Home wins with two teams taking revenge

With Jan Lattner back in the line-up Orli Znojmo hosted Klagenfurt in their first of three home matches around Christmas. The beginning of the match was pretty good for the KAC. In the fourth minute David Joseph Fischer took the puck and scored the first goal with a slapshot. The rest of the first period was quite equal and it looked like the Klagenfurt will remain the lead, but Orli said no. Jan Lattner delivered the puck in front od the net and set the score equal. The second period was totally owned by Znojmo. First ten minutes KAC defended well and it made them no trouble to keep Znojmo away from their net. But suddenly in the middle of the period Znojmo showed their offensive skills. Radim Matus appeared alone in front of Duba’s net and face to face with goalie Matus took the chance to score. Not even three minutes after Znojmo raised the lead, Colton Yellow Horn performed a great shot from a low angle and aimed to the only uncovered spot. Orli had one more chance to score, but Guman only hit the post. The third period had a slow beginning, but the end was totally worth it. Klagenfurt tried their best to score their second goal to enclose to Znojmo. The best chance was by Bischofberger, who missed the uncovered net of Schwarz. Then KAC made it to the powerplay, Duba remained on bench for the rest of the match as the Klagenfurter didn’t make it to score. 

 

Salzburg had the better of the paly early in the game and after missing some chances, Brant Harris (4th) opened the scoring on power play. Soon after Salzburg goalie Bernhard Starkbaum made a great save on Ivan Jankovic, Julien Brouillette doubled the lead at the other end. With 18 seconds to go in the first Saso Rajsar pulled one back for the bears. In the second the game was more balanced but Peter Mueller restored the two-goal lead. Medvescak came close to score on their own but Tomas Netik and Jankovic missed. Early in the third Mario Huber made the preliminary decision with a shorthanded marker. Marko Poyhonen reduced the deficit once again but Salzburg had the final say when Jon Hughes rounded off the scoring for a 5:2 home win.

 

Bolzano came out hard but they were not able to create good chances. Fehervar tried to hit their opponents on the break and they did well but could not score either. Both goalies kept a clean sheet in the opening 20 minutes but things changed after the restart. Mike Angelidis opened the scoring after 23 minutes on power play and soon alter Domenic Monardo added a second. In the closing minutes of the middle frame both teams had chances but only Fehervar used it with Gilbert getting his side on the scoreboard. The hosts were out ot luck when Angelidis only struck metalwork in the third. After Halmo missed another chance the Hungarians tied it by Gilbert who got his second of the night. The Bolzano palyers celebrated once again during regulation but it was a "no goal" call after video review and the game went into overtime. With no goals in the extra session, Mike Halmo decided it to Bolzano's favour in the shootout.

 

It was a game at eye level in the first period with both teams creating chances but the goalies kept a clean sheet. Before the halfway point of the game Joel Broda made the breakthrough for the home side off a Dan DaSilva pass. Soon later Linz goalie Mike Ouzas made some great saves on Oliver Setzinger and Brock Higgs. EBEL's leading goal scorer Brian Lebler did better when he doubled the lead and then it was all Linz. Early in the third Broda added his second of the night for a 3:0 lead. The decision was made even if Higgs scored the consolation goal for Graz. The Blakc Wings climbed to second palce with this 3:1 home win.