EBEL; Second part of the season - round 4

TOP6 games:

SAPA Fehervar AV19 – KHL Medvescak Zagreb  0:3 (0:2, 0:0, 0:1)
This season's surprise Sapa and now already one of the favourites of this competition Medvescak met last night. Fifteen seconds have only passed in the game, when Sapa was dangerous for the first time, but Michael Ouzas, guests’ goalie was focused. Tom Zanoski, on the other side, took care of Adam Munro’s warmth. Istvan Sofron was inlucky when he hit the frame of Ouzas’ goal in seventh minute. Ladislav Sikorcin was next to do the same in 11th minute and home team was really unlucky not to be in front of Medvescak at that point. Dario Kostovic was first denied by Munro in following minute, but he opened the scoring moments later with a long range shot into a close corner of the goal (0:1, 13'). It was Bear's turn to hit the metalwork next, as Ryan Kinasewich did it. Andy Sertich extended guests' lead fourteen seconds before the first intermission after Mike Prpic's shot (0:2). Hungarians were really determined to level the score at the beginning of the second period. The best chance to do so was missed by Derek Ryan in power-play for Sapa. Ouzas came out big on another occasion, when Arpad Mihaly one-timed the puck with enormous power. Marton Vas was next to miss a good opportunity to equalize, but there were no goals in the second period.
Frank Banham's try at the beginning of the last period was denied by Munro. Balasz Ladanyis shot flew over the goal of – already beaten – Ouzas after that. Guests failed to score the decisive goal playing 5 on 3 later. Munro left his net during the last two minutes to let Sapa an extra skater, but it all finished with an EN goal by Adam Naglich in 60th minute. Medvescak that way overtook Sapa and is now once more second with seven points; Sapa is now third with six.

HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana – EC Red Bull Salzburg  5:1 (2:0, 1:1, 2:0)
Thanks to the good mood of Ziga Pance, Olimpija beat guests from Salzburg. Pance was first to score in 6th minute power-play (1:0). He beat Thomas Höneckl in the following minute as well (2:0). Phillip Zopf, the youngster, was then offered a chance to save guests’ net. It has to be mentioned that Salzburg signed legendary Marty Turco for the rest of the season and surely their defence will improve a great deal with his experiences.  Back to the game: Olimpija was forced to play with a man down because of too many players on the ice, but the only shot Red Bulls produced in following two minutes was easily denied by JP Lamoureux. In fact, Brock McBride was in a chance to score for Olimpija during those two minutes. Interesting stuff happened at the start of the second period when Höneckl returned to save guests’ net and he was immediately in the centre of attention when he saved Peter Sachl’s shot. Home team defended well with a man down in following minutes, as Jamie Fraser was on the penalty bench. The same player hit the net on a rebound in 34th minute (3:0). It took only 24 seconds after that for Red Bulls to finally score, as Ramzi Abid’s nice solo effort beat Lamoureux (3:1). Home team failed to took advantage of power-play at the beginning of third period, but guests also failed to score on their PP situation later. John Hughes coast to coast action with a shot in 48th minute was saved by Höneckl, but Ziga Pance scored on rebound (4:1). At that point of the game, Red Bulls were left without any idea of how to confront home team. Z.Pance found his younger brother Erik in 55th minute with a nice pass and Erik scored the final goal of the night (5:1). 5 on 3 situation for Salzburg after that didn’t improve their miserable impression in Ljubljana last night; this was their fifth consecutive loss. Olimpija is now fourth with four points, Red Bulls are yet to win a point in this part of the season, although they have 2 from the start; they are on bottom of TOP6.

EC-KAC – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz  1:3 (0:0, 1:1, 0:2)
This surely was one of the beauties of this EBEL season so far! Both teams intention was to enforce their own style of play right from the start of the game. Thomas Koch and Martin Schumnig missed early chances for KAC, and Rob Hisey was denied by Andy Chiodo on the other side. Both teams performed well into defensive zone and first period finished 0:0. Black Wings started to dominate during the second period and Curtis Murphy hit the net of KAC in 30th minute power-play for guests (0:1). Tyler Scofield equalized 17 seconds later (1:1) and both teams were quite equal later during that period. The same picture was seen in third period and many of spectators already concerned about overtime, but Thomas Koch was sent to penalty box for delaying the game four minutes before the end of the game. Black Wings used this marvellous opportunity, as Justin Keller scored in 57th minute (1:2). Home team was of course forced to try to equalize without a goalie, but they concealed an empty-netter instead (Brian Lebler, 60'). Linz is now already five points clear on top of the league, KAC is fifth.

QUALIFICATION group games:

HK Acroni Jesenice – EC REKORD-Fenster VSV  2:3 (0:0, 1:2, 1:1)
HK Jesenice is written off! Their ice-hall is quite empty, their struggling team is without points on the bottom of the league and future does not look bright at this moment. Anyway, home team youngsters performed surprisingly well during the first period and Branislav Bendik  (twice) and Tomo Hafner failed to score on some nice chances. To be fair, home team had three power play chances, but they remained unused. Guests were really quiet in opening twenty minutes unlike number of their fans in Podmezakla ice hall. Second period was once more dominated by home team. Jan Bercic felt unlucky hitting the metal frame of guests goal in 27th minute, but Hafner was there to score on the rebound (1:0). Steelers kept with their pressure and were looking to score the second goal, but Bernhard Starkbaum was very confident in front of guest’s goal. Instead of second goal for home team, Derek Damon equalized in 37th minute (1:1). Being in shock after that, home team let Rob Shearer score another goal for guests in PP situation in 39th minute (1:2). Jesenice tried to catch guests at the beginning the third period, but were very unlucky, hitting additional two posts. Guests couldn’t score on two consecutive PP situations, but they scored the decisive goal in 53rd minute (1:3, Wiedergut). Home team was forced to try to equalize with additional player instead of their goalie and Antti Pusa scored 53 seconds before the final buzzer (2:3). Last seconds didn't offer home crowd the pleasure of equalizer, but it awarded their team with strong applause anyway. Jesenice are still on the bottom of the league, pointless. VSV keeps their chances for a play-off spot on a high level, as they are levelled on top of qualification group with Graz.

Moser Medical Graz 99ers – HC Orli Znojmo  3:2 FOT (0:1, 0:0, 2:1)
Mike Danton scored the first goal of the night in first minute already (0:1). Home team was clearly surprised by that and couldn't find their play after that. Guests from Czech Republic continued to play aggressive and caused all sorts of trouble to home goalie. The result however didn't change during the period. It was obvious that 99ers first line misses Toni Dahlman (flu). Graz performed a bit better on the ice during second period, but their attacks were quite effortless. On the other side, Orli concentrated on defence and were very dangerous on their fast breakaways, but no goals were scored. 99ers failed to equalize on 4 minutes of PP at the beginning of third period and were punished for that. Peter Pucher came on the ice right from penalty box and finished one of counter attacks to extend Znojmo's lead in 47th minute (0:2). 99ers were quite lost at that point of the game, but Cole Jarrett scored in 53rd minute and it all turned things around (1:2). Never been really in a game, 99ers equalized in 57th minute (2:2, Manuel Ganahl) and they managed to win over shocked guests in overtime - Zdenek Blatny scored from the blue line in 63rd minute (3:2). Graz is leading the qualification group with seven points (levelled with VSV9, Znojmo and Vienna are next with five.

Schedule for fifth round, Tuesday, January 31st:

TOP6 group games:
Linz: BW Linz – Sapa Fehervar
Salzburg: RB Salzburg – KHL Medvescak
Ljubljana (SLO): Olimpija – EC KAC

QUALIFICATION group games:
Graz: Graz 99ers – HK Jesenice
Wien: Vienna Capitals – Orli Znojmo

 

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