Home-wins for Klagenfurt and Zagreb

EC-KAC started strong into the game against HCB Südtirol Alperia, but the Red Jackets needed a Power Play to take the lead: Manuel Ganahl scored from the left side in minute 12. Late in the first period Bozen had two Power Plays, but the Italians did not score. Seconds after another Power Play Klagenfurt extended their lead: Mitja Robar got the puck on the blue line and scored. On the other side goalie David Madlener stopped Dominic Monardo in a Power Play from scoring. The Carinthians were the chiefs on the ice also in period 3. Goalie Marcel Melichercik was not to beat from Christoph Duller and so the game was not decided yet. In minute 46 Monardo scored the first goal for the Foxes from a rebound. But KAC had the game under control until the end and celebrated a 2:1-win.

 

Medvescak's second home game had an interesting prequel. Gasper Krošelj got injured in Dornbirn and a new (old) goalkeeper had been flown in - Drew MacIntyre. Drew did land in Zagreb on time, his papers did go through, but his gear was left in Munchen. Medvescak was poised to start the friday's game with two Zagreb born goalkeepers - Vilim Rosandic was the starter with Vito Nikolic as the backup, his first time in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. It proved to be a good choice. The game started with a quick goal by Poyhonen's wrister that left Honeckl frozen. Honeckl for sure had flashes from Medvescak's beating in Arena Zagreb a few years back. The Grazers decided they weren't ready to give up after just 26 seconds and were pushing hard during the intermission. Setzinger set up Nixon who scored over Rosandic for a tie in the first. Just four minutes have passed in the second, Rosandic was quite firm on the ice for Medvescak when it was Morley's time to shine. Tikkanen passed to Balej, who was for the first time on the ice in Den and Honeckl was beaten. After three games Medvescak is starting to look like a new team, there are fewer mistakes, and the game looks more fluid. However, Graz was pushing for the equalizer and a shot from MccLean hit Nixon, bounced over the goalie, Rosandic went to cover the other post, and the puck slowly landed on ice slidinto the goal. That was the last goal for Graz this evening. With two goals scored in two periods - it was time for the teams to decide the winner in the third period, a period which had only one team show up for the game. Medvescak took the third with 3 goal. Netik scored the first of the three with 12 minutes to go, Honeckl didn't even react, Rajsar got set up by forchecking Perkovich and Poyhonen for the fourth and with 4 minutes to go it was up to Rajsar again to score, this time on Koskiranta's goal. Even though the game saw 18 penalty minutes all 7 goals were scored with equal men on the ice. Final few minutes passed with Medvescak trying to score another and the crowd being loud as ever.

 

Fri, 22.09.2017: EC-KAC – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:1 (1:0/1:0/0:1)
Referees: BABIC, BALUSKA, Ettlmayr, Verworner; spectators: 3.166
Goals KAC: Ganahl (12./pp), Robar (24.)
Goal HCB: Monardo (46.)

Referees: TRILAR, BULOVEC; spectators: 4567
Goals MZA: Poyhonen (1.), Morley (25.), Netik (45.), Rajsar (53., 56.)
Goals G99: Nixon (16., 39.)