GAME 23: AVS VS OLL

 HYDRO FEHERVAR 2 - 1 OLIMPIJA

TIGHT GAME SEES THE DEVILS EDGE THE DRAGONS

KOLIN LOCKS DOWN THE NET AND SABLA + KALE SCORE A BEAUTIFUL PPG, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE THE WIN

Lineup changes

Kavčič backs up Kolin - is Horak just being spared a long road trip or is something amiss here?

Stars of the game

* Luka Kolin - Despite conceding on the first shot of the game, I thought he came in against a top-2 team in the league and looked commanding. Perhaps being the true no1 with Kavčič rather than Horak backing him up helped with this added poise. Dark Souls/Elden Ring fans know how important that is! In all seriousness, though, his lateral agility is a sight to behold. He also made a Statue of Liberty save, which I enjoy almost as much as Horak's scorpion saves. Here's hoping it becomes a trademark of no. 30.

** Robert Sabolič (A) and Kale Kerbashian (PPG) - such a satisfying powerplay goal created by these two. Sabla just goes bulldozer mode down the middle of the ice, drawing penalty killers. In the mould of the NFL, he acts as 'thunder' whilst Kale sneaks down the left wing unattended for the 'lightning' strike, whipping across the net front for a backhand goal. I really hope we see more direct attacks like this on the powerplay.

*** Rasmus Reijola, AVS - stick tap to the Hungarians' goalie.

Stats

Shots-Saves at even strength:

P1: 5-7 (goal AVS)

P2: 9-8 (PPG OLL)

P3: 9-7 (goal AVS)

This usefully illustrates how closely contested the game was.

Special teams:

PP = 1/1 for 100%

PK = 1/1 for 100%

I don't think we'll be getting many 200% special teams games, so enjoy it while you can! This speaks to how good Fehervar really are, that we can play this well on special teams and still not come away with the win. 

Shooting % = 4.34. Very low, which suggests we were unlucky not to score another goal (depending on shot quality, of course, which we can't really track manually). 

Save % = 25/27 = 92.6. Firmly a quality start and a decent return on an ESPN fantasy hockey performance. A shame there isn't a fantasy ICE league!

Game flow

P1

1630 - GOAL AVS

On the first shot on goal of the game,  Kuralt of AVS scores. It's a well-worked goal that has clearly been practiced thoroughly. All three forwards go triangular mode and split our defenders and centre (Ćosić, Crnović and Kerbashian).

1-0 

1011 PEN OLL Beričič crosscheck.

P2

1406 PEN AVS - some kind of hook or interference? Stream doesn't bother showing the refs, disappointingly, and expecting anybody to understand Hungarian is a tough ask.

1333 POWERPLAY GOAL OLIMPIJA

Great move and so direct! Sabolič enters the offensive zone with control and barrels forward into a crowd of penalty killers, before releasing the silent killer, Kale Kerbashian, who had stalked down the left. He scythes across the goal and backhands Reijola into 5-hole oblivion. Sensational stuff! As always, our offensive game is markedly better with KK on the ice. Now I just have to pray that the Onkoman sponsors don't take his blue jersey before the public auction starts...

1-1

1103 - fantastic swallow save by Kolin at the back post. Excellent lateral burst across to make the save easier than it should have been.

408 Statue of Liberty glove save by Kolin on a high-danger chance. An AVS player finds bounteous space in the slot right in front of goal but Kolin reaches for the heavens with puck in glove.

P2 ends with lots of Olimpija shots; AVS look relieved to escape with the score 1-1.

P3

1600 GOAL AVS 

2nd line and 2nd pair are on for this. A quick neutral zone transition leads to what I initially though was a fly-by screen, but actually turns out to be an accidental screen of Kolin by Gregorc. Gaunce of AVS spots this and flicks a shot from the point that goes through both Olimpija players' legs. There's a review for offside but it stands. Unfortunate, but a clever goal.

2-1

1244 Kapel hits the post for the second time in consecutive games (I think?!).

559 Mahkovec is overconfident trying to exit the D-zone and gets ambushed by two AVS players. His dribbling gets dispossessed and they nearly repeat their first goal's triangular move. Mercifully, Kolin saves. 

140 - Still no empty net.

118 Kerbashian has a good look blocked.

24s Sabolič smashes one from the right circle but Reijola saves.

5s AVS miss the eventual empty net. 

ENDS 2-1.

Final thoughts

A close game but well-fought. Despite the loss, this proves to me that we can hang with the best of the best (I feel, rightly or wrongly, that Fehervar's success is more sustainable than Bolzano's, currently). 

Something made me think of the 4th line here. Earlier this season, they often provided energy and sparked us, with Pance at least. Now the 'kid line' seems to get swamped easily by opponents and doesn't provide much of anything. I hope they find their game again because it's a shame to see players of Sodja, Beričič and Mehle's calibre providing very little at 5 on 5.