EBEL - 9th round review

Sapa Fehervar AV19 – HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana  5:2 (0:0,2:1,3:1)

Last night’s game between this season’s surprisingly good teams from Szekesfehervar and Ljubljana was all about goalie’s talent during the first period. Both teams had their chances; both goalies proved they are amongst top net-defenders in the league. A defensive fail in Sapa’s defense during 29^th minute offered Olimpija’s leading goal. Sapa answered in 35^th minute when Istvan Sofron scored first of his two power play goals last night. Home team hit the net once again in 39^th minute to lead the game after two periods (2:1). Derek Ryan scored his 7^th goal in nine games at the beginning of third period to extend the lead for Sapa (3:1). Olimpija managed to score on rebound in 47^th minute  (3:2) and pressure against home defence was expected. It didn’t happen though. Sapa controlled last ten minutes of the game very well, scoring once again in power play in 55^th minute(4:2) and hitting the empty net during the last minute to win the game comfortably 5:2. Sapa now holds position Nr.4 in the league and Olimpija drop one place from the second to the third spot.

EC Rekord Fenster VSV – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz  2:5 (0:1,2:0,0:4)

It was Markus Peintner come back game last night in Villach. Home team is doing really poor this season; on contrary – guests from Linz are the most scoring team in the league.  They gave some extra headache to home crowd in 4^th minute hitting the net from close distance. VSV later on managed to play better, had few chances during two power play situations, but the result did not change until the first buzzer. Villach came really aggressive to the second period and scored a levelling goal. It was disallowed after long video studies, but home team scored once again in 25^th minute when M.Peintner levelled the score. VSV youngsters scored in 32^nd minute (2:1), and Villach continued to pressure against Linz’s defence. Final period was something else: counter attack in 45^th minute for Linz levelled the score shield (2:2), and shocked home players. Linz grabbed two quick goals in 49^th and 50^th minute, and later hit the empty net in 58^th to win their fifth game in a row. Villach crisis is now even deeper; two wins out of eight games are enough for tenth place in the league only.

HK Acroni Jesenice – HC Orli Znojmo  0:1 (0:0,0:1,0:0)

Fans are still supporting poor home team. Nearly 2000 gathered to see the game against Znojmo and expected a win. It was quite real expectation as Jesenice played well during last four or five games. A win would mean escape from bottom of the league. Nothing went Jesenice’s way last night though. Znojmo missed their early chances and Jesenice didn’t find any of their good form during first period. Second period did not offer any good hockey. The only goal of the game was scored in 37^th minute: home team had power play and made stupid foul. Situation changed and Orli scored on rebound. Tomi Hafner hit the post right in the next minute to announce Jesenice’s offensive; it wasn’t seen though. Last period offered few semi-good chances for Jesenice, poor performance from referees (for both teams to be fair) and a lot of nervousness, but nothing changed on a score shield. Znojmo won first game under their new coach, goalie Filip Landsman finished his first game for Orli with shoot-out and Jesenice remain on bottom of the league.

EC KAC – UPC Vienna Capitals  4:1 (1:0,2:1,1:0)

Any team coming to Klagenfurt has to deal with fully packed home arena. It was a case last night, too. Both teams performed well during opening minutes, playing aggressive and quick. John Lammers scored his first of three goals during two men advantage in 9^th minute and KAC missed really good chance to extend the lead right in the next seconds of the game. KAC continued to attack during the second period when Vienna offered a lot of chances having many penalty minutes. KAC scored on two of such situations in 28^th and 30^th minute to lead comfortably 3:0. Vienna came closer in 37^th minute (3:1) when Harald Ofner scored. KAC concentrated on defending the lead during last period and managed to score once again during 55^th minute (4:1). That way team from Klagenfurt won for the fifth time in five home games and it remains on top of the league.

EC Red Bull Salzburg – KHL Medvescak Zagreb  6:4 (0:0,2:1,4:3)

Guests from Croatia presented 18 years old goalie Andrej Vasiljevic last night in Salzburg. He proved to be quite good during first half of the game. First period did not offer any goals. Frank Banham who once played an important role in Salzburg hit the post for Medvescak during the second period announcing first power play goal of the night – it was scored in 27^th minute to give guests from Zagreb the lead. Red bulls levelled the score in 32^nd minute also in a power play situation. Salzburg was disallowed another goal before 40^th minute when Rob Earl scored his first of the night (2:1). Another power play for Medvescak meant 2:2 in 42^nd minute. But that wasn’t all: Medvescak managed to score two more in 45^th and 46^th (2:4). Possibility for first season’s home defeat gave Salzburg extra boost. Power play in 52^nd minute (3:4), two men advantage in 55^th (4:4) and another power play in 56^th minute (5:4) turned the situation upside down. Medvescak was trying to level things up pulling their goalie out of the net, but Red bulls scored an empty net to give home team tough win over guests from Croatia.

Schedule for next round, Sunday October 9^th 2011

Znojmo (CZE): HC Orli Znojmo – EC Red Bull Salzburg

Jesenice (SLO): HK Acroni Jesenice – Black Wings Linz

Zagreb (CRO): KHL Medvescak – EC KAC

Graz: Graz 99ers – EC VSV

Vienna: Vienna Capitals – Sapa Fehervar AV19

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