EBEL Quarterfinals - first games

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – UPC Vienna Capitals  3:4 (0:2, 2:1, 1:0, 0:1) OT

That’s the beauty of sport! Capitals played quite bad through almost whole regular season and were forced to secure play-off position in qualification group. They did it in their final game and it obviously boosted their self-confidence. On the other hand, Black Wings were the dominant team in EBEL right from the start of the season, but read further what happened last night in Linz.
Both teams were quite equal on the ice at the opening minutes. Pat Leahy almost opened the scoring in 6^th minute, but his shot finished in metal frame of guests goal. Vienna players were focusing on defense and were very dangerous on fast breakaways. Alex Westlund in front of home net was forced to save his team occasionally, after counter attacks took place. He couldn’t save his team in 16^th minute though, when Jon Insana scored for guests (0:1). It took 70 seconds for guests to double their lead, as Francois Fortier scored on a rebound (0:2). Second period started nicely for Linz. Gregor Baumgartner scored in power-play situation in 21^st minute (1:2). Home team was determined to equalize after that and they put some real pressure on guests. They managed to level the score on another PP in 31^st minute, when Rob Hisey scored (2:2). Nathan Robinson’s breakaway in 34^th minute gave Capitals another lead (2:3). Black Wings were closely marked in following minutes and second period finished with one goal lead for guests. Martin Mairitsch and Mike Ouellette failed to score for Linz at the beginning of third period, but Franklin Macdonald managed to level the score in 48^th minute (3:3). Mairitsch was again in a good chance to score after that, but it just wasn’t his night. The game went into overtime and guests scored in 63^rd minute; Dan Bjornlie did it after marvelous passes by Francois Fortier and Benoit Gratton (3:4). Some say it’s a surprise, others say that’s play-off – but the fact is that Vienna Capitals are now leading in the best-of-seven series with 1:0. Teams meet for the second game in Wien on Tuesday.

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – HC Orli Znojmo  3:1 (1:0, 1:0, 1:1)

First ever EBEL play-off game for guests from Czech Republic did not start well; Alan Letang scored for Medvescak early in the game (1:0, 2’). Power-play for guests in 6^th minute almost provided another goal for home team, but Marek Ciliak’s brilliant reaction saved guests. Ciliak was really in good form during generally ugly first period. It was very physical and teams were rarely playing with five skaters on the ice; Medvescak spent 8 minutes in penalty box, and Znojmo players were ordered to cool off for 12 minutes.  Ciliak performed great at the beginning of second period to keep his team only one goal behind. Greg Day thought he doubled the lead, but the goal was not allowed, as refs watched the video and determined that the puck never really crossed the goal line. Frank Banham provided a crucial pass to Joel Prpic in 28^th minute and the gigantic man in blue doubled home teams lead (2:0). Orli started the final period more ambitiously and Jiri Beroun hit the post of Robert Kristan’s goal. Tom Zanoski failed to score from penalty shot in 46^th minute. Jan Seda’s goal for Orli in 53^rd minute (2:1) promised an exciting finish of the game, but Prpic’s PP goal in 56^th minute (3:1) sealed the first in best-of-seven games in Bears’ favour. Teams meet again in Znojmo (CZE) on Tuesday.

SAPA Fehervar AV19 – HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana  7:2 (2:0, 2:2, 3:0)

Optimistic expectations from Slovenian capital obviously didn’t have solid base. Opportunistic choice of opponents certainly has backfired to Olimpija. J.P. Lamoureux performed well during opening minutes – he saved his team from early trailing. He couldn’t prevent Hungarians from scoring in 12^th minute though. First, it was Istvan Sofron (1:0) and 44 seconds later Arpad Mihaly doubled the lead (2:0). Quick lead really boosted home team and Krisztian palkovics, Ladislav Sikorcin, Sofron, Marton Vas and Chad Klassen failed to extend the lead. Guests were not dangerous at all and they have to thank their goalie they were two goals down only after first period. Sikorcin extended home teams lead 34 seconds into second period (3:0) but Justin Taylor answered for guests in following minute (3:1). Another few chances for home team were missed before Jamie Fraser scored another for Olimpija in 31^st minute (3:2). Second goal for guests warned home team to take the game more seriously, and they did just so. Mihaly restored a two goal lead for SAPA in 40^th minute PP (4:2). Nervous Lamoureux hit Andras Horvath to the head as a result of that goal and he was awarded for that with 5+20 minutes; he won’t be able to help his team on at least next game on Tuesday. Having in mind that this wasn’t first seasons misbehaviour of JP Lamoureux and that second choice goalie Matija Pintaric is also under penalty for following games, guest’s goalie really did the stupidest thing possible! Matic Boh, the youngster, had to step in front of guests’ goal as a consequence. Boh was surely shaky at the start of final period and SAPA benefitted on that – Balasz Ladanyi scored in 41^st minute (5:2). After that it was all one way traffic and Sofron (6:2, 53’) and Eric Johansson (7:2, 56’PP) confirmed SAPA’s good form in last few weeks. Teams meet again in Ljubljana (SLO) on Tuesday.

EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC KAC  5:3 (2:1, 2:1, 1:1)

Last season’s finalists are forced to play to each other for the semi-finals place due to strange calculations of Olimpija Ljubljana. Guests opened the scoring for the night in 4^th minute, when John Lammers scored (0:1). Stefan geier was in chance to double the lead in 12^th minute, but he failed to do so. Fast breakaway was performed by Red Bulls after that and Johannes Bischofberger equalized (1:1). Doug Lynch’s PP goal in 16^th minute gave Salzburg first lead of the night (2:1). Geier anyway put his name on a score shield in 27^th minute, when he equalized for KAC (2:2). It was now two way game, either team could go in front in following minutes. Robbie Earl renewed home team’s lead in 38^th minute (3:2) and Thomas Raffl’s PP goal in 40^th minute probably decided the winner (4:2). Brent Aubin scored another PP goal for Red Bulls in 43^rd minute (5:2). David Schuller scored one for KAC in following minute (5:3). Despite some pressure against Marty Turco’s goal, guests were unable to score another goal until the end of the game and are now trailing in the best-of-seven series. Teams meet for the game Nr.2 in Klagenfurt on Tuesday.

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