That was the perfect answer: a sensational and enormously compact team performance and an outstanding JP Lamoureux in goal made the 0:4 victory perfect. In the series it is now 1:1 – the home advantage is back in Villach. It continues on Sunday…
There was a change in the “Eagle” before the match: Again with Blaz Tomazevic as center between Dominik Grafenthin and Benjamin Lanzinger in the third offensive line and without the injured defender Jamie Fraser, the “Eagle” started the match once morest their arch-rival. As expected, the second playoff quarter-final duel began with rolling attacks from the home team. But the blue and whites were solid defensively and tried to “annoy” the Klagenfurt team with quick counterattacks. In the 3rd minute it was John Hughes who appeared in front of KAC goalie Sebastian Dahm, but mightn’t sink the puck into the home goal for an early lead. In the 4th minute it suddenly became very quiet in the Heidi Horten Arena. The reason: Derek Joslin sank the disc almost out of nowhere from an acute angle to make it 0-1 in the net. The Villachers wanted to follow up, and immediately followingwards had a majority situation – Thomas Vallant was in the penalty box because he was held – but despite many strong scenes, no further goals were scored. The racy match picked up momentum by the minute, it went back and forth with both sides scoring chances. The best for the “Adler” was Anthony Luciani, who appeared alone in front of Dahm following losing a puck in Klagenfurt, but mightn’t get the puck past the KAC goalie. The locals also put a lot of pressure on, but VSV goalie JP Lamoureux was able to make brilliant saves once more and once more. The blue and whites almost managed to take the lead in the first half of the game: Chris Collins hit the puck on the goal post in the final second following going it alone. Dahm would have been powerless.
In the middle third, the blue and whites had the first chance to score – John Hughes and Robert Sabolic with wonderful interaction, but once more the puck did not land in the goal of Klagenfurt. Immediately followingwards, Nic Mattinen was sent to the penalty box for disability. But the “Adler” defended with the last effort, bit into the opponent and – supported by a great Lamoureux in goal – survived this delicate situation unscathed. In return, Benjamin Lanzinger had a huge chance to make it 0:2, but Dahm parried here with a very strong reflex. As a result, both teams neutralized themselves, they always tried to keep the opponent outside in their own third in order not to allow any really big scoring chances. Up until the 35th minute, the home side had a huge chance to equalize, but Lamoureux saved once once more with an unbelievable catch-hand save. Craziness! And then it fell, the second goal for the blue and whites: 44 seconds before the end of the middle third, Nic Mattinen put the puck on the Klagenfurt goal, KAC goalie Dahm slipped the puck through his legs and Andrew Desjardins pushed the puck over the Line.
Right at the beginning of the final section, Alexander Rauchenwald had the 0:3 on the racket with a fast counterattack, but KAC goalie Dahm saved in Extremis. The locals now tried to build up pressure, but hard-fighting Villach and the great Lamoureux braced themselves once morest the attacks from Klagenfurt. They were also unlucky with a shot from the pole in the 48th minute. And on the other hand, the Villachers always remained a fire hazard, at times pinching the Klagenfurt team in their own third for a few minutes. The decision then came seven minutes before the end – a failed shot by Dahm landed on John Hughes, who netted almost effortlessly to make it 0:3. Maximilian Rebernig set the final point with an Empty-Nett hit to make it 0:4! Stark Boys, important win! The series continues on Sunday.
EC KAC – EC iDM heat pumps VSV 0:4
Tore: Joslin (4.), Desjardins (40.), Hughes (54), Rebernig (57.)
Photos: VSV/René Krammer