EBEL Quarterfinals - seventh game

05 Mar 2012 | Marko Lukan

Black Wings joined Medvescak, KAC and Olimpija in the semi-finals

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – UPC Vienna Capitals 8:3 (3:0, 5:1, 0:2)

Controversy about Vienna's first goal on game Nr.6 took place throughout Austria for the last couple of days. Official statement by the referees had to be published and it added some heat before the decisive – seventh game.
The game started off furiously for Black Wings. Danny Irmen opened the scoring in 47th second of the game already (1:0) after marvellous providing by Rob Hisey. Martin Mairitsch added another goal for home team in 4th minute (2:0) and there was consequently really a hard task in front of Capitals. Power-play for guests followed, but they couldn't score in front of 3650 fans. Irmen returned the favor to Hisey in 9th minute and it was already 3:0 for home team. Penalty for Franklin Macdonald (Linz) followed in 12th minute and guests finally managed to put some pressure on home team. Andre Lakos and Nathan Robinson were dangerous during PP, but Alex Westlund, home goalie, kept his sheets clean. Second period started with strong pressure by guests. Linz somehow survived the pressure and Martin Grabher-Meier scored another goal after fast breakaway in 28th minute (4:0). Fourth home goal destroyed guest’s hopes. Peter Casparsoon (Vienna) had to go to penalty bin for boarding and Hisey benefitted on that after 39 seconds (5:0). At that point Sebastian Stefaniszin, guests' goalkeeper was replaced by young talent Thomas Dechel. Stefaniszin actually stopped only 8 of 13 shots fired against his goal. First puck ended up behind Dechel's back after 16 seconds(!) – Daniel Oberkofler scored for another extension to the lead (6:0). Humiliation continued, as Justin Keller (7:0) and Mike Ouellette (8:0, PP) both scored in 35th minute. Actually, Dechel couldn't save three of first five shots towards his goal. Capitals finally scored in 40th minute power-play (Casparsson, 8:1). They outshot Linz 27:18 in first two periods, yet eight pucks finished in their net and they scored once only. Jonathan Ferland added another PP goal for Vienna in 52nd minute (8:2) and Dan Bjornlie scored another consolation goal in 59th minute (8:3), but the damage was already done.

Semi-finals, first games – Tuesday, March 6th, 2012:

Linz: BW Linz – HDD Olimpija
Zagreb (CRO): KHL Medvescak – EC KAC