EBEL - opening round of second part of the season

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – EC LIWEST Black Wings Linz  0:2 (0:0, 0:1, 0:1)
It was a great opportunity for Medvescak to conquer the first place in EBEL last night in Zagreb. It was also the last in series of seven games named “Arena Ice Fever” and 15.200 fans again packed the place. Home team was more aggressive during opening minutes, but without any dangerous shots to beat Alex Westlund. Actually, when opening pressure eased, Black Wings overtook dominance on ice; it was nevertheless only field dominance. Some pucks were shot towards Robert Kristan, but no real trouble for Slovenian star-goalie. Second period started in similar way: both teams strong in defence and effortless on the attacking side. In 25th minute a little carelessness of Medvescak’s defence caused trouble for them: Curtis Murphy took advantage of it and scored for guests (0:1). The fight for every inch of the ice continued after that. Medvescak failed to score late in the period when Joel Prpic couldn’t beat Westlund after fast break away in short-handed situation. Guests’ goalie stopped Andy Sertich’s try at the beginning of final period. Martin Grabher Meier extended Black Wings’ lead in 45th minute (0:2). Vyaceslav Trukhno was close to scoring for Medvescak later, but just couldn’t push the puck over the line. Interesting thing happened in the crowd where – romantic movies style – some guy asked his girl-friend to marry him in front of cameras and the whole arena audience. Daniel Oberkofler failed to score another goal for Linz close to the end of game when Kristan saved his shot. Medvescak failed to beat Black Wings and they drop one place in the league to third. Linz started the second part of season in the same manner as first part was finished – with extending their lead on top of EBEL.

EC-KAC – EC Red Bull Salzburg  6:4 (1:1, 2:2, 3:1)
Opening game of the second part of the season in Klagenfurt was between last season's finalists. Red Bulls were under the impression of defeat in Zagreb two days ago and were keen to improve the impression. Well, it all went wrong for them as Christoph Brandner scored for KAC in 3rd minute (1:0). Michael Schiechl equalized for Salzburg in 16th minute (1:1). KAC players failed to score playing 5 on 3 at the beginning of second period, but next power-play situation was more beneficial – Brandner scored in 23rd minute (2:1). Stefan Schumnig punished guests’ goalie Josh Tordjman mistake and scored 13 seconds later only (3:1). Home team dominated the ice during following minutes, but guests scored in 37th minute (Andreas Kristler, 3:2). Doug Lynch then equalized in 39th minute power-play for Red Bulls (3:3). Joey Tenute was first to score in third period – he renewed KAC’s lead in 41st minute (4:3). Tyler Scofield extended home team’s lead in 49th minute (5:3). Matthias Trattnig gave some hope for guests in 53rd minute (5:4), but Tenute added the final goal of the night in the next minute (6:4). KAC is now up two places on second position, Red Bulls are fifth.

SAPA Fehervar AV19 - HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana 4:2 (3:1, 0:1, 1:0)
Nobody expected Sapa and Olimpija in the top 6 teams in EBEL before the start of the season, but they deserved their positions. Arpad Mihaly put home team in an early lead when he scored after 67 seconds of the game (1:0). Additional three chances to score for Sapa remained unused and Justin Taylor levelled the score in 12th minute (1:1). Istvan Sofron renewed home team’s lead in the next minute already (2:1) and Ladislav Sikorcin extended it in 19th minute (3:1). Guests provoked a fist-fight in second period and were forced to play 3 against 5, but Sapa couldn’t score. Another Sapa’s goal was dissalowed after video studies. Ziga Pance did score for guests in 36th minute though (3:2). Derek Ryan finished the scoring in 48th minute (4:2). Sapa now has two points on fourth place, Olimpija is on the bottom of top 6 group with no points.

UPC Vienna Capitals – Moser Medical Graz 99ers   2:3 (2:1,0:0,0:1,0:0,0:1) PS
As all three Austrian teams are – Capitals and 99ers are favourites to win extra two places for play-off. Francois Fortier scored in 5 on 3 situation for Vienna in 5th minute (1:0). Brett Lysak equalized in 8th minute power-play for Graz (1:1). Jonathan Ferland added another PP goal for Vienna in 16th minute (2:1). Hockey in second period was quite incoherent as both teams committed too many fouls and were forced to focus on defence. Patrick Harand failed to score on penalty shot in 45th minute for Graz, but Guillaume Lefebvre managed to equalize 2:20 before the end of third period (2.2). No goals were scored in overtime. Zdenek Blatny (Graz) was the only one to score in penalty shooting after. Vienna and Graz both are on top of qualifying group with three points, as well as VSV (third Austrian team) is.

EC REKORD-Fenster VSV – HC Orli Znojmo  2:3 (1:2, 0:1, 1:0)
Nobody expected this to happen: two days after demolishing Znojmo with 7:0, VSV lost their home game against Orli! Jan Hranac announced what was coming in 3rd minute already (0:1). When Benjamin Petrik scored for VSV 31 seconds later only, everybody expected VSV to dominate the ice after. They actually did, as guests committed few fouls and were forced to defend. And they did it well! Peter Pucher used defensive mistake of VSV in 19th minute to renew Orli’s lead (1:2). VSV players tried to equalize during second period, but Znojmo defence was on top of their duty. In fact, guests scored another goal in 35th minute, when Ales Stanek effectively finished after Mike Danton’s nice pass (1:3). Villach was desperate to change things in third period, but could only manage one shorthanded goal in 53rd minute when Rob Shearer scored (2:3). It was first ever Znojmo win in Villach. VSV is on third place of this group of teams with three points, Znojmo have two on their account on fourth place.

Schedule for next round, Tuesday, January 24th, 2012:
TOP6:
Salzburg: RB Salzburg - Sapa Fehervar
Linz: BW Linz – Olimpija
Klagenfurt: KAC – Medvescak

QUALIFICATION GROUP:
Graz: Graz 99ers – EC VSV
Jesenice (SLO): Jesenice – Vienna Capitals (??)

 

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