Ice Hockey 2017 - 2018 Discussion Thread

[Finnator123 342]

Czech Republic won 3rd stage of EHT on home ice. 3 games, 3 wins.

Hoping that Finland will beat Sweden & get 2nd place.... 

[phelps 8,695]

and it's celebration day in Sweden and Russia...

 

in the SHL, Växjö Lakers won the 4th game in a row against Skellefteå (5-0 on the road, today) and swept the Finals 4-0. Elias Pettersson (not even 20 years young) was the eponymous of this playoffs, earning both the scoring title and the Finals' MVP prize.

 

On the other side, the KHL ended with the surprising win of AK Bars Kazan, who won today's game #5 on their home ice 1-0 and conquered the Gagarin Cup with a 4-1 series score against the big favourites, CSKA Moscow.

 

In Germany, on the contrary, Red Bull Munich missed the first "match point" at home, losing game #5 of the DEL Finals against Eisbären Berlin by a score of 6-5 (after OT). However, they still lead the series 3-2.

 

More about Czech and Slovak leagues, later...

[phelps 8,695]

and here we go with today's final update...

 

In the Czech Republic, Kometa Brno successfully defend their title, winning game #5 against Ocelari Trinec on the road by a score of 4-1, the same result of the Extraliga final series...

 

In Slovakia, instead, we're just looking at an improbable comeback by Dukla Trencin, who were down 3-0 in the series against Banskà Bystrica, but now are tied 3-3, after winning game #6 (this time really in Banskà Bystrica ) by a score of 3-2.

The decisive game #7 is scheduled for next Tuesday in Trencin (h.18.00 CET).

 

see U tomorrow, after Liiga's game #4...

[hckošice 16,613]

The Carlson (Czech) Hockey Games, 3rd stage of the Euro Hockey Tour 2017/18 ended today

 

The tournaments host Czech Republic dominated the tourney winning all 3 games today they defeated Russia 2-1, the Russian team after the retirement of the coach Oleg Znarok already lost all first three matches and finished last of the tournament pointless.

in the last match Sweden lost to Finland 3-7.

 

Carlson Hockey Games Final Standing:

1. Czech Republic 9 pts, 2. Finland 6 pts, 3. Sweden 3 pts, 4. Russia 0 pts.

 

EURO HOCKEY TOUR 2017/18 Cumulative Standing after Event 3/4:

1. Czech Republic 14 pts, 2. Finland 13 pts, 3. Russia 9 pts, 4. Sweden 6 pts.

 

The last 4th stage the Swedes Hockey games are scheduled for the next weekend, as the last week before the world championships start

 

[phelps 8,695]

as promised, just a quick update after game #4 of Liiga's Finals...

 

earlier today, infact, Tappara Tampere did take advantage of the home ice (they won 2-0) and shortened the distance to 3 games to 1 (always in favor of Kärpät Oulu) in the final series.

Game #5 is schedule for Tomorrow in Oulu (18.30 local time, 17.30 CET).

 

Tomorrow (h.19.00 CET) will be played also the 6th game of the German DEL Finals in Berlin (with the local team down 3-2 against Red Bull Munich in the series) and, above all, it's the "big day" in the Slovak league, where Dukla Trencin (h.18.00 CET) will try to complete an epic comeback (they were down 3-0, now they're tied 3-3) at home against Banskà Bystrica.

I just can't wait to watch that match...I love game 7s sooo muuuch!...

 

see you soon...

[hckošice 16,613]

So Banská Bystrica won the 7th game in Trenčín and retained the National Champions title.

 

 

 

 

in the other side, heartbreaking moments for Dukla Trenčín, lost the 7th game of the Final must be really terrible,

like poor Branko Radivojevič at least he has been elected the MVP of the play-offs

 

 

[phelps 8,695]

19 ore fa, hckosice ha scritto:

So Banská Bystrica won the 7th game in Trenčín and retained the National Champions title.

 

 

 

 

in the other side, heartbreaking moments for Dukla Trenčín, lost the 7th game of the Final must be really terrible,

like poor Branko Radivojevič at least he has been elected the MVP of the play-offs

 

 

 

I watched that game...and it was quite obvious from the early stages that it was going into BB's direction...

the first period was very tactical, but BB did control the pace and did have the most shots on goal...

in the second period, DT did have a flashy start and even took the lead with a quick counter by Bezuch, but BB's line with the French-Canadian duo Faille/Asselin (with the participation of local big boy Hrnka) immediately tied the game and in a few seconds Pavol Skalicky turned things around...

in the 3rd period DT tried to give their best, but they never got very close to the 2nd goal and when Asselin scored BB's 3rd goal it was all over for the red and yellow guys...

the final 2 scores by Faille and Skalicky (nice double for both guys) were just cosmetics...

to be honest, I expected a lot more from DT...but it was clear from the beginning of the match that they haven't been able to set down their nerves before this decider on one side and that they were physically empty after the great comeback from 0-3 to 3-3 in the final series on the other side...

 

 

and after the well deserved celebration of Banskà Bystrica's success, we also have to remember the other 2 games played yesterday in the Finnish and German leagues' finals.

 

in both cases, anyway, the title wasn't won by the teams that could have closed the series...

 

in the 5th game of the Liiga finals, infact, Tappara Tampere won a crazy match on the ice of Kärpät Oulu by a score of 5-4 and shortened the distance in the series to 2-3. Now they will play game #6 at home tomorrow, with a good chance to send the finals to the decisive game #7 (if needed, next Saturday in Oulu).

 

meanwhile in Germany, Eisbären Berlin did take advantage of the home building and won game #6 of the DEL finals against Red Bull Munich (5-3 the score from yesterday night), thus forcing another potentially spectacular game #7, which is scheduled for tomorrow (h.19.00 CET) in Munich.

as they say, "not to be missed"...

 

Finally, I also have to mention tonight's game #6 of the Swiss NLA Finals between Zurich Lions and HC Lugano. Puck drop at 20.15 CET, with the Lions leading the series 3-2, just one win short of the title.

 

We'll write about it tomorrow...

Edited April 25, 2018 by phelps

[phelps 8,695]

as promised, let's write a couple of words about the Swiss NLA Finals, game #6...

 

first of all, we have to say that it was a really exciting game...very tight...and we have to say also that we're going to have a wonderful (in perspective, at least) game #7, since yesterday Lugano won it on the road by a score of 3-2 and tied the series, which means that any decision is posponed to tomorrow night in Lugano (puck drop @ 20.15 CET).

 

Last night's game did see Lugano  taking the lead once...and twice...but Zurich always came back...

finally, with a bit more than 3 minutes to play, a relentless action by Lugano's checking line put Maxime Lapierre (who was double shifting through most of the game) in condition to strike the game winner with a diabolic deflection in front of Flueler's cage...

the last 3 minutes were a pure demonstration of pride and bravery by Lugano players  (those stil able to play, since the team is heavily plagued by injuries), who were able to stop Zurich's desperate final assault with empty net...

to be mentioned, because it could have a lot of reflections on game #7, the horrendous and infamous check to the head and neck area suffered by HCL top scorer of the playoffs and absolute locker room leader, Maxime Lapierre, by the Swedish star and top goal scorer of the Zurich Lions, Fredrik Pettersson...

should Lapierre miss the decisive game of the season and the Swedish guy still be allowed to play, it would be one of the major scandals in the Swiss hockey history...

I really hope that Mad Max can play tomorrow and Pettersson gets disqualified, because hockey is a rude sport, but those coward attempts to deliberately get the best player of the opposing team injured can't be accepted at any level, anywhere and at any time...

Edited April 26, 2018 by phelps

[hckošice 16,613]

The last stage of this seasons EURO HOCKEY TOUR 2017/18 has started today, the traditional Sweden Hockey Games,

 

The tournaments host Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 3-1 in Sodertalje

and Russia lost to Finland 2-3 after the Penalty Shoot-Outs in Helsinki.

 

all 4 teams will now move to Stockholm for the weekends last seasons matches before the world championships start next week.

 

Sweden Hockey Games Provisional Standing After Day 1:

1. Sweden 3 pts, 2. Finland 2 pts, 3. Russia 1 pt, 4. Czech Republic 0 pts.

 

EURO HOCKEY TOUR 2017/18 Cumulative Standing:

1. Finland 15 pts, 2. Czech Republic 14 pts, 3. Russia 10 pts, 4. Sweden 9 pts.

 

[phelps 8,695]

and today it's time to...

 

 

also in Germany and Finland...

 

In the Finnish Liiga, infact, Kärpät Oulu just won another title thanks to a goal scored with only 4:28 minutes still to be played in regulation of the 6th game of the series. 1-0 the score of today's match in Tampere and 4-2 the final score of the final series for Kärpät.

 

On the other side, in the German DEL a sprint start (4-1 after the 1st period, 6-3 the final score) in the decisive game #7 secured Red Bull Munich the second success in a row. Nothing could do all the efforts of the Eisbären Berlin to try and comeback also in today's match.

 

And tomorrow (20.15 CET) in Lugano there will be another decisive game #7, this time in the Swiss NLA, which is (unusually for them) the last of the main European leagues to come to a close this year...

I just can't wait for my personal 5th game #7 in just over 3 days...