The Ice Tigers get frozen by Hamburg

Tonight was a special night in Nuremberg, seat of the matchup between the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers and the Hamburg Freezers. Tyler Beskorowany, the former DEG goalie named best goalkeeper of the past DEL season, has just signed a contract with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers and will remain in Franconia until the end of the season. No wonder, then, if the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung was full of fans eager to watch him begin his new adventure, including a small group of Hamburg supporters (linked to the Nürnberger by years of mutual friendship).

Two Danish players were part of the Freezers' roster: Julian Jakobsen (in Hamburg since 2012, previously in Denmark and Sweden) and Morten Madsen (drafted by Minnesota Wild, previously with MODO, and with some AHL experience in the Houston Aeros). Given the unavailability of Wolff, still injured, the club from North Germany had to rely on other players even more than before. Here's the game in detail:

FIRST PERIOD

A good occasion for Nuremberg presents itself just a few seconds inside the game. A bit later, Hamburg replies becoming a serious threat. Another SOG by Pfleger is, anyways, well stopped by US goalie Cal Heeter, with just one NHL game played with the Philadelphia Flyers and some KHL experience, namely in Medvescak Zagreb.

4 minutes ad 40 seconds inside the 1^st period, Hamburg scores first (with Canadian Roy assisted by Flaake), to the rage of many Ice Tigers fans. Christoph Schubert gets a 2 mins penalty shortly thereafter, but Yahsin Ehliz is sent to the penalty box as well in a matter of seconds, thus creating a 4-on-4 situation. Then, Marco Pfleger scores, assisted by Weber and Steckel. (6 mins and 46 seconds into the game).

Later again, Nuremberg makes its way through the goal crease, but Heeter stops the shots pretty effectively every time. Another SOG for the Ice Tigers comes shortly thereafter, though. A 2-mins penalty to atrick. Reimer creates an occasion for the Freezers, but a good catch by Beskorowany during the powerplay saves the Ice Tigers.

Seconds after their return to even strength, the Franconians return to pose concrete threats to their opponents's goal. Still, the Freezers make 17 SOG against the 8 made by the home team, thus doubling them.

SECOND PERIOD

The Hamburg side starts more motivated as the home team, despite some well-made interceptions and rebounds on the Ice Tigers' part. Mathieu Roy is sent soon to the penalty box, with Nuremberg tries to force another goal. The powerplay proves itself to be unfruitful, and Hamburg doubles its efforts in getting an advantage. Kevin Schmidt goes to the penalty box with almost 29 minutes already played.

Reimer is again the author of a foul, and is again forced to exit the ice for two minutes. Despite that, the Ice Tigers almost score short-handed, but the reply of the Northerners is almost brutal, with a furious run that ends... right in front of Beskorowany's pads, while the local supporters start to chant „TY-LER! TY-LER!“ somewhat frantically.

The second period ends thus scoreless, despite an almost-successful attempt by the Ice Tigers and a significant higher number of shoots on goal on their part.

THIRD PERIOD

The defensive efforts by Hamburg are simply impressive during this latter third of the game; unfortunately for them, Tyler Beskorowany is a great goalie as well, and a temporary stalemate is reached. It is therefore not a surprise seeing how neither team is able to score, with Thomas Oppenheimer of the Freezers being temporarily sent off just 6'30“ before the end of the third period: yet even this occasion proves itself to be a wasted one, with the Ice Tigers committing way too many errors in terms of puck handling and passing.

With just 110 seconds remaining Swedish defender David Printz, a key Nuremberg player, is sent off. Is it the end for the home team? Well, no: Beskorowany proves yet again to be a really awesome goalie, forcing things to go beyond the normal game length.

OVERTIME

Both teams are now desperate for goals. Sam Klassen, a solid Canadian-German player with AHL experience -in Hamburg since two seasons-, is sent off just at the middle of the overtime period, but, even now, Nuremberg lacks of enough strength and imagination. The shootouts end therefore with an Hamburg victory, given the failure by Heatley and Morley in scoring effectively, despite the first valid shot by Patrick Reimer: with two goals by Michael Davies and Thomas Oppenheimer, it's the former Hanseatic city to raise its flag over Nuremberg tonight, thanks to a somewhat more convincing approach (despite many moments during which both teams showed the same weaknesses). Still, a good debut for Tyler Beskorowany, who is in town since just a couple of days and who authored some unbelievable catches. 

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