EBEL - 39th round review

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – HK Acroni Jesenice  2:0 (0:0, 0:0, 2:0)
First of seven so called “Arena Ice Fever” games took place last night in Zagreb, Croatia. That means Medvescak’s usual home Arena Dom Sportova is on rest for next few weeks. “Arena Ice Fever” scenery is moved to Salata, once home of original Medvescak. Total 15.200 fans packed the scenery of the game between Croatian and Slovenian champions. Medvescak, second in the league were clear favourites in this game, but this season’s games between Medvescak and Jesenice proved to be tough for both opponents. Exactly the same happened last night. Bears couldn’t enforce their style of play, as guests from Slovenia defended very well. Not many pucks flew towards Gasper Kroselj’s goal. On the other side, few of guests’ attacks were dangerous, but home goalie Robert Kristan had to react big on two occasions. Although outshot during first period, guests easily defended their net empty. Medvescak players applied even more pressure during second period, but Kroselj was very confident and focused and the result after two periods was still 0:0. Surprisingly, guests were the dangerous team at the beginning of third period, but they couldn’t score. Half breakaway in 50th minute probably decided the winner: Greg Day used marvellous pass, came in front Kroselj, who was down a bit too quick, and scored (1:0). Kristan had to save Medvescak in following minutes on few occasions before Tom Zanoski stealed the puck from guests’ defenseman Andrej Tavzelj and scored another for Bears in 57th minute (2:0). Medvescak won third consecutive game against Jesenice not allowing opponents to score. Zagreb also holds the second place in EBEL, Jesenice are on bottom.

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – SAPA Fehervar AV19  4:0 (0:0, 1:0, 3:0)
Trouble with plexiglas moved the start of the game for about 45 minutes. Adam Munro returned in front of Sapa’s goal and he saved his team in 11th minute big time. Black Wings were dominant on ice, but guests were more dangerous with their fast breakaways. Alex Westlund in front of home goal also had to prove his form occasionally. It all looked the same in second period, guests being dangerous and Linz holding the puck in possession. It all changed in 30th minute when Rob Hisey scored in power play for Linz (1:0). It shocked guests and Black Wings missed another few good chances to score. Home team opened third period in style: Rob Hisey deflected Danny Irmen’s puck into Munro’s net after 27 seconds of play only.  Response from Sapa was expected, but didn’t happen. In fact, Linz remained dangerous and scored third goal in 54th minute powewr play (3:0). Danny Irmen then finished the scoring in final minute with a nice solo effort (4:0). It was Westlund’s second shutout of the season. Linz secured Nr.1 place for the play-offs, Sapa is now down to sixth place and yet needs to prove play-offs place.

UPC Vienna Capitals – Moser Medical Graz 99ers  1:5 (0:2 ,0:3, 1:0)
What a surprise in Wien. Capitals won in overtime of their last two games and were on a hunt for sixth place. 99ers on the other hand seemed to be lost for play-offs place. Home team in fact applied pressure during opening minutes of the game. Goal scoring chances were missed before Brett Lysak scored in what seemed to be first chance for Graz in 13th minute (0:1). Home team in shock allowed Guillaume Lefebvre to add another for guests 78 seconds later (0:2). Lefebvre capitalized 99ers power play at the beginning of third period as well (0:3) and home ship began to sink. Daniel Woger added fourth goal for Graz seconds later (0:4). Home team changed their goalie in desperate attempt to change things, but it was guests who scored again in 38th minute (0:5). Third period was quiet as Capitals lost any good ideas of how to come closer. They scored in fact in 45th minute (1:5) to prevent guests’ goalie Fabian Weinhandl from shutout. Vienna holds seventh place, trailing four points to direct play-offs place four points, four games to play. Graz is eighth, with another three points less on their account.

EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC KAC  6:2 (2:0, 0:2, 4:0)
The game between last season’s finalists is always a good one. Four important players missed in a squad meant big minus for KAC, but games against Red bulls are something special. Ramzi Abid failed to score on early opportunity for Salzburg and Tyler Scofield returned “the favour” in 6th minute for KAC. Joseph Tenute hit the home goal post in 7th minute, as well – but Red Bulls were first to score in 8th minute power play when Jeremy Williams did it on rebound. Bulls added another goal two minutes later when Steven Regier scored (2:0). The remaining part of first period was dominated by home team, but Andy Chiodo, guests’ goalie, managed to keep his team two goals down only. Markus Pirmann managed to score for KAC in 23rd minute (2:1). Salzburg players weren’t focused enough after that and were rarely dangerous. KAC scored in 31st minute, but the goal was disallowed after referees watched video recording of the action. 34 seconds of 5 on 3 situation for KAC followed, but guests could not score. They did it in 34th minute though, when Scofield equalized (2:2). Home team woke up after that and began to endanger guests. They failed to score on whole two minutes of two men advantage and both teams were levelled after two periods. Last period offered four Red Bulls goals. First to score was Daniel Welser in 48th minute (3:2). Doug Lynch added another one in 54th minute (4:2). Guests were forced to try to level things with an extra skater instead of their goalie in 59th minute, but they received another puck in their net (5:2). Manuel Latusa finished the scoring for the night seconds later in power play for Red Bulls (6:2). Bulls are third, looking good for play-off spot, five games to play. EC KAC is fourth, four points behind RB Salzburg, but they are not yet qualified for play-offs yet.

HC Orli Znojmo – HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana  2:3 (2:1, 0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 0:1) PS
Important win for Olimpija! A perfect start with goal in power play in 3rd minute already (0:1) announced the success for guests from Slovenia. Both teams were cautious in following minutes, but Petr Kanko managed to equalize in Znojmo’s power play in 9th minute (1:1). Jan Seda’s rebound in 19th minute gave Znojmo the lead (2:1) after first period. Ziga Pance equalized for Olimpija in 28th minute (2:2). Orli were dominant after that. Both teams hit the aluminium goal frame in following minutes, but could not score. Jakub Stehlik (Znojmo) and Brock McBride (Olimpija) fist fighted in third period and it was the most exciting moment of the period, as both teams focused on defence. Richard Jarusek was unlucky hitting another post for Znojmo in overtime and the game went into penalty shooting. John Hughes was the only one to score and guests won really important two points. Olimpija is now up one place to fifth, and it’s close to secure play-off spot. Orli are second last.

Schedule for 40th round, Tuesday, january 10th, 2012:
Zagreb (CRO): Medvescak – Sapa
Jesenice (SLO): Acroni Jesenice – Orli Znojmo
Villach: VSV – RB Salzburg
Graz: Graz 99ers – BW Linz
Klagenfurt: KAC – Vienna Capitals

 

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