99ers rally late, win in OT, Jesenice beaten by one29. Januar | 22:04


Graz 99ers celebrate their late win over Znojmo.
2012-01-29 22:04:58

99ers rally late, win in OT, Jesenice beaten by one

For 50 minutes, HC Orli Znojmo looked like the designated winner in Graz, but then the 99ers came back from out of the blue to win in OT. HK Acroni Jesneice also had the lead, but ended up with a 2:3 home defeat.

While Moser Medical Graz 99ers stumbled out of the starting blocks more than anything else, HC Orli Znojmo were ready. Mike Danton finalized the first attack by the Czech team and continued to play aggressive Forecheck that didn’t suit Graz at all. Maximilian Wilfan, who replaced Toni Dahlman (flu) on the first line, had their only half-chance.
Same situation in the middle period: the 99ers couldn’t get their game up and running, and Znojmo had the better chances but didn’t produce goals from the fastbreaks they created.
At the beginning of the third period, Graz let a four-minute-Powerplay go by unused. And right when the penalty expired, Peter Pucher came from the sin bin and finished a counter attack to make it 0:2. Judging by what they had witnessed until then, the 99ers faithful could’ve easily left the Bunker. They didn’t, though, and were as surprised as the Czechs when Cole Jarrett found the net to make it 1:2 in the 53rd minute. And four minutes later, Manuel Ganahl even provided the equalizer. Overtime was on and in Four-on-Four, Zdenek Blatny struck form the Blue line to give Graz their eight consecutive win at home and two very important points in the standings. Znojmo are fourth, level on points with Tuesdays’ opponents, UPC Vienna Capitals.

Villach beat Jesenice
The opening period was nothing to write home about for either Team, but HK Acroni Jesenice had more of the game. Bernhard Starkbaum denied Branislav Bendik twice, though, and Tomo Hofer couldn’t get the puck over the goalie when he lay on the ice already.
In the second period, EC REKORD-Fenster VSV started on the man advantage, but failed to capitalize. Instead, the Red Steelers regained control of the game and got the lead, too. Jan Bercic hit the post and Hafner was there to bury the rebound. The home side kept their foot on the gas pedal, but were stunned by Starkbaum. Backed by this performance, the Eagles bounced back. Derek Damon beat Michal Fikrt at the near post following a pass by Marco Pewal to make it 1:1. VSV had a powerplay to end the period and Shayne Toporowski found a hole in the Defence a set up Rob Shearer from behind the net – and the veteran forward scored the 2:1
Credit where it’s due, the Red Steelers started off with a lot of energy. The young team couldn’t find the net, though. Hafner had their best chance, but shot right into Starkbaum from the face-off-circle. A four-minute-man-advantage for the visitors went by unused, but they got the 3:1 little later: Mike Craig was muscled off the puck by the D-line, but the Biscuit fell right in the path of Andreas Wiedergut who finished from an acute angle. No luck for the lion-hearted Steelers and the same could be said for their Offense: Bendik wasted his third great opportunity of the night, hitting the post this time. 53 seconds form time, Jesenice were rewarded for their fighting spirit with the 3:2 by Antti Pusa, but the equalizer did not happen in the few seconds left when they were playing 6-on-4.
Villach are level on points with Graz thanks to this win but have an off-day Tuesday.

29.01.2012: Moser Medical Graz 99ers – HC Orli Znojmo 3:2 FOT (0:1, 0:0, 2:1,)
Goals Graz: 1:2 Jarett (53.) 2:2 Ganahl (57.) 3:2 Blatny (63.)
Goals Znojmo 0:1 Danton (1.), 0:2 Pucher (47.)

HK Acroni Jesenice – EC REKORD-Fenster VSV 2:3 (0:0, 1:2, 1:1)
Goals Jesenice: 1:0 Hafner (27.), 2:3 Pusa (60.)
Goals Villach: 1:1 Damon (37.), 1:2 Shearer (39./pp), 1:3 Wiedergut (53.)