EBEL - 16th round review

EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – Sapa Fehervar AV10  4:1 (1:0,2:0,1:1)

The game between Linz and Sapa started with short delay due to referees’ trouble on the road. Black wings were trying to impose their rhythm to a game and guests from Hungary were orientated to defend their net. They were quite successful in doing that. In 12^th minute though Linz almost scored kind of “baseball goal” when Rob Hisey hit the puck in the air, but guest’s goalie Adam Munro prevented that in the last moment. Home team hit the post in 16^th minute only to announce what was coming in 18^th minute: Patrick Spannring’s first ever league goal (1:0). Sapa came onto a second period a bit more devoted. They started to play more ambitious. Istvan Sofron hit the post in 23^rd minute after one of Sapa’s well known counter attacks. Unfortunately for them that was as close to equalizer they could get. Sapa in fact received a goal playing PP in 31^st minute (2:0) when Danny Irmen scored his first of the night due to poor Munro’s defending. Another misunderstanding in guests’ play in 34^th minute gave Linz an extension to the lead (3:0). Guests from Hungary scored in 43^rd minute (3:1) and were close to another goal just 20 seconds later, but home goalie Alex Westlund acrobatically saved his net. Hungarian champions later fired from all guns and Linz’s defense was really in trouble. Attacks from Linz were rare in those moments. Yet Mike Ouellette scored a goal in 48^th minute for home side, but it was disallowed. Linz played two power play situations after that to release the pressure. They missed two great goal scoring opportunities. Two minutes from the final buzzer Sapa was given the last chance: power play. They also pulled out their goalie and 6^th player came on the ice. Linz didn’t let guests capitalize on that. On contrary: Danny Irmen hit empty net in last minute (4:1) to score his second shorthanded and third goal of the night. Black wings are four points ahead on top of the league and Sapa fell one place to fifth.

Danny Irmen, BW Linz: three goals

KHL Medvescak Zagreb – UPC Vienna Capitals  7:2 (3:0,1:1,3:1)

Medvescak lost five consecutive home games before last night’s game. Bears were determined to change losing streak and fans in Dom sportova were eager to help. Vienna is the weakest team in the league in terms of defending their net when shorthanded. First such situation of the night came in second minute of the game already, but Medvescak did not produce anything. On the other side same stands for Vienna as they were not dangerous in PP situation between 7^th and 9^th minute. In fact, when Greg Day came out of penalty box he scored first of the night for Medvescak in 9^th minute (1:0). Later during the period Day provided two crucial passes to Slava Trukhno’s goals in 16^th (2:0) and 19^th minute (3:0). Guests changed their goalie at the beginning of second period, but Reinhard Divis had to pick up a puck out of his net after two minutes already: Medvescak scored on PP2 situation to extend the lead (4:0). Jonathan Ferland’s one-timer from blue line in 36^th minute (4:1) gave guests a bit of hope for last period. Frank Banham scored though for Medvescak in another PP2 situation in 41^st minute (5:1) of the game. Sasha Pokulok scored in another power play in 43^rd minute (6:1) and Mislav Blagus added another one in 48^th minute (7:1) to destroy Vienna completely. Guests scored their own power play goal in 59^th minute (7:2) to end the scoring for the night. Medvescak advanced up two places in the league on position Nr.8 and is only point behind Vienna on 6^th place.

KHL Medvescak: five power play goals

Moser Medical Graz 99ers – EC KAC  4:5 (2:1,1:1,1:3)

A new forward was introduced to 99ers last night: Yvan Busque. Both teams came into the game with ambitions to play attacking hockey. Dieter Kalt missed good opportunity for KAC in 5^th minute and Sven Klimbacher did the same for Graz on the other side seconds later. 99ers scored in 8^th minute though (1:0). Excitemment between fans didn’t come down yet when there was another big chance for Graz, but Zdenek Blatny couldn’t hit the empty net. KAC leveled the score in 11^th minute (1:1), but home side answered quickly after: Toni Dahlman’s one timer in the next minute (2:1) renewed Graz’s lead. Nothing significant changed until the end of first period. KAC’s attempts to level the score during opening minutes of second period weren’t successful. Fans saw some boxing between Kevin Moderer and Markus Pirmann. KAC continued to press against home side, but it was Graz who scored: Zdenek Blatny did it in 31^st minute (3:1). Celebrations took place nine seconds only as KAC scored their second of the night (3:2). Many minor penalties were whistled for both teams during next minutes. 99ers hit the post in 36^th minute, but the result didn’t change. KAC scored on two power play situations in 41^st (3:3) and 42^nd (3:4) minute to turn the result upside down. 99ers fought back and equalized in 50^th minute (4:4), but again forgot to defend their achievement: KAC scored last goal of the night right in the next minute (4:5). Graz is now down on place Nr.9 in the league and guests from Klagenfurt remain second.

EC Rekord Fenster VSV – EC Red Bull Salzburg  3:4 (2:1,0:0,1:3)

VSV introduced Shayne Toporowski to home crowd. He presented himself with slash after 37 seconds of the game and his first stats were: minor penalty. The game wasn’t nice during opening minutes as both teams concentrated on their defense. Many minor penalties were given to both teams. Greg Kuznik scored in power play situation for Villach in 17^th minute (1:0), but Salzburg used the same recipe only 22 seconds later (1:1). Markus Peintner scored another for VSV 14 seconds before the first break (2:1). VSV continued to play better hockey during second period. Post once and misses/great saves by guest’s goalie prevented home side from extending the lead on number of occasions during the second period. Result did not change whatsoever. Another few great opportunities were missed for Villach during opening minutes of last period, but it was Salzburg who scored in 44^th minute (2:2). Home side was clearly in shock. Kevin Mitchell’s mistake during power play in 50^th minute gave Doug Lynch an opportunity he didn’t miss: 2:3 for Salzburg! Thomas Raffl scored another for Red bulls in 53^rd minute (2:4). VSV tried to put some pressure on Salzburg and they managed to score 35 seconds before the end (3:4), but that was it. VSV remains on the bottom of the league, Red bulls are now fourth.

HC Orli Znojmo – HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana  0:1 (0:0,0:1,0:0)

Olimpija’s goalie stole the whole show from Orli! He produced miracles to defend his net during first period. Znojmo was more aggressive side, but Tomas Kominek, Peter Pucher, Petr Kanko and Jan Seda didn’t manage to beat J.P.Lamoreux in Olimpija’s goal.  Opening minutes of second period offered pretty much the same picture: Orli attacked, Olimpija defended well. Punishment for missed opportunities for Znojmo came in 34^th minute when Igor Cvetek deflected a puck into Znojmo’s net (0:1). Orli continued to push forward and Jan Lattner missed to score on two great opportunities. Final period offered plenty of luck for Olimpija as well: Lamoreux was already beaten by Lubomir Vosatko, but puck didn’t cross the goal line. Petr Kanko and Adam Havlik missed on two another occasions and J.P.Lamoreux finished his third shut-out of the season. Guests from Slovenia are holding on position Nr.3 in the league, Znojmo is currently seventh.

J.P.Lamoreux: third shut-out of the season

Schedule for round Nr.17, Sunday, October 30^th:

Jesenice (SLO): HK Acroni Jesenice – Graz 99ers

Zagreb (CRO): KHL Medvescak – Sapa Fehervar

Znojmo (CZE): Orli Znojmo – EC KAC

Salzburg: Red Bull Salzburg – Black wings Linz

Vienna: UPC Vienna Capitals – HDD Olimpija

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