EBEL; Second part of the season - round 7

TOP6 Group:

KHL Medvescak Zagreb -  EC KAC   3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)

Conditions in Zagreb last night were slightly better than those on Friday; at least snow wasn’t falling on the Salata ice-ring, although it was once again freezing cold. Both teams started the game playing very physical hockey. Tom Zanoski opened the scoring in 8^th minute with a nice backhander (1:0). Mike Ouzas in front of Medvescak’s net was forced to perform well during following minutes, but guests couldn’t score. Bears were also ineffective when they had a chance to score playing 5 on 3 later in the period. Ouzas was again in centre of attention at the start of the second period when he had to save some dangerous shots from KAC players. Home team was predominant in following minutes. Thomas Hundertpfund was sent on a penalty bench for slashing in 36^th minute and Andy Sertich scored for Medvescak in PP in 38^th (2:0). Guests were once again very dangerous from the beginning of following period and they even hit the post; anyway, most of their shots were cleared by very good Ouzas. Rene Swette also performed good occasionally on the other side. Guests desperately tried to score in closing minutes and they called Swette off. That gave Ryan Kinasewich a chance he couldn’t miss: scoring in empty net (3:0). That way Medvescak remains on the second position in TOP6 group, reducing the gap to Linz on two points. KAC is on the bottom of TOP6.

SAPA Fehervar AV 19 – EC Red Bull Salzburg  4:3 (2:1, 0:1, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0)

Humiliating defeat from SAPA in Salzburg last week forced guests to step into the game with more caution. Daniel Welser put them in the lead in 4^th minute (0:1), but Balazs Lada equalized in 8^th minute for SAPA (1:1). Csaba Kovacs was next to give Marty Turco a taste of Hungarian hockey – he scored in 18^th minute (2:1). Guests survived with a man down at the beginning of the second period and they were not able to score minutes later, when they were offered a chance to score with 5 on 3 on the ice. Adam Munro in front of the Devils net was beaten anyway in 32^nd minute, when Rob Earl scored after a fast break (2:2). Both teams scored a single goal in the third period. First it was Chad Klassen who beat Turco on rebound in 46^th minute (3:2), but Ramzi Abid equalized in 49^th minute (3:3). No goals were scored in overtime and the Hungarians showed their quality at penalty shooting beating Turco to win second consecutive game over Red Bulls. SAPA remains third with 8 points; Red Bulls are fifth with seven.

HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz  6:3 (2:3, 1:0, 3:0)

Attendance in Ljubljana was finally slightly better last night, as home team decided to give the tickets away for free. Peter Sachl showed to Black Wings what was about to happen in Ljubljana last night already in the second minute of the game, when he hit the post. Alex Westlund let Scott Hotham score between his legs in 6^th minute to put Olimpija in the lead (1:0). Ziga Pance produced unnecessary tripping seconds later and Linz was offered a chance to equalize immediately. It didn’t happen. In fact, playing shorthanded, Olimpija produced two nice chances, but Westlund saved his net on both occasions. Justin Keller equalized for guests in 9^th minute (1:1). Brian Lebler gave guests the lead 67 seconds later only (1:2). Same player scored another goal in 18^th minute (1:3). Danny Irmen’s penalty in 19^th minute gave Olimpija another goal five seconds before first intermission; Hotham scored from the blue line (2:3). Second period was dominated by Olimpija, as guests commited too many fouls. Youngster Miha Verlic was given a chance to score on penalty shot in 38^th minute, and he did just that to equalize (3:3). A huge controversy happened 48 seconds before the second pause, when Matej Hocevar was probably hit by Lebler with elbow and was left bleeding on the ice with referees letting the play to continue. Other players of both teams were confused, and they stopped playing after a while by themselves. Hocevar apparently lost a tooth and suffers from twice broken jaw, but no penalty was given!!! Dragons punished such roughness in perfect style during the last period. First it was Brad Cole who was trying to teach Lebler some manners in a boxing match. Guests survived two minutes playing 3 against 5 between 44^th and 46^th minute, but concealed a goal right after Justin Keller and Daniel Oberkofler returned on the ice; Hotham scored his third of the night in 47^th minute (4:3). Nervous Patrick Spannring (BW Linz) finished his game a minute later for game misconduct and charging. Ziga Pance’s shot a minute into PP somehow finished over the line (5:3) although referees needed to check a video to allow the goal. Remaining four minutes of PP were cleared by guests and they were given a chance to come closer in their own PP after that. Westlund left the ice for an extra skater for Linz in 59^th minute. Sachl was given a minor penalty for hooking in following moments so guests were trying to score with 6 on 4 on the ice. Well, they didn’t. In fact, Justin Taylor scored an empty-netter (6:3). Olimpija remains fourth, Black Wings are still on top.

QUALIFICATION Group:

HK Acroni Jesenice – Moser Medical Graz 99ers  4:3 (3:1, 1:1, 0:1)

HK Jesenice couldn’t win over Graz in four this season’s first stage games; they did it anyway – twice - during the last week. Being left without chances to win a play-off spot, home team performed really well against North American players packed Graz. Captain of home team Tomo Hafner scored on one timer in 5^th minute (1:0). Manuel Ganahl equalized in 11^th minute (1:1), but Branislav Bendik surprised Fredric Cloutier a minute after to regain home teams’ lead (2:1). Miha Brus provided a perfect pass to Hafner in 16^th minute fast break and Steelers extended their lead (3:1). 99ers shot more frequently during the first period, but Michal Fikrt performed well in front of the home team net. Olivier Latendresse scored for Graz in 22^nd minute (2:3) to warn the home team. Guests tried to equalize, but young home team fought lion-hearted. Another fast break in 34^th minute extended home team’s lead, as Antti Pusa effectively beat Cloutier after nice set up by Bendik (4:2). Guests began to play dirty after that and Latendresse had to leave the ice for cross checking and game misconduct. Brad Schell was the only one to score in the last 20 minutes (4:3, 52’) and Jesenice, already written off, won the game. Home team is however still on bottom of the league standings; Graz is currently also out of the play-off spot.

HC Orli Znojmo – UPC Vienna Capitals  2:4 (0:1, 0:2, 2:1)

A must win game for Vienna happened last night in Znojmo, Czech Republic. Surprisingly for some, Znojmo is on top of the Qualification Group, and for even bigger surprise expensive Vienna team is in serious trouble for reaching the play-off spot. Well, Capitals showed precisely what they are capable in the first period. They put enormous pressure on Orli. In fact, it is fair to say that Znojmo barely tasted the ice outside their defensive zone during first ten minutes. Those minutes included two PP situations for Capitals as well, but home team’s net remained empty. Finally out of their zone, Orli were offered a chance to get in the lead in 12^th minute, playing for whole two minutes 5 on 3, but they couldn’t score. The only goal of the period was scored in 17^th minute when Jon Insana scored for guests (0:1). Both teams failed to score on some chances at the beginning of the second period before Marcel Rodman extended guests’ lead in 29^th minute after nice pass from Filip Gunnarson (0:2). Third Vienna’s goal was scored shorthanded in 35^th minute (0:3, Ferland). When Daniel Nageler scored for guests after quick counter attack in 45^th minute (0:4), it was all decided. In fact, Orli managed to pull one back in the next minute (1:4, Bartos) and add another in 54^th minute (2:4, Planek, PP), but home team never really got closer. Znojmo anyway remains on top of Qualification Group with 9 points, Vienna is fourth (out of play-off spot) with now seven.

Schedule for 8^th round, Friday, February 10^th:

TOP6 Group:

Linz: BW Linz – KHL Medvescak

Salzburg: RB Salzburg – EC KAC

Ljubljana (SLO): Olimpija – SAPA AV19

Qualification Group:

Wien: Vienna Capitals – EC VSV

Jesenice (SLO): HK Jesenice – Orli Znojmo

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