EBEL Semi-finals; third games

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – EC-KAC  3:2 (2:0, 0:0, 1:2)

Guests from Klagenfurt came to Zagreb leading 2:0 in wins. First game in Zagreb days ago was marked by mass brawl; consequently many players were unable to play in the second game in Klagenfurt. Second game in Klagenfurt was on the other hand marked by strange refereeing criteria which affected Medvescak players mostly.
Last night’s game was therefore very important for both teams. Home team in desperate need to win needed to stay focused and cautious. Their physical style of play had to be moderated a bit, but that does not mean they weren’t aggressive at the start of the game. Both teams tried to score during opening minutes, but goalies Robert Kristan (Med) and Andy Chiodo (KAC) were focused. Home team was also unlucky when Matt Siddall struck the metalwork in 3^rd minute. First goal – to enormous joy for the most of 7000 spectators – came in 5^th minute, when Ryan Kinasewich scored on rebound (1:0). Johannes Kirisitz’ slashing in 8^th minute forced KAC to play shorthanded and they were quickly punished for that – Tom Zanoski scored a power-play goal for home team in following minute (2:0). Kirisitz repeated his mistake in 11^th minute, but with no goal-consequences to that. No additional goals were scored until the end of period. Second period was quite fluent, although did not provide any goals. Both teams were offered to play once in a power-play situation. KAC players were slightly dominant and Kristan had to produce some big saves during the period. Dominik Kanaet was in great chance for Medvescak, but was denied by Chiodo. Tyler Scofield (KAC) was unlucky hitting the post towards the end of period. Final period offered offensive approach by guests and tired, but lion-hearted home team. Kenneth MacAuley (Med) was the only player to go to the sin bin during third period; his slashing penalty actually produced a shorthanded goal for Medvescak.  Zanoski stole the puck from guests’ defenders in his own zone, launched himself on the other side and effectively scored in 45^th minute (3:0). 57 seconds later – still during power-play - Scofield pulled one back after great passes by Johannes Reichel and Raphael Herburger (3:1). Thomas Hundertpfund’s one timer in 52^nd minute offered no chances to Kristan and guests were really close (3:2). Moments later Thomas Koch and Scofield were in 2-on-1 chance to equalize, but were denied by Kristan. Guests tried everything to equalize and home team hit another post after Vyacheslav Trukhno’s fast breakaway. Last minute offered an open net for home team, as Chiodo left the ice for an extra skater for KAC, but no real chances were produced. Home team reached narrow, but much deserved win and is now trailing 1:2 in wins. Fourth game is scheduled for Tuesday in Klagenfurt.

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

Loud announcements from Ljubljana promised another tight game in Linz, but it never happened. Guests were lost in space for the most of the game, their defensemen were not up to the job and their goalie Matija Pintaric was also very indisposed. Opening chance of the game was offered to guests though, but Erik Pance was denied by Alex Westlund. Martin Mairitsch opened the scoring in 5^th minute with a nice shot (1:0). Pressure continued and Pintaric was forced to pick another puck from his net in 7^th minute, when Brian Lebler scored on his own rebound (2:0). Justin Keller struck the metalwork of Pintaric’s goal moments later and guests’ self-assured plan to win in Linz was probably destroyed at that point. Adrian Veidemann extended home team’s lead in 12^th minute power-play (3:0). Rob Hisey and Patrick Spannring missed nice chances for humiliation of guests in following minutes. Ales Music though managed to score for guests in 17^th minute (3:1). Not that it interrupted Black Wings – Keller hit another post before the end of first period. Daniel Oberkofler restored three goal lead for home team in 22^nd minute (4:1) and Keller finally scored in 33^rd minute (5:1). Guests’ coach decided to change his goalie after that and Matic Boh, the twenty-year old, stood in front of Olimpija’s net. He was beaten by Mike Ouellette’s deflection in 37^th minute (6:1). With the winner already decided, final period offered no goals. Home team controlled the period easily, not allowing guests to score, and also saving power for fourth - might be already the decisive game – on Tuesday in Ljubljana. Olimpija now trails 0:3 in this best-of-seven series and is in front of a really difficult task.

Tweets by @eurohockey