EBEL; round 21

EC KAC - HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana  2:1 (0:0,1:0,1:1)

Game between KAC and Olimpija was treated top game of 21^st round. More than 4000 spectators gathered in Klagenfurt to support home teams’ try to jump on top of Olimpija in league standings. KAC started with great enthusiasm. They controlled the puck, pushed forward aggressively, but guests’ defence was well prepared. Olimpija concentrated on defence, J.P.Lamoreux defending their net was very good. Guests were quite dangerous on fast breaks, but starting result didn’t change until the end of first period. It was all the same during first minutes of second period. KAC attacked, Olimpija defended well and was threatening on counter attacks. First goal of the night was scored in 32^nd minute (1:0) when KAC benefited on 3 on 2 situation. Goal forced guests to play with advanced ambitions to score. They were occasionally dangerous in front of home goalie Rene Swette, but he also presented good form. Both teams missed nice goal scoring opportunity in last minute of period. Aggressive approach of guests at the beginning of third period gave them result in 45^th minute (1:1) when Ales Mušič equalized. KAC players became a bit shaky, guests on contrary – they became confident and were pushing to score another goal. Luck anyway awarded KAC players in 58^th minute (2:1) when their new American signing Joey Tenute deflected a nice pass from right side into guests net. KAC partially revenged for humiliating 0:6 defeat in Ljubljana days ago, jumped on second place in the league and won tenth consecutive game against Olimpija in Klagenfurt.

Moser Medical Graz 99ers – EHC Liwest Black wings Linz  2:3 (1:0,1:1,0:2)

Leaders from Linz came in Graz to confirm their good early season form. They started the game in aggressive manner and were dangerous to Fabian Weinhandl in front of home goal. Graz defended with trouble, first minor penalty against them was whistled in 6^th minute. Linz tried to organize their attack behind their goal, but there was some sloppy playing and misunderstanding between Linz players – Zdenek Blatny got to the puck for Graz and scored shorthanded goal in 7^th minute (1:0). There were three additional minor penalties for Graz during first period, but Linz did not manage to equalize. Nothing significant happened until 29^th minute when ex-99ers player Rob Hisey equalized for Linz (1:1). Both teams played well during next minutes, trying to get in front. Guillaume Lefebvre (Graz) and Pat Leahy (Linz) added excitement to the game with some boxing in 32^nd minute. Lefebvre was clear winner of that and guests from Linz were in bit of a shock after. It all ended up in Zdenek Blatny’s second goal in 34^th minute (2:1). Linz didn’t equalize before second intermission and was goal behind for the third period. Graz somehow run out of steam in the last period and guests were more and more dangerous. It resulted in Danny Irmen’s equalizer in 57^th minute (2:2). It all looked like overtime is going to be played, but Daniel Oberkofler used quick break in 59^th minute to gave Linz lucky, but on the other hand deserved win (2:3). It was fourth consecutive home defeat for 99ers. Linz extended their lead on top of the league to eight points, Graz is eighth.

EC Red bull Salzburg – UPC Vienna Capitals  5:1 (2:1,0:0,3:0)

There’s always some controversy when Salzburg and Vienna are playing. This time it was guests’ captain Benoit Gratton, who was too nervous right at the start of the game. He complained against referees in 25^th second of the game already and he was penalized with 10 minutes for that. It all resulted in confusion for Vienna. Salzburg was dangerous, Manuel Latusa missed first nice chance to score. Ramzi Abid benefited on rebound in 3^rd minute to give home side an early lead (1:0). Jeremy Williams hit the post seconds later to give Vienna strong warning of what might happen. Anyway, Francois Fortier surprised home goalie with shot from the right hand side board and equalized in 5^th minute (1:1). Capitals’ players were much undisciplined later; penalties against them were whistled one after another. They gathered as much as 20 penalty minutes in first 13 minutes of the game. PP2 situation in 10^th minute gave home team another lead (Daniel Bois, 2:1). Another PP2 situation for Salzburg was unused at the beginning of second period. Home goalie was forced to save shorthanded chance for Vienna before Jeremy Williams failed to score another goal for Red bulls in 29^th minute. It was Vienna who was closer to another goal before second intermission, but nothing changed on score shield. Jon Insana was another Capitals’ player with 10 minutes penalty on his account at the beginning of third period. Quick counter attack for Red bulls in 44^th minute was finished with home team’s third goal (3:1). Danny Bois shot the puck and it ended up right on the goal line; Alexander Pallestrang was first to react and he pushed it over the line to give home side lead-extension. Brent Aubin added another in 48^th minute (4:1) and home goalie stopped great chance for Vienna minutes later. Vienna’s resistance ended after and Salzburg added another goal in 53^rd minute to win comfortably with 5:1. Red bulls are now on fourth place levelled on points with Olimpija on third, Vienna are seventh.

HK Acroni Jesenice – KHL Medvescak Zagreb  0:2 (0:0,0:1,0:1)

It was one of the saddest days in long time in Jesenice. Seven foreign players left HK Acroni Jesenice during last few days. Approximately 1700 fans gathered in Podmezakla ice hall anyway to show support to impoverished home team. There were many youngsters in red jerseys. Home crowd also applauded openly to lost home son Robert Kristan in Medvescak’s goal. Start of the game was cautious from both sides, although Medvescak had puck mostly under control. Jesenice played with persistence and were trying to block any dangerous shots from guests. Gasper Kroselj was very good in front of home side net, Robert Kristan on the other side was rarely in danger. Powerplay situation for Jesenice did not change anything. Pascal Morency provoked some Jesenice players during next minutes, but there was no answer. Anyway, it was home side very close to scoring the leading goal. Andrej Zidan’s shot in 19^th minute was deflected by Kristan and Tomi Hafner missed an empty net. Medvescak scored shorthanded goal in 23^rd minute (0:1) with great help of luck. Tom Zanoski was served with ideal pass, got in front of Kroselj and shot. Home goalie thought he holds the puck, but it somehow ended up over the goal line to give some 80 guests’ fans something to cheer about. It was eighth shorthanded goal of the season for Medvescak! Guests were dangerous after that, showing that home side besides fighting spirit feels lack of strength, experience and quality. Andy Sertich scored second goal for Medvescak in 41^st minute (0:2) and guests focused on defending their lead after. The game ended up with sixth consecutive win for Medvescak, now on fifth place in league standings. Jesenice remain on 9^th place, but with questionable perspective for the future.

EC Rekord fenster VSV – HC Orli Znojmo  5:0 (2:0,3:0,0:0)

Game between teams from the bottom of EBEL standings was clearly decided in Villach’s fever. Home team is nicknamed Eagles, Orli also means Eagles in Czech language; therefore it was Eagles duel in Villach. Guests were dangerous at the beginning of the game, but Bernhard Starkbaum was in good form in front of home side net. Anyway, Mike Craig scored for VSV on rebound in 9^th minute. Znojmo’s game paled after that and Greg Kuznik extended Villach’s lead in 20^th minute (2:0). Home side didn’t offer guests any chance to come closer during second period. Gerhard Unterluggauer scored power play goal for VSV from blue line in 29^th minute (3:0). Kevin Mitchell and Tomaz Razingar combined well in 33^rd minute’s power play to prepare Shane Toporowski, VSV’s new signing, to score his first goal for his new team (4:0). Guests changed their goalie after that. He was also beaten in 40^th minute (5:0) and the outcome of Eagles duel was defined. Last period passed by with no significant changes and Bernhard Starkbaum reached his first shut-out of the season. VSV remains on bottom of the league a point shorter of Znojmo.

Schedule for 22^nd round, Friday, November 18^th:

Szekesfehervar (HUN): Sapa Fehervar AV19 – HC Orli Znojmo

Ljubljana (SLO): Tilia Olimpija – KHL Medvescak

Villach: EC VSV – Acroni Jesenice

Salzburg: Red bull Salzburg – Graz 99ers

Klagenfurt: EC KAC – Black wings Linz

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