VIENNA 1 - 3 OLIMPIJA
DRAGONS BURN THE CAPITALS
HORAK SAVES PENALTY SHOT AND LAVOIE BAGS FIRST GOAL
Lineup changes
Ćosić is now also out, so the 3rd pair consists of both of the formerly alternating 7th defensemen, Hebar and Crnović. Pleasingly and pointlessly, their numbers match well (22 and 44). Bohinc comes in as the 7th defenseman. Lavoie stays on the 3rd line, which looked good last game (and spoiler alert, did this game too!).
Stars of the game
* Alexandre Lavoie (G, 2A) and the new 3rd line - Zajc and Bičevskis have long-standing chemistry when playing together, but Lavoie's demotion from the top line to join them was an inspired choice by Coach Karhula and the staff. He has looked much more effective and this line has scored at least one goal in each of their two games together. Long may that continue, well done boys! On that note, it was great to see Lavoie break his duck. Who cares that it was an empty netter, it still counts! Let's hope for a 'ketchup bottle' situation, as the Anaheim Ducks have been talking about for Cutter Gauthier. Once the logjam is cleared, the goals could flow!
** Lukaš Horák (97.3%, A) - *clap clap* HORAK *clap clap* HORAK. Also, saved a penalty shot - it shows how much confidence I have in him that I was happier that Vienna were given a penalty shot rather than a powerplay. I knew he was never letting that one in! The cherry on top was that he got a primary assist on Lavoie's empty net goal. You beauty!
*** The Blaž boys (absolute units) - both Gregorc and Tomaževič were masterful along the boards this game, at their respective ends of the ice. Gregorc is very reliable, but I didn't know what to think about Tomaževič going on the top line. Turns out he did his job of doing the dirty work, freeing up the highly dangerous Sabolič and Kerbashian to create and convert chances.
Dishonourable mention:
Arvin Atwal. He is taking at least one penalty every single game now. It's at the point where I am no longer inclined to believe in some league-wide refereeing conspiracy against him and instead consider him a player lacking in discipline. It was his penalty that broke Horak's shutout, which I always hate to see. It would be more forgivable if he was delivering thunderous hits and blasting bombs from the blue line into the net like a prime Pavlin, but he does neither of those. If we weren't so snowed under with injuries I would suggest scratching him for a game or two. He can turn himself back from a liability into an asset, but we need to see some change and fast.
This is harsh. I like the fiery way Atwal plays for us. But it has to be harsh if we want to become a team that closes out games, suffocating the opposition with leads, rather than giving them routes back into the game as Atwal's penalty did here.
Stats
Shots-saves at even strength:
P1: 3-5
P2: 6-12
P3: 9-9
This is pretty standard for us - weathering offensive storms in the 2nd period but usually finishing well in the 3rd period.
Shooting %: 2/21 = 9.52. Right around NHL average of 10% - so we didn't get lucky and weren't hard done by with out chances. We deserved this!
Save %: 37/38 = 97.3. Magnificent, insurmountable, majestic - take your pick. Really hope I can shake Horak's hand one day.
Special teams:
PP: 1/2 = 50%.
PK: 1/2 = 50%.
As long as we add up to 100%, we're good!
Game flow:
P1:
- I found it interesting that Lavoie is taking faceoffs even over Bičevskis. Clearly they rate him at that aspect!
- Our dump-ins are creating a continuous cycle of pressure coming back our way, as we lose possession, pinch unsuccessfully in the neutral zone and allow rush chances in our zone.
28s left - PEN VIC - Predan, our old player, gifts us a penalty for hooking (?). The broadcast weren't very good at making this clear. Talking of them, would it kill the commentators to do the most basic research on Slovene pronunciation? I am not even Slovene, but I cannot stand all these 'Zajch' and 'Mahkovech' calls I hear from these clueless Austrians.
P2
- Looks like we're trying to be much more possession-based in attack after the failing dump-ins of P1.
1215 - HIGH DANGER CHANCE - Vienna hit the post on a wide-open back door after a pass across goal that all but sears the ice. Phew!
813 - PEN VIC - no announcement, thanks guys.
626 POWERPLAY GOAL OLIMPIJA - Tomaževič does really well to establish our offensive zone presence basically on his own along the boards, retrieving his own dump-in. Choppy possession follows and results in Mahkovec shoveling one in. It goes Sabolič-Kerbashian-Lavoie-Mahkovec.
0-1
136 - Seems like the puck has gone in and out of Horak's net, but mercifully it hasn't!
P3
1731 - GOAL OLIMPIJA - from the very back of our defensive zone, Lavoie rims the puck out, a Vienna player misjudges it and Bičevskis springs the rush for a 2 on 1 with Zajc. Zajc elects to shoot and beats the goalie below his blocker. This new 3rd line is spicy! And doesn't Lavoie look re-energised with the zero-goal top line pressure monkey off his back!
0-2
1656 PEN OLL - Gregorc trip.
1423 PEN OLL - Atwal interference. Don't you just hate offensive zone penalties...
1257 PPG VIENNA - an absolute blaster shot of a one-timer from Franklin. That's an NHL goal. Silly from Atwal to needlessly give the penalty away.
1-2
1050 Ege falls over in the D-zone, leaving Gregorc alone for a surprise 2-on-1. Thankfully, he deftly breaks it up and it's like it never happened. Ege owes him a Smash Burger or two for that...
955 Sabla gets tripped behind our net but the refs aren't interested.
840 Another single-handed attack breakup by Gregorc. King!
654 PENALTY SHOT - interference on goalscoring opportunity. Horak saves the shot, because of course he does. A patient pad save, like usual. I didn't actually see who committed the foul, and the highlights don't show it either. Anyway, we're clear! Thanks, 61!
243 - I honestly thought Kerbashian had scored, and was out of my seat at home, but the puck just temptingly rippled the side netting.
120 - VIC go empty net.
50s left - EMPTY NET GOAL OLIMPIJA - Alex Lavoie gets his first of the season! Smiles all around! That was quite an impressive turn and shoot. Horak gets an assist!!!
Final thoughts
This was a well-spent Sunday evening for all involved. I was really happy to see us continue the momentum created by the win over Salzburg. Long may this continue! I think I've said everything I needed to say elsewhere, apart from how impressed I am that we continue to manage our considerable injury situation well. This is the time to shine for the depth guys - carpe glaciem, pueri!
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