OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA VS VSV VILLACH
3-2
An excellent start to the season marred by a ridiculous 4 minute double minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct
Stars of the match
* Nik Simšič (2G) - absolutely electric on the 1st line as a winger.
** Jan Ćosić (2A) - looked like he has added a significant offensive element to his game. (Credit to @zangradisek for the correction to 2A, they did not announce his assist on the Pavlin goal but he did pass it to him)
*** Žiga Pavlin (1G) - was deployed much more effectively on the 3rd pairing and did end up 'leveraging his powerful shot more' as I had hoped in my season preview article!
Key stats
3-0 at 5 on 5
0-2 on special teams (powerplay 0%, penalty kill 0%)
Unfortunately a familiar story for Olimpija, but if we can tighten our PP and PK units up then our 5 on 5 dominance will continue to serve us very well.
Lineup
Simšič - Kerbashian - Lavoie
Mahkovec - Tomaževič - Kapel
Zajc - Bičevskis - Mehle
Pance - Beričič - Sodja
Mašič - Atwal
Gregorc - Ege
Ćosić - Pavlin
(Hebar, Vodlan)
Horak
Surprises, or what I got wrong in my predictions:
Simšič at wing - it worked out very well, he looked back to being fast and dangerous out there tonight.
Tomaževič at 2C - I didn't know where he'd fit in, but he looked competent and was using his frame well around the boards. I can see what Coach Karhula is doing here, as this dirty work opens up opportunities for the slighter wingers, Mahkovec and Kapel, to get some good looks (scoring chances in hockey lingo).
Gregorc instead of Crnović - I thought Gregorc played well and looked calm on the puck. I wonder if Aljoša is injured, as I don't think Hebar is worthy of a place over him.
3rd line of Zajc, Bičevskis and Mehle - well done to Mehle for making the 3rd line, he looked dangerous out there and drew a penalty (which, of course, was not converted).
Pance on the 4th line - very weird, perhaps some time management with his age or an injury?
Where is Sabolič? Who does he replace when he's back? Is it Kapel on the 2nd line, which would shift him down to the 3rd and Mehle down to the 4th? (Update - I read on IG that Sabolič is serving a suspension from last season.)
What I got right:
Ćosić and Pavlin on the 3rd pair and PK - they looked great together, with a goal from Pavlin and some excellent play in both zones from Jan.
Mašič and Atwal on the 1st pair - they didn't dominate as I had expected, but still look a pretty formidable pair for us this year when they settle into a game.
It was nice to see Kapel out there looking sharp again after being out for so long last season.
Kerbashian was very active and did end up on the 1st line.
Special teams units:
PP1
Tomaževič, Simšič, Kerbashian, Lavoie, Atwal.
Two centres seems unusual, but Kerbashian was roving around.
PP2
Bičevskis, Mahkovec, Kapel, Mašič, Ege.
Interesting to go with 2 D-men here.
PK1
Pance-Bičevskis
Ćosić-Pavlin
PK2 - I didn't catch this. Next time!
Big moments/game notes:
P1
15 min to go: Simšič scores, assisted by Ćosić and Kerbashian. Kerbashian squeezes the puck through to Nik on the left, who fires home. 1-0
11 - Gregorc slapshot saved.
9 - Gregorc good stick work in the D zone to foil an attack.
8 - VSV hit the post!
7 - interference on Mašič, pretty soft.
6 - 1-1 VSV get the stretch pass across to make Horak move side-to-side, the classic thing you want to do on the powerplay, and it's 1-1.
Quite messy from here on out, until...
1 - Mašič misses a high danger back door chance
5s left - PAVLIN SCORES ON A DEFLECTION!!! A very casual assist from Ćosić and a good fly-by screen by Zajc. Finally, unlike last season, we are the ones to score right before the period ends! 2-1
P2
19 - Horak two sharp glove saves.
13 - Sodja 1v1.
12 - Simšič scores again! Assisted by Lavoie. 3-1
Smash attack - 1:35 where if they score, everyone gets a free burger from Smash restaurant?! Ćosić puts a great chance wide!! Smash's CEO breathes a sigh of relief... A burger or two coming Jan's way, perhaps...
Lavoie is getting knocked off the puck a lot.
9 - Horak huge save moving to his left. DNESKA NE on the screen ('not today' in Czech!).
4 - 3rd line is not looking very synergised, despite Mehle's strong play. Zajc and Bičevskis are very quiet tonight.
2 - Ćosić pulls off a great shimmy move to gain space in the O-zone and set up a good chance. Nice to see some offensive development from him, to go along with his solid defensive chops.
Tomaževič is really strong working the boards, Mehle hits the post!
Ege had a shaky start but looked more like his classy preseason self as the game wore on.
27s left ATWAL 4 MINUTE DOUBLE MINOR PENALTY FOR...CHATTING?! Unsportsmanlike conduct, apparently, but 4 minutes is outrageous given that Villach were the instigators. The Austrian refs strike again, although the crowd is too polite to break out into 'Schweine Avstrija, tra-la-la-la-la'.
I am not sure what exactly started the incident, but it involved John Hughes from VSV and a few Olimpija players. There was a lot of jawing. As it was fizzling out, Atwal comes over and says a few choice words to Mr Hughes, at which point the ref throws his toys out of the pram and escorts Atwal to the box. I thought it was harsh for a 2 minute minor, but a 4 minute double minor is extraordinary. I would love to hear what he said to deserve that!
P3
17 - VSV score with one minute left on the Atwal penalty, reviewed for a high stick but not overturned. It certainly looked high to me! 3 - 2
12 - Simšič misses a 3v1 chance for the hat-trick, we have to do better with those.
10 - Bičevskis and Mehle link up for a wonderful tap in chance that goes wide.
9 - Pance with a trademark steal and backhand chance.
7 - HOOK ON MEHLE DURING BREAKAWAY, FIRST PP OF THE GAME FOR OL.
6 - Kerbashian SOG (shot on goal) after a good dribble.
5 - Excellent VSV save on Atwal deflected shot.
1 - Mašič with a great Ronkainen-esque body lockup/engage to slow down an advancing attacker.
Great work from Kerbashian to generate another SOG. Simšič misses out on a hat-trick again!
0 - Pance misses the empty net!
It's over - Simšič is MVP!
Overall thoughts:
3-1 was a fair reflection; the Atwal penalty was criminal and gave them their way back into the game. The Powerplay looked slightly better than last year, not that that is saying much. We need more from the 3rd line, but I am pleased with how we looked tonight. Away to KAC on Sunday will be a real test, but we could catch them early in the season. Anyway, a great start to the season - you always love to beat Villach! Auf wiedersehen! :)
Finally, a quick shoutout to the Olimpija fan who thought I was Austrian and told me not to come to the west side of the stadium. I showed him my signed Pavlin jersey and told him what I thought of Austria!
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