DAB Docler Wins their Second Straight MOL Liga Championship over HSC Csikszereda

DAB Docler takes the championship series over HSC Csikszereda four games to two.  Atilla Pavuk opened up the scoring early in the second period, receiving an assist from David Szappanos—his tenth playoff point.  Viktor Papp scored an insurance goal ten minutes into the second period, with assists from Richard Nagy and Tamas Virag.  Peter Sevela continued his excellent play shutting out Csikszereda for his second time in this series.

The final two goals for DAB Docler came with less than three minutes left in the game, including one from Zsolt Azari on the power play.  Tamas Groschl received credit on the final goal.

Csikszereda played well throughout the series after sweeping HC Nove Zamky in the semifinal round.  After stealing Game 2 in Dunaujvaros, Csikszereda strung out three straight overtime games.  However, they lost two of the first three overtime matches, leading them to have to win three straight games to win the championship. 

DAB Docler proved to be just too good of a team as they have consistently all season.  Though DAB Docler slipped in Game 5 with an opportunity to close out the series at home, the Acelbikak soundly defeated Csikszereda in Romania Friday evening.  In this series, home ice was not an advantage, with DAB Docler going 1-2 in Dunaujvaros and Csikszereda losing all three home matches.

The difference in the series was DAB Docler’s ability to get their stars and role players on the board, while shutting down Csikszereda’s leading scorers.  Sevela and Stanislav Kozuch played toe-to-toe all series, proving why they are generally considered the league’s best netminders.  As with the regular season, Galanisz and Szappanos led the series in scoring, while DAB Docler corralled Vaclav Novak and Lubomir Hurtaj when it mattered most.

With the season over, the MOL Liga has a lot of issues to solve before next October.  An additional junior team from the Budapest area has tentatively agreed to join the league next year.  However, the two existing Budapest teams have financial issues making both teams uncompetitive.  There is also no confirmation concerning which existing teams will stay in the league next season.  Between 2011 and 2012, the MOL Liga lost several teams, while picking up Nove Zamky, leaving the league with five competitive teams playing across three countries. 

In the interim, Budapest will host the upcoming IIHF World Championship’s - Division I/A Men’s in April, where the national team will have stiff competition from Kazakhstan and Great Britain. 

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