EBEL Quarterfinals - third games

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – HC Orli Znojmo  5:0 (0:0, 4:0, 1:0)

One can never be sure, but Medvescak looks good and confident to progress to semi-finals at the moment. Bears started the third game in series with enormous pressure. They were dominant, but guests showed their abilities, as well. Both goalies were in good form, not letting the opponents score and first period finished with entertaining hockey, but no goals. PP situation for Medvescak at the beginning of second period opened the scoring – Alan Letang scored after nice pass from Greg Day (1:0). Another penalty for Znojmo in 24^th minute lead to another Bears goal – this time home goalie Robert Kristan passed to Slava trukhno in build up – and Day finished it (2:0). Things got even worse for guests in 26^th minute when two goals were scored for Medvescak. Matt Siddall extended home teams lead from the circle first (3:0), and Ken MacAuley’s shot from the blue line destroyed Znojmo seconds later (4:0). Antonin Boruta and Tom Zanoski provided the boxing part of the game before the second intermission. Third period was dominated by Znojmo players at the beginning – Bears were shorthanded. Kristan proved as the best goal keeper of the league in those moments. Medvescak calmed the play down in following minutes and scored fifth goal in53rd minute (Siddall, 5:0). Home team finished the game in style – with shutout for Kristan. Medvescak is leading the best-of-seven series with 3:0. Teams meet in Znojmo on Sunday for the fourth - possibly decisive game.

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

First two quarter final games between Linz and Vienna promised tough decisions about which team will progress to the semi-finals. Well, last night’s game was similar. Black Wings were determined to impose their style at the beginning and they hit the metalwork of Capitals’ goal twice in first five minutes. First period almost passed by ineffective pressure of Black Wings and good defending by Capitals, but Danny Irmen opened the scoring with 19 seconds left in the period (1:0). Hockey in second period was quite similar – Linz dominated and Vienna performed well in defence. Sebastian Stefaniszin also performed well in front of their net. Unfortunately for them, they once again concealed a goal seconds before intermission – this time it was Pat Leahy 18 seconds before buzzer (2:0). Many expected some serious pressure from Vienna during the third period, but home team really remained focused and strong on the ice. Black Wings were in control for most of the final period, too – and they managed to score in 57^th minute, when Gregor Baumgartner hit the net after quick counter-attack (3:0). First home win for any of the teams in this series means that Black Wings are now in lead (2:1). Teams meet again in Wien on Sunday.

SAPA Fehervar AV19 – HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana  8:1 (4:0, 1:0, 3:1)

Last night’s game in Szekesfehervar left spectators of all three SAPA – Olimpija games in doubt: are teams confronting one another closer to what was seen on first and third game (SAPA wiped Olimpija with 7:2 and 8:1), or is it really Tuesday’s game in Ljubljana relevant (Olimpija won 2:1 in OT). Well, last night’s answer is known. SAPA dominated right from the start and Andras Benk (1:0, 4’) and Arpad Mihaly (2:0, 5’) scored inside first five minutes. Devils kept the dominance over Dragons afterwards and guests committed some fouls. Power play for SAPA in 15^th minute was effectively closed with Chad Klassen’s goal (3:0). Petr Sachl (Olimpija) was next on penalty bin and Balazs Ladanyi scored another PP goal in 18^th minute (4:0). SAPA offered more joy to their loud fans in second period. Andras Horvath scored in 26^th minute to extend home team’s lead to five goals (5:0). Final period wasn’t decisive, as the winner was already long known. Home team anyway kept guests under the pressure and scored sixth goal after 25 seconds of play already (6:0, Ladanyi). Three minutes later Istvan Sofron added one on his own (7:0). Numerous chances for SAPA were also denied by JP Lamoureux in front of guests goal, but he just could not prevent his poor playing team from disaster. Petr Sachl scored a consolation goal for guests in 45^th minute (7:1). Ladislav Sikorcin effectively finished the game with eighth Devils’ goal in 59^th minute (8:1). SAPA is now leading the series 2:1; teams meet for the game Nr.3 on Sunday in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC-KAC 4:2 (1:0, 2:1, 1:1)

Last season’s finalists of EBEL are in strong competition for the semi-final place this year. Teams with one win on each account played last night’s game in Salzburg with the same wish – to get in lead in the series. Thomas Raffl opened the scoring for Red Bulls in fifth minute (1:0). It proved to be the only goal of the period, as both teams were very cautious and tried not to conceal the goal in the first place. Salzburg opened second period even quicker, as Douglas Lynch scored after exact one minute of playing (2:0). Guests from Klagenfurt refused to give up and scored shorthanded goal in 33^rd minute (Reichel, 2:1). Tyler Scofield was close to equalizer in following minute, but was denied by Marty Turco. Guests were punished for that in 38^th minute when Raffl scored his second of the night (3:1). Final period passed by with some ineffective try’s by Red Jackets. They were actually close in 57^th minute when Markus Pirmann scored (3:2) and they were trying to equalize without Andy Chiodo in front of their net. It all finished with Brent Aubin hitting an empty net (4:2). Red Bulls are now leading the series 2:1; teams meet in Klagenfurt on Sunday again.

Tweets by @eurohockey