transformations on the counter attack. Another few big chances for Sapa convinced the home coach to take a time-off in the sixth minute of the game already. His instructions helped for a few moments as Bulls scored the opening goal. Unfortunately for them Sapa managed to turn the result upside down in the next minute scoring two goals. Salzburg finally got their act together and levelled the result before the end of the first period. The rest of the game was expected: Salzburg finished it comfortably for the first win of the season – the game finished 5:2. Both teams now have one win in hand, Sapa finishing three games and Salzburg two.

Czech newcomers to the league Orli Znojmo opened their arena for the competition last night against Black Wings Linz. Many goals were scored in a defenceless game with the teams exchanging the lead during the game. Linz scored 5 away goals but unfortunately for them and happily for the home crowd that wasn’t enough. Orli sealed the game scoring the seventh goal into the empty net right at the last minute of the game to prove their point from last game away in Zagreb wasn’t pure coincidence.

Graz 99ers won their first game of the season in Zagreb. Medvescak once again had the Arena completely packed. It is very hard for any guest to play in Zagreb, but Graz grabbed what was given to them. Medvescak actually trailed with 1:3 during the last period, managed to come a goal closer, hit the post in the last minute, but lost the game. Both Medvescak and Graz 99ers now have one win out of three games adn are expecting to improve on that statistic in the future.

The fifth game was played in the Austrian capital Vienna with guests from Villach. Villach disappointed in the first game losing at home to Olimpija, but improved the impression with an away win in Hungary. Vienna Capitals missed five important players at the beginning of the match. Yet they produced some magic on the ice and scored twice in an opening twenty minutes of the game. The second period went the other way. Villach came a goal closer and missed few big chances. The home coach decided to take time-off and sort things out. Unfortunately for the home crowd it all seemed to be the benefit for guests.  They scored twice more in the second period and went to second break with 3:2 lead. Villach concentrated on defence and fast breaks in the last period. Slovenian internationals in both teams changed the score during the last twenty minutes. Tomaz Razingar extended Villach’s lead in 52^nd minute and he’s national team mate Marcel Rodman scored the third for the Capitals in the next minute. The last moments of the game were played with 6 players (without goalie) on the ice for Vienna and four players for Villach (one on the penalty bench), but the result stayed the same. The second win on the row for Villach changed perception of bad early form of the team as they are currently on position four in the league. Vienna Capitals on the other hand needs to improve as they have only one win in three games and they already received 13 pucks into their own net.

KAC as the eleventh team didn’t play the game last night.

Schedule for Sunday, September 18^th:

Znojmo:   Orli Znojmo - Vienna Capitals

Linz:   Black Wings Linz - Olimpija Ljubljana

Jesenice:   Acroni Jesenice – Red Bull Salzburg

Graz:   Moser Medical Graz 99ers – Sapa Fehervar AV19

Villach:   Record Fenster Villach – KAC

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