EBEL Quarterfinals - fifth games
29 Feb 2012 | Marko Lukan
Capitals remain in the game; KAC and Olimpija took the lead in series
EC Red Bull
Salzburg – EC-KAC 1:2 (0:1, 1:1,
0:0)
3200 fans gathered for the fifth consecutive game between reigning
champions of EBEL Red Bull Salzburg and record championship-winners EC KAC.
Guests concentrated on defence in the early stages of the game, not allowing
home team to create many chances. Matthias Trattnig failed to score for
Salzburg on one of such rare occasions and Andreas Kristler was denied by Andy
Chiodo, KAC's goalie, on another. Performing well defensively, KAC created some
minor chances for themselves later during the period, and Markus Pirmann could
have easily put his name on the score shield, but he failed to score. First
minor penalty of the game for home team provided guests a chance they didn’t
miss – John Lammers scored in 18th minute power play (0:1). Home
team answered in 24th minute, when Robbie Earl fired a puck and
Matthias Trattnigg deflected it in front of Chiodo to equalize (1:1).
Celebration was very short, as Martin Schumnig restored KAC’s lead 28 seconds
later only (1:2). Guests were punished for hooking twice in following minutes,
but managed to create serious chance for themselves, but Marty Turco in front
of Red Bulls goal stopped Raphael Herburger’s try. Salzburg continued to play
without any real ideas of how to break KAC’s resistance until the end of second
period. Pierre Page, Salzburg’s coach, probably raised his voice during second
intermission; his players came on the ice for final period obviously determined
to turn the score around. They dominated the ice, created some chances and put
enormous pressure on guests. Chiodo stopped 21 shots in third period alone.
Last chance of the game for Red Bulls occurred in 58th minute, when
Dieter Kalt had to go to penalty bin for KAC. Salzburg pulled off Turco and
added sixth skater. Anyway, guests managed to keep the result and are now leading
the series with three wins to two. Sixth, possibly the decisive game is
scheduled for Thursday in Klagenfurt.
EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – UPC Vienna
Capitals 3:6 (1:1, 1:3, 1:2)
When you’re 3:1 down in best-of-seven series and you play against sovereign
leaders of the championship on the road, you really have to show some real
fighting spirit. So did the Capitals. Their only chance was to attack right
from the start and they did so. They got caught off guard for that, as Rob
Hisey hit the post for Black Wings at the beginning of the game. Martin Oraze’s
interference penalty proved to be beneficial for home team in 9th
minute, when Brian Lebler scored on a power-play (1:0). Guests did not give up
and were dangerous in following minutes. Benoit Gratton equalized for Vienna in
20th minute (1:1). Second period started off with the same style as
first one, only this time the Caps were first to score. Mario Seidl put them in
front in 24th minute (1:2). Jonathan Ferland extended guests lead 85
seconds later only (1:3). Mike Ouellette pulled one back for home team another
25 seconds later (2:3). Filip Gunnarsson was next to score for Vienna in 33rd
minute (2:4). Justin Keller failed to score on the best chance for Black Wings
before second intermission and difficult task was in front of Linz players
before final period. Martin Mairitsch scored in 43th minute (3:4) to restore
hopes for finishing the series. Gunnarsson did not agree with such plans and
scored his second goal of the night 20 seconds later (3:5). Almost seventeen
minutes left to play, home fans expected Black Wings to turn the result
completely, but they just couldn’t. In fact, Ferland added an empty net goal (3:6)
for guests in final minute. Linz still leads this series with three wins
against two. Teams meet again in Wien on Thursday.
SAPA
Fehervar AV19 - HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana 2:1 (1:0, 0:0, 1:1)
Two previous games in Szekesfehervar provided two disasters for Olimpija.
Fifteen pucks finished in their net and with three goals scored only, they were
not beaten, but destroyed twice. Having in mind that they suffer from many
injuries, penalties and other trouble, their game against SAPA was really
against all odds. JP Lamoureux in front of guest’s goal was lucky in the first
minute already, when Marton Vas’ shot deflected off his shoulder. Balint Magosi
created a marvellous chance for Andras Horvath in 4th minute, but
Lamoureux was on top of his skills and saved it. On the counter attack, Adam
Munro made his first save of the night for SAPA. Istvan Sofron failed to score
in a chance he produced on his own in 5th minute. Marvellous passes
by Ales Music and John Hughes provided Justin Taylor a chance he couldn’t miss
in 7th minute and Ljubljana was in front all of a sudden (0:1). SAPA
continued to roll attack after attack. They produced enormous pressure, but Lamoureux
denied all of their attempts. Second period offered pretty much the same
picture: SAPA’s siege of guest’s goal and dangerous fast breakaways from
Olimpija. Brad Cole and Domen Vedlin were sent to penalty box inside 8 seconds
in 30th minute and SAPA was offered a great chance to equalize with
two men advantage. Nothing happened though, guests’ goalie was unbeatable. He
did get injured though in 37th minute, when his fellow defenseman Brad
Cole and SAPA’s Chad Klassen somehow landed on him. Matic Boh, the 20 year-old,
had to replace him and he managed to keep the sheets clean until the end of
second period. To SAPA’s big surprise, Olimpija attacked early in third period.
Erik Pance finished fast counter attack in 51st minute and guests
were two goals in front (0:2). Harlan Pratt almost scored for SAPA right after
that. Three minutes later Munro had to deny Sergey Smirnov from scoring another
goal for guests. Derek Ryan wasn’t focused enough in following minute and Boh remained
unbeaten. Balazs Ladayi’s one-timer missed guests net by inches in following
action. Marton Vas was next to try, but his shot was blocked by Olimpija’s
defenders. The deflected puck landed in front of empty net, but Eric Johansson
somehow failed to score – he shot the puck over Boh’s goal. Arpad Mihaly
finally scored for SAPA in 57th minute (1:2), but home team couldn’t
equalize until the end of the game. Olimpija’s heroic win puts now Slovenian
team in a position to seal the deal for semi-finals on their home ice on
Thursday.