Ice Hockey 2018 - 2019 Discussion Thread

[phelps 7,706]

and finally, a quick update on the leagues in the middle of a playoff round...

 

in the Austrian EBEL, Vienna Capitals won game #1 of the Finals by a score of 3-2 (OT) vs KAC Klagenfurt...the second match of the series will be played tonight in Klagenfurt (h.19.15 CET)...

this match is live and (should be) free for all here:

https://www.servushockeynight.com/live

 

in the Swiss NLA, tonight's the time for game #3 of the Finals between SC Bern and EV Zug (currently tied at 1-1)...the game will be played in the Swiss capital @ 8 p.m. CET

to watch this match, a good VPN is mandatory...

and this is the right place to watch (it's the Italian speaking website, but on top of it -on the right side- you can switch to the other Swiss official languages websites)...

https://www.rsi.ch/play/tv

 

in the German DEL, the Red Bull Munich will host the Augsburger Panther in the decisive game #7 of the semifinals (first puck drop @ 7.15 p.m. CET), with Adler Mannheim waiting to nknow who's gonna face them in the Finals...this match will be live and free for all on Satellite TV, Tv channel Sport1 DE (Sat Astra @ 19.2° East), the live streaming (HERE) is only available in GER, AUT and SUI, but a good VPN will surely do the job also for the fans from other Countries...

 

and also in the Danish Metalligaen, tonight's the time for game #3 of the playoffs Finals...Rungsted, after winning the first 2 matches, will host SønderjyskE (first puck drop @ 8.30 p.m. CET) in the best-of-7 match up...

to watch this game you have to search for a TV2 Sport streaming (the official one unfortunately is not free for all, a subscription is needed)...

[phelps 7,706]

HC ‘05 iClinic Banská Bystrica are once again Slovak Champions...

 

they just won game #5 of the Final Series against HK Nitra by a score of 6-2 and the whole series by a score of 4-1...

 

hopefully, our friend @hckosice will have more about that in the next hours...

[hckošice 14,899]

5 minutes ago, phelps said:

HC ‘05 iClinic Banská Bystrica are once again Slovak Champions...

 

they just won game #5 of the Final Series against HK Nitra by a score of 6-2 and the whole series by a score of 4-1...

 

hopefully, our friend @hckosice will have more about that in the next hours...

 

Exact. They are now only the second club to win the golden hattrick, Only HC Košice won the extraliga three times in a row before 2009-2011.

[hckošice 14,899]

10 hours ago, phelps said:

hopefully, our friend @hckosice will have more about that in the next hours...

 

sure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[phelps 7,706]

Last night in Europe...

 

Austrian EBEL, Finals, Game #2: KAC Klagenfurt b. Vienna Capitals 1-0...the series is tied 1-1...game #3 is scheduled for Tomorrow, April 18th @ 7.15 p.m. CET

 

Swiss NLA, Finals, Game #3: SC Bern b. EV Zug 4-1 and now lead the series 2-1...game #4 will be played in Zug Tomorrow, April 18th @ 8 p.m. CET

game #3 scoresheet and highlights, here:

https://www.sihf.ch/de/game-center/game/#/20191105000375

 

Danish Metalligaen, Finals, game #3: Rungsted b. SønderjyskE 2-0 and now lead the series 3-0...game #4 is scheduled for next Friday, April 19th (first puck drop @ 7.30 p.m. CET)

 

Swedish SHL, Semifinals: while Frölunda HC are already through to the Finals and waiting for their opponent, yesterday night Färjestad BK won game #6 on the road against Djurgårdens IF by a score of 6-1, therefore the series is tied 3-3.

The decisive game #7 is scheduled for Tomorrow, April 18th in Karlstad (Färjestad's home ice) @ 7.30 p.m. CET

 

German DEL, Semifinals, Game #7: Red Bull Munich b. Augsburger Panther 2-0 and reach the Finals against Adler Mannheim...

 

Semifinals Recap

 

Adler Mannheim b. Kölner Haie  4-0 (1-0; 4-1; 4-0; 4-2)

Red Bull Munich b. Augsburger Panther  4-3 (2-1OT3; 3-4; 1-2OT3; 2-1; 1-0; 0-2; 2-0)

 

the Finals (best-of-7 series) are set to start Tomorrow, April 18th in Mannheim (game #1 first puck drop @ 7.15 CET)...

[phelps 7,706]

and a few more National Champions have been crown in the past few days around Europe (and not only)...

 

 

British EIHL: the strange system adopted in GBR crowned the Belfast Giants as the League Champions after winning the Regular Season, leaving the Cardiff Devils the (relatively) small consolation of being the "Playoffs Champions", which means that in every other Country they'd be the National Champions, but not in GBR...

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/5371-belfast-giants-become-2018-2019-league-champions.html

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/5375-cardiff-win-eihl-play-off-final.html

 

Kazakhstan's Premier League: Beybaris Atyrau back on top...

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/5374-beybarys-back-to-the-throne.html

 

Ukranian Hockey League: Donbas Donetsk win 4th consecutive title...

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/5376-donbas-continues-the-dynasty.html

 

Norway's Get-Ligaen: Frisk Asker, despite ending up the regular season only in 5th place, had an amazing playoff run, where they reached the Finals and once there, they dethroned the defending champions Storhamar and won their 3rd title overall (first since 2002)...

 

Playoffs Recap

 

Quarterfinals (series score)

 

Storhamar b. Stjernen  4-0

Stavanger Oilers b. Sparta Sarpsborg  4-2

Vålerenga b. Manglerud  4-1

Frisk Asker b. Lillehammer  4-3

 

Semifinals (series score)

 

Storhamar b. Stavanger Oilers  4-2

Frisk Asker b. Vålerenga  4-2

 

Finals

 

Frisk Asker b. Storhamar  4-2 (1-5; 4-2; 1-0; 1-5; 3-2OT; 3-2OT)

 

(very short) highlights of the games from #2 through #6, here:

https://www.hockey.no/nyheter/aktuelt/se-nm-sluttspill-pa-tv-2/

[phelps 7,706]

KHL, Gagarin Cup Finals

 

there were very few people that thought Avangard could upset CSKA in this year's Gagarin Cup Finals...

but even among the vast majority who were convinced that after all the title would get back to Moscow, not too many did think that it would have been so "easy" to win the Cup...

in the end, it was a clean sweep, with Avangard who were left without a chance to even imagine a different ending of the season...not even in game #4, when they got a 2-goal lead in the 1st period, but once the big red machine started to play and did score their first goal in the 2nd period, it was all clear how it was going to end up also in this last match...

 

The curse is lifted. CSKA Moscow became the first team in KHL history to top the table in the regular season and go on to win the Gagarin Cup.

The Army Men collected their first ever Gagarin Cup and lifted Russia’s top hockey prize for the first time since the fall of the USSR.

Along the way, Igor Nikitin’s team also recorded the first ever grand final sweep after clawing back a 0-2 deficit to win game four in overtime.

 

For Avangard, this proved to be a series too far.

After looking so impressive in moving through the Eastern Conference post season, Bob Hartley’s team hit a brick wall in the form of CSKA.

Four goals in four games, three of them on the power play, told the tale.

Ilya Sorokin was magnificent in goal for the champion, Avangard’s forwards could not find a way past the 23-year-old.

 

But CSKA also had to show plenty of character, and none more so than in Friday’s decisive game.

Down 0-2 at the first intermission, the team kept believing and forced overtime on a late Konstantin Okulov goal.

In the extras, there was more pressure on Sorokin’s net and an effort against his post before Maxim Mamin got the decisive goal in the 78th minute.

The forward, recalled to the team for today’s game after being a healthy scratch on Wednesday, wrote his name in the history books when he got in front of Igor Bobkov to redirect a Mat Robinson point shot and send the Red-and-Blue half of Moscow into raptures.

It was the second time Avangard had seen a Moscow team win the cup in its building: in 2012 Dynamo took the prize thanks to a Jakub Klepis goal in game seven of that final.

 

But for so long, it seemed that this would be the day that Avangard found a way to win against CSKA.

Two losses in regular season, three in the playoffs: the Hawks were in the last-chance saloon.

Hartley’s instructions were clear – get forward, get pucks to the net and find a way to solve Ilya Sorokin.

The response was all the coach could have asked for. Avangard pressed from the first face-off.

All the key indicators showed a team determined to leave it all out there in a hard-hitting performance – and the rewards came as the Hawks lifted off for a 2-0 lead.

 

One of the sub-plots of this series has revolved around Sergei Shumakov.

The former CSKA man was Avangard’s leading goalscorer through the playoffs but failed to score in the opening three games against his former club.

That came to an end in the 13th minute of game four when he put his team in front for the first time in the grand final.

 

Like Avangard’s previous two markers in the series, it came on the power play.

Cody Franson's point shot deflected through traffic and left the stickless Sorokin helpless to prevent Shumakov from tapping the puck into a wide open net.

However, there was still an anxious moment to come as the video review sought to confirm any goalie interference on the part od David Desharnais.

Avangard had seen two big goals whistled off in the previous two games but after a tense wait for the home crowd in Balashikha the ref pointed to the center.

 

The home team got another lift moments later when Anton Slepyshev was ejected from the game for kicking at Alexei Emelin as CSKA got a 2-on-1 rush.

But that chance was cancelled out when Shumakov took two minutes for diving under the challenge of Mikhail Naumenkov.

Four-on-four hockey suited Avangard just fine: Franson doubled the lead with a smart shot from the boards after Taylor Beck made a move from the blue line to open up a shooting lane and stretch Sorokin.

 

But CSKA hadn’t got to a 3-0 lead without knowing how to pose some serious questions at the other end.

The Army Men responded in the second period and quickly raised its game.

Konstantin Okulov thought he’d scored on the wraparound when he got the puck past Bobkov, only for the goalie to recover and scoop the puck off the goal line.

That reprieve was brief, though.

From the face-off, Ivan Telegin won the draw and Kirill Kaprizov wired a wrister from the top of the circle to halve the deficit.

 

Then it was anyone’s game.

Chances came and went at both ends, Sorokin and Bobkov were called into action to deny both sets of forwards.

 

In the third period, CSKA raised the tempo of its offense at last and took the game to Avangard.

But the home team dug in: after 60 minutes, it had 17 hits against three from CSKA, 19 blocked shots against 10.

The sight of Yemelin returning a couple of shifts after taking a slap shot to the face typified the resilience with which Omsk was defending its lead.

Still, though, chances came. Kaprizov spurned an opening that looked easier than his goal; Alexander Popov looked for a pass across the crease to Okulov when a shot seemed the better option.

Time was ticking down and Avangard was close to securing the win that would extend this series.

Then came the big twist.

Okulov tied the scores with less than three minutes to go, breaking Avangard hearts and forcing the action into overtime for the first time in this final series.

Popov took the puck around the back and got the break when a home defenseman fell.

With time to prepare a shooting chance, Popov dropped off the puck for Okulov who used Yemelin as a screen before placing a perfect shot just below Bobkov’s blocker and in off the far post.

 

Bobkov shrugged off that disappointment to make a huge save in the dying seconds.

Maxim Shalunov was all alone in front of the net and had two swings at it to win the cup for CSKA.

But Bobkov came up big to close the door and prolong Avangard’s season – at least into the extras.

 

In that overtime, Beck came close to winning it for Avangard when he hit the post during a power play.

The puck clipped the piping and even took a deflection off Sorokin’s back but would not cross the line.

CSKA killed the penalty and, just moments later, celebrated victory thanks to Mamin’s game-winning goal.

 

Gagarin Cup Finals recap

 

CSKA Moscow b. Avangard Omsk  4-0 (5-2, 3-0, 2-0, 3-2OT)

 

game #3 full stats

https://en.khl.ru/game/674/81671/protocol/

 

game #4 full stats

https://en.khl.ru/game/674/81674/protocol/

 

game #3 highlights

 

game #4 highlights

[phelps 7,706]

European Recap from last couple of nights...

 

Austrian EBEL, Finals, Game #3: Vienna Capitals b. KAC Klagenfurt 3-2...and now they lead the series 2-1...game #4 is scheduled for Today's afternoon @ 5 p.m. CET in Klagenfurt

 

Swiss NLA, Finals, Game #4: SC Bern b. EV Zug 3-1 on the road and now lead the series 3-1...game #5 , the 1st possible Championship clincher, will be played in Bern later Tonight @ 8 p.m. CET

game #4 scoresheet and highlights, here:

https://www.sihf.ch/de/game-center/game/#/20191105000376

 

German DEL, Finals, Game #7: Red Bull Munich b. Adler Mannheim 2-1 after OT (Game winner in 79th minute) on the road and lead the series 1-0...game #2 is scheduled for Tonight in Munich at 7.45 p.m. CET

 

Danish Metalligaen, Finals, game #4: Rungsted b. SønderjyskE 1-0 on the road and so they are the new Danish Champions  after dominating the series 4-0

 

Finals Recap

 

Rugsted Seier Capital b. SønderjyskE  4-0 (4-3OT; 3-2; 2-0; 1-0)

 

Swedish SHL, Semifinals: just when they looked almost KO, Djurgårdens IF had an, amazing reaction, threw all of their hearts on the ice and won the decisive game #7 against Färjestad BK by a score of 4-1 on the road and therefore won also the entire series 4-3.

Now they're going to face Frölunda HC in the Finals (best-of-7 series, home ice advantage for Frölunda).

Game #1 is scheduled for Tomorrow, April 21st in Göteborg (Frölunda's home) @ 3 p.m. CET

 

Semifinals Recap

 

Djurgårdens IF b. Färjestad BK  4-3 (2-5; 5-3; 2-1; 3-1; 2-8; 1-6; 4-1)

Frölunda HC b. Luleå HF  4-1 (4-3OT; 2-0; 1-3; 3-0; 6-2)

[phelps 7,706]

Swiss NLA

 

SC Bern are back on the throne! they won also game #5 of the final series against EV Zug by a score of 2-1, thus winning the entire series by a score of 4-1...

It's the 16th title for them (Swiss record)...

 

Finals Recap

 

SC Bern b. EV Zug  4-1 (1-4; 3-2OT; 4-1; 3-1; 2-1)

 

game #5 scoresheet and highlights*, here:

https://www.sihf.ch/de/game-center/game/#/20191105000377

 

* not sure the highlights work properly...

Edited April 21, 2019 by phelps

[phelps 7,706]

elsewhere around Europe, yesterday (and before)...

 

Czech Extraliga, Finals: Bìlì Tygřy Liberec and HC Ocelàři Třinec shared the first 2 games played on Liberec's ice...Třinec won the series opener by a score of 2-1, then the hosts did answer in game #2, winning 3-1...

therefore, the series is now tied 1-1...

game #3 is scheduled for Tomorrow, April 22nd in Třinec @ 5 p.m. CET

 

Finnish Liiga, Finals: Kärpät Oulu took advantage of the home ice and won the series opener against HPK Hämeenlinna by a score of 4-1, so they obviously also lead the series 1-0...

game #2 is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 23rd in Hämeenlinna @ 6.30 p.m. local time, 5.30 p.m. CET

 

Austrian EBEL, Finals: the home ice factor is still dominating the series, so yesterday it was KAC Klagenfurt's turn to succeed...and they didn't miss the chance, edging out their rivals, Vienna Capitals, in game #4 by a score of 3-2...

the series is now tied 2-2...

game #5 is scheduled for Tomorrow, April 22nd in Wien @ 5 p.m. CET

 

German DEL, Finals: in this case, it's always the road team to party...game #2 was won by Adler Mannheim on the ice of Red Bull Munich by a score of 3-0...

therefore, the series is now tied 1-1...

game #3 is scheduled for Tomorrow, April 22nd in Mannheim @ 2 p.m. CET