MUNICH – GERMANY: You can’t say that you don’t get enough for your money at EHC Munich games; the last 4 games have ended after overtime or penalty.
The first game was against the Krefeld Penguins. The first game this season was at Krefeld, and Munich won 5 – 3. But the season has been slow until now and Munich played poorly since then.
But the game against Krefeld should be a restart, The game started good for the guests however and after just 8 minutes Francios Methot scored the first goal of the night.
But the boys in blue (Munich) didn’t give up, and shortly after the start of the second period Eric Schneider scored the equalizer. The happiness of the crowd didn’t last long though and just 3 minutes later Rok Tikar took his team in front again.
Instead of giving up, Munich fought back, and they earned the 2-2 by Jason Ulmer. The last period ended without any goals and so the game went to extra time and then to the penalty shoot out.
After a goal from Jason Ulmer, Eric Schneider and Martin Buchwieser missed their penalties, Pavlikovsky and again Tikar scored and brought Krefeld the second point.
It was a loss, but it was a big step forward in the right direction for Munich.
At the away game at the 2009-champions, Hannover Scorpions, Munich took the next step. First, they had to chase after a goal again. Sascha Goc scored a goal in power play, but 10 Minutes later, Stephane Julien threw a speculative shot from the right side of the circle and Hannovers goalie Dimitri Pätzold was totally surprised.
Two minutes into the second, David Sulkovsky got the puck in the slot and he took his team in front. The second period ended with a 2-1 lead for the home team in front of just 2986 fans.
This result held until 5 Minutes before the end, then, Eric Schneider got a pass from the boards and shot on the legs of Pätzold, the rebound went free and Martin Buchwieser scored into the empty net.
With the last of the 8 power plays in the game, Sascha Goc scored for 3 – 2 just 133 seconds before the end of the game. The home fans thought it was over, but EHC coach Pat Cortina took a time out, pulled goalie Sebastian Elwing and pushed his team!
Success! A face-off in front of the Scorpions goal, Julien played along the blue line to Klaus Kathan, he fired a bomb and scored the equalizer in the 59th minute.
And so, again, the game went to the overtime, and then because of no goals, to the second shoot out in a row.
This time, it took 28 shooters, till Scott King scored the winning goal for the home team.
On Friday, the next step was taken. The only team, against Munich didn’t beat last season, EHC Wolfsburg, came to the Olympic-Ice hall in Munich. The game started well for Munich.
Swedish skating sensation Johan Edjepalm ran to the goal, shot and scored his second goal this season. In the 10th minute, Sören Sturm got a penalty and Wolfsburg pushed with speed into the Munich third. At the end, David Laliberte was in the right place and scored to make it 1-1.
After a 2+10 penalty against Wolfsburg, Schneider shot from the face-off circle and David Wrigley in the slot deflected the puck into the net for the lead.
In the second period both teams had big chances, but Jochen Reimer against his former club was denied chance after chance, and on the other side, Daniar Dschunussow saved a penalty from Noah Clarke.
But he could do nothing against another shot from Schneider, which was this time deflected by Martin Buchwieser.
With a 3 – 1 lead the game went into the last period. Wolfsburg wanted the equalizer and after 5 minutes and goals from Sebastian Furchner and again John Laliberte the game was tied 3 – 3. With this result the game went to the overtime once again.
The fans and officials were ready for another penalty shootout, but David Wrigley, (man of the match), got a pass from Jens Olsson, did a fantastic move to go around a defender and shot the puck over the shoulder of Dschunussow into the net.
The last step was taken at the upper-Bavarian-derby against the Ingolstadt Panthers.
Thanks to referee Bauer, who made a lot of funny decisions (for example a 2+2+2+10 penalty) nearly no 5 against 5 game possible in the game.
When Munich was on a 5 – 3 shorthanded, Jakub Ficenec scored from the blue line. Again on a powerplay, Ingolstadt scored the second goal, just 19 seconds before the horn.
In the second period, Bauer was obviously shocked by his own penalty statistic and his whistle stayed nearly silent. Except of one penalty against Ingolstadt because for to many players on the ice.
This penalty was used by EHC Munich, defense player Dave Reid scored while jumping into the slot and pushing the puck into net. The fourth goal on the power play was scored by Eric Schneider in the third period to make it 2-2. But the Panthers scored the next goal and took the lead again with Derek Hahn tapping in a rebounding puck.
Like in Hannover, Pat Cortina took a time out, pulled the goalie and with 6 men he tried to score to get to the overtime.
And just like in Hannover, Julien got the puck, passed to Schneider, he shot and this time David Wrigley deflected the puck into the goal. So Munich went to the fourth overtime in the fourth game. The overtime was really open for both teams. Munich had a two on one chance, but in the direct counter attack Richard Girard finished the game with his goal.
Contact: robin.hilger@prohockeynews.com
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