EBEL, round 42

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – EC Red Bull Salzburg  4:3 (1:1, 2:0, 1:2)
Red Bulls came to Linz with one mission: to win against Black Wings. Previous three season’s games were lost for Salzburg and they wanted to stop that tradition. Salzburg dominated the ice during first ten minutes, but could not capitalize on that. Black Wings were better in the second part of the period and Danny Irmen put them in the lead in 14th minute (1:0). Linz failed to score on several good opportunities after that and punishment came in 20th minute when Ramzi Abid levelled the score for Salzburg (1:1). Last period’s minute equalizer boosted their play and they were the dangerous team at the beginning of second period, too. It all happened other way around as this time Linz scored after being subordinated. Fabian Scholz did it in 28th minute (2:1). Irmen added his second goal of the night in 32nd minute power play (3:1). Guests started third period perfectly: Matthias Trattnig scored in 41st minute (3:2). After that, guests pushed really hard to equalize. Their job became even harder when Curtis Murphy scored in 46th minute power play for Linz (4:2). Bulls came closer in 54th minute (Jeremy Williams, 4:3). Unfortunately for guests it was the final goal of the game. That way Linz won their fourth consecutive game against Salzburg. Both teams remain on their positions – Black Wings are first, Red Bulls are third in the league.

HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana – Moser Medical Graz99ers  4:2 (1:1, 2:0, 1:1)
It was the last theoretical chance for Graz to remain in the race for sixth place last night in Ljubljana, Slovenia. They started the game very nervously and allowed Olimpija to play 5 on 3 during 3rd and 5th minute. Home team didn’t manage to put any real pressure. 99ers themselves failed to score in PP minutes later. Robert Lembacher put them in the lead in 11th minute anyway (0:1). Jamie Fraser answered for Olimpija in 15th minute, but his goal was allowed after video study only (1:1). Toni Dahlman and Yvan Busque failed to put guests once again in the lead minutes later. Matthias Iberer and Ziga Pance fist-fight opened second period. Zdenek Blatny missed another chance for Graz and players in green punished all of the missing’s in fast break in 24th minute (2:1). Two consecutive power play situations for Olimpija after that resulted in extension of the lead in 30th minute (3:1). Bostjan Groznik hit the frame of guests’ goal moments before second intermission. Groznik  - playing his fifth consecutive EBEL season – still waits for his first league goal. Two power play situations for Graz at the beginning of third period didn’t have any impact on score shield. Toni Dahlman used another PP situation for 99ers in 54th minute (3:2). Guests tried to equalize in final moments without their goalie and with extra skater, but received another puck in their (empty) net in 60th minute (4.2). Olimpija is now fourth and qualified for direct play-off place. Graz is eighth.

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – EC REKORD-Fenster VSV  1:2 (0:0, 0:0, 1:1, 0:1) OT
Fourth in a series of seven so called “Arena Ice fever” games took place last night in Zagreb, Croatia. And it was the second overtime loss for Bears. Once again fully packed arena (15.200 spectators) expected a win, as Medvescak destroyed VSV in previous season’s game in Zagreb with 7:1. Home team’s star goalie Robert Kristan was given a well-deserved rest and Michael Ouzas took place in front of home goal. Both teams focused on defence during first period and chances were rare. It looked better in the second period, as there were some goal scoring opportunities on both sides, but Ouzas and Bernhard Starkbaum were in good form. Kevin Mitchell and Stefan Bacher (VSV) used their boxing skills against Tom Zanoski and Matt Sidall before second intermission; all four of them were given 5 minutes of penalty. Vyaceslav Trukhno was first to score: he did it in 44th minute power play for Medvescak (1:0). VSV was given the chance to equalize in PP2 situation after that and Mike Craig did it after nice pass-shoot from Kevin Mitchell in 46th minute (1:1). Roland Kaspitz ruled him out with a stupid action in 58th minute. He was given 5+20 minutes of penalty and it was really a good chance for home team to win the game. 5 on 4 situation until the end of third period didn’t give Bears any reason to celebrate. It remained 2:41 for VSV to play shorthanded in overtime. Medvescak players were ineffective once more and Geoff Waugh earned him minor penalty for unnecessary slashing at 61:56. That was skate power on ice equalized for 45 seconds, after which VSV was given a chance to win in PP situation. Gerhard Unterluggauer effectively used this chance and silenced packed arena with the winning goal in 64th minute (1:2). Medvescak remains second in the league, VSV are seventh.

SAPA Fehervar AV19 – HK Acroni Jesenice  3:1 (1:1, 2:0, 0:0)
Ice hall in Szekesfehervar, Hungary was fully packed, as home crowd expected their team’s first ever qualification for EBEL play-off. Sapa’s nervous start was finished when Balasz Ladanyi put home team in the lead in 8th minute (1:0). Antti Pusa answered for Jesenice in 11th (1:1). Second period was dominated by home team. Csaba Kovacs scored in 23rd minute to renew Sapa’s lead (2:1). Gasper Kroselj performed brilliantly to save his team from further deficit in following minutes. He was unable to repair defensive mistake from his team colleagues in 38th minute and Marton Vas extended Sapa’s lead (3.1). Third period Jesenice’s weak attempts to come closer were easily denied by home team, although Jonathan Juliano and Andrej Tavzelj missed nice chances to score for guests.
Sapa secured play-off spot, Jesenice remain last in the league.

HC Orli Znojmo – EC-KAC  3:2 (0:0, 1:0, 1:2, 0:0, 1:0) PS
Penalty shots in Znojmo! There weren't any chances for Znojmo to qualify for a direct play-off spot left before the game. But Czech showed what fighting spirit is – they fought against Austrian legendary record winning club with all of their heart. The only goal of guests was to remain on position Nr4 in the league. KAC players slightly dominated the ice, but Ondrej Kacetl was on top of his job in front of home goal. Rene Swete on the other side had fewer jobs to do. First goal of the night was scored in 39th minute, when Martin Podesva capitalized on Znojmo’s power play (1:0). There wasn’t enough time for KAC players to do anything significant before second intermission, but they came on ice really determined in third period. They equalized in 44th minute when Marcus Pirmann scored (1:1). Adam Havlik renewed Orli’s lead in 52nd minute. Guests reacted nervously and were given two minor penalties in following minutes. Orli couldn’t capitalize on that, but Tyler Scofield did it for KAC in 58th minute, when he scored on penalty shot (2:2). Both teams focused on defence during over time and the game went into penalty shooting. Adam Havlik scored the decisive goal for Orli and gave his team first ever win over KAC. Orli remain tenth in the league, KAC lost one place and are now fifth.

Schedule for Round 43, Tuesday, January 17th, 2012:
Jesenice (SLO): Acroni Jesenice – BW Linz
Zagreb (CRO): KHL Medvescak – Olimpija
Klagenfurt: EC KAC – EC VSV
Salzburg: RB Salzburg – Graz 99ers
Wien: Vienna capitals – Sapa Fehervar

 

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