OLIMPIJA 2 - 4 GRAZ
GOOCH GETS HIS REVENGE WITH TWO ASSISTS
LATE SURGE BY OLIMPIJA NOT ENOUGH
Lineup changes
Kolin starts in net. Kumanović is in on the 2nd line, Kapel moves down to the third line to replace Mehle, who is the 13th forward. I'm not sure whether this was just to give Lovro some game time or whether Mehle has a minor injury, but it seemed like Mehle played more and Kumanović's minutes tailed off as the game went on.
Stars of the game
* Luka Kolin - voted MVP and played very well, despite the scoreline. Graz were just too good at dictating the game. GSAx probably a 1-1.5.
** Robert Sabolič (PPG) - late in the game, he was firing away slapshots from the right circle like a World War 2 howitzer. Consistently our most dangerous scoring threat.
*** Rudolf Červeny (Smash Burger G) - if his teammates are not referring to him as 'the Burger King' they are missing a trick. The first Smash Burger goal deserves some recognition. I went down after the game and the queue was substantial; apparently 500 burgers were given away! Something to note is that they appeared to want you to have acquired a 'coupon' from the Smash Burger stand outside the East end, so keep that in mind for next time.
Game flow
P1
1514 GOAL GRAZ - rapid-fire shot and deflection.
Line 3 = -1
Pair 1 = -1
0-1
10 Graz are doing a lot more attacking than us.
858 Kumanović with a juicy forecheck hit.
751 All three 3rd liners touch the puck on a dangerous move.
715 Ege to Kapel deflects wide.
6 Non-call on a high stick on Sodja, pretty ridiculous that they didn't give that.
4 Free flowing play going back and forth.
407 Pavlin to Zajc deflection is saved.
354 Pavlin point shot is saved, that looked dangerous.
241 Červeny is stopped at the post.
5s left - Atwal spinarama gives Beričič a chance in front that is saved.
0-1
P2
1536 Crnović does very well with a 1 on 1 rush, easy cleanup for Kolin.
1502 We can't exit the zone and Kolin has to make a crisp glove save.
1438 Big blocker save on Gooch, well done Luka!
1345 Another big blocker save.
1341 Smash Attack starts - defensive zone faceoff is a little safer than the powerplay one last game!
1315 Kolin makes a body save through a lot of traffic in front.
Graz are pushing for a second. If we concede, do Graz get burgers? Or do we have to go and buy one? Need to read the T&Cs.
2 more Kolin saves.
1119 Pance slams his stick into the bench in frustration - people are missing open players on passes tonight.
We have a delayed penalty - let's not put it in our net tonight...
1030 PEN G99 - slashing.
1008 PEN OLL - with 138 left in the PP, Tomaževič hooks a penalty killer. Not good. 4 on 4.
814 - Pance with a good power move to the net.
748 Atwal's shot goes just wide.
728 Great mid-air interception in the offensive zone by Atwal creates a chance for Beričič in front of net on his own. Saved.
6 We don't look very organised and Graz are starting to pick us apart; they have answers for everything we try so far.
532 GOAL GRAZ - another deflection. Do we need more net front stick lifts by the defensemen?
1st Line -1
3rd Pair -1
0-2
509 Already we have two more good chances for Graz.
We need to try to get out of the period without conceding another. Objective: survive!
212 Good work by Gregorc to keep Kolin clean for the glove save. More like that would help prevent the deflection goals!
3s left - we are switching off for the end of the period, but Graz aren't - Kolin has to smother a shot in front.
0-2
P3
1921 Gooch forces a pad save from Kolin, it's a weak start to a period where we need at least 3 goals.
1749 Zajc to Atwal for a good SOG.
1602 Chance for Červeny in front but passes wide.
1547 PEN OLL - Pavlin trips someone.
1509 Triple save by Kolin but the 4th is hacked in. Gooch on the assist.
PK2 -1
0-3
1440 delayed penalty on us, what a great response...
1426 PEN OLL - Tomaževič trips someone. Sloppy stuff from us.
1255 Pance goes through on net but he's pushed wide and it's saved.
1254 PEN GRAZ - hooking.
We get set up, Červeny has a shot blocked and it's cleared out.
1119 Kapel backhand shot saved.
Graz mess up a change, leaving the final seconds of the PP as a 5 on 3, but our backs are turned and we do not notice or take advantage.
9 - Sodja appears to be on the 3rd line now. Is Kumanović down on the 4th?
927 - Second Smash Attack of the day?!
858 Sabolič shot in central position leads to a collective intake of breath - no burger for now....
822 BURGER GOAL OLIMPIJA - Červeny skates and waits to create a screen on the left circle and fires it over the goalie's glove for the first ever Smash Attack goal. In a quasi-delirious, dreamlike moment that I won't soon forget, the announcer screams "BURGER! BURGER! BURGER!". Assist by Ege and Mahkovec (Mahkovec wasn't counted officially but I think he should have been).
1-3
Line 1 +0
Pair 2 +1
1-3
628 PEN OLL - another trip by Pavlin. Oh dear.
559 PEN OLL - this was a soft one, admittedly, but Bičevskis is now joining in on the tripping fun. Oh dear, oh dear. 5 on 3 for 1:31. Ćosić, Crnović and Pance are on.
530 PPG GRAZ - they masterfully coax out and split our three defenders, with a Graz forward inexplicably left free in centre ice. Gooch on the assist once more.
1-4
If all that wasn't enough, there's 1:32 left for the Bičevskis penalty.
3:50 PEN GRAZ - high stick. So they call this one! We go empty net.
Pavlin is doing what they do in football, sending the big centre back up front to cause havoc. He is a big unit to be standing in front of net.
Sabolič has two powerful shots on goal from the right circle that draw two pad saves. The third is wide...
215 PPG OLIMPIJA - Sabolič's 4th consecutive shot goes in! We clearly don't have any other ideas, but hey - it worked! He rifles it too fast for the goalie to grab. Assist by Mašič.
2-4
124 A Graz player manages to hit the replay screen up high; we argue for a delay of game penalty, but the refs aren't interested.
105 We go back to Sabla in the right circle, which is pad saved.
Graz miss the empty net.
People are leaving early for those Smash Burgers!
21s left - Tomaževič shot at the back post - huge block by a Graz defender. Fair play!
8s Graz miss the empty net again.
ENDS 2-4
Final thoughts
Graz looked more like the league-leading team they were earlier this season. They effectively dictated almost the entire game tonight. Penalties are a part of this, too. Our ill-discipline has been increasing, seemingly. Now, obviously the refs will sometimes call softer penalties - we can't control that. But we have to be more careful so we avoid putting ourselves in positions like this against good teams. We can't really expect to beat the best teams if we give them five powerplays in a game.
Talking of league leaders, the current ones, Hydro Fehervar, are coming for Halloween on Tuesday. Let's hope to give them a scare and play more focused and clean hockey. See you then!
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