EBEL Semi-finals; second games

EC-KAC – KHL Medvescak Zagreb  4:1 (1:0, 2:0, 1:1)

Both teams played cautious at the beginning of the game. KAC dominated the ice due to four consecutive power-play situations. It was only fourth PP that gave spectators an opening goal of the night: Dieter Kalt scored in 15^th minute. It was the only goal of the period, although two power-play situations for guests followed. Second period was quite similar: Medvescak players were given seven minor penalties and KAC players scored on two of those. Some spectators said that almost every touch by Medvescak players was called penalty. First to score was Mike Siklenka in 27th minute (2:0), while Matt Siddall (MED) was in penalty box for charging. Three additional penalties for guests followed and David Schuller extended home team's lead in 34^th minute (3:0). Guests were forced to play shorthanded twice more in the second period, so they were unable to threaten Andy Chiodo in front of home goal. Slava Trukhno was first to score for Medvescak in two games, when he hit the top corner of Chiodo’s net in 45^th minute (3:1). Guests were trying to add some real pressure in following minutes, but Chiodo managed to save Greg Day’s, Matt Siddall’s, Sasa Martinovic’s and Dominik Kanaet’s shots. On the other side, Manuel Geier was in a great chance to score in 52^nd minute, but Robert Kristan miraculously denied him. Guests called Kristan off the ice 2:25 before final buzzer and were trying to get closer with an extra attacker. They weren’t successful – on contrary: John Lammers scored an empty-netter in 59^th minute to confirm the win (4:1). KAC is now 2:0 up in this best-of-seven series.  Third game follows on Sunday in Zagreb, Croatia.

HDD TILIA Olimpija Ljubljana - EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz  3:4 (1:2, 1:1, 1:0, 0:1) OT

They say it wasn’t particularly good and intensive game in Linz few days ago. Well, that cannot be told about yesterday’s game in Ljubljana. It was a dream start for home team: Domen Vedlin fired a puck towards Alex Westlund’s goal, it got deflected and John Hughes took advantage of it – 1:0 in the second minute of the game. Packed old Tivoli Hall exploded in joy! Following minutes were dominated by Black Wings, as they presented firmly why they were the best team of the regular part of the season. Hockey was played mainly in Olimpija’s zone up until 5^th minute, when Curtis Murphy equalized for guests (1:1). It was unusual goal, as the puck was fired almost from the blue line along the board, but somehow beat Matija Pintaric. Ziga Pance’s try in 10^th minute was denied by Westlund and on the ther side Rob Hisey failed to beat Pintaric. Another similar – some would say silly – goal for Linz was scored in 15^th minute, when Michael Mayr scored (1:2) in what never looked like a goal scoring opportunity, but beat Pintaric, this time from another side though. Vedlin’s hooking took him to sin bin in 21^st minute and Black Wings benefitted on that in 23^rd minute – Justin Keller scored power-play goal (1:3). In 27^th minute Bostjan Groznik almost scored his first ever EBEL goal (five seasons played, 262 games) – gigantic defenseman fired twice from the blue line and second shot actually beat Westlund, but they awarded the goal to Igor Cvetek who deflected a puck a bit in front of Westlund (2:3). Daniel Oberkogler was close to scoring for Linz in following moments, but was denied by Pintaric. Pintaric saved another big chance in 32^nd minute, when he didn’t allow Justin Keller to score.  Olimpija tried to equalize at the beginning of third period, but couldn’t produce any real pressure on power-play. Another penalty for guests than at least allowed home team to dominate the ice, but nothing significant happened. Brad Cole’s wrist shot in 50^th minute gave Olimpija an equalizer (3:3). Just when most of the spectators expected the final offensive by home team, two great fast-breaks from Black Wings endangered Pintaric, but he saved both shots to keep his team in the game. Over-time was finished after 52 seconds. Black Wings won a face –off in front of Olimpija’s goal and Danny Irmen scored third long-range shot goal of the night for Linz (3:4). Linz now leads this series with 2:0 in wins. Next game follows in Linz on Sunday.

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