Karlovys Lukas Pech, who scored the 5:1

The German representative at this year's Spengler Cup got off to a disappointing start. Two periods into the game the score was still 1:1, but the Czechs were clearly the dominating party, to which the final result of 5:2 was a clear testament.

Seventeen hours after their 1:3-defeat against Team Canada, Karlovy Vary scored its first victory at the Spengler Cup. The Czechs overpowered the German team from Ingolstadt with 5 goals to 2. The decisive goals were scored by Karlovy within the space of three minutes.

Until the 45th minute the Germans who currently rank 13th in the German Hockey League were able to keep up to some extent with the Czech Playoff-Finalist of last season. However, the equalizer scored by Daniel Steiner which made it 1:1 was misleading since Ingolstadt had benefited from a slip by Vary's goal keeper Sablik. Karlovy always had the upper hand in this game featuring the two Spengler Cup tournament novices. It was almost at lightening speed that the East Europeans forced the end result. Within 180 seconds they had increased their lead to 4:1.

Reznicek skilfully delayed his shot thus tricking Jimmy Waite and scoring the 2:1 in the 45th minute of the game. The most elegant attack of the afternoon was rounded off by Melenovsky after a beautiful combination played between himself and his co-forward center Skladany. The supporting block consisting of four Swiss players played only a minor role (despite the goal).

(Si)

QUOTES FROM THE GAME

Karlovy Vary's Michael Dobron who was selected the Best Player for the game, said that Ingolstadt had been an opponent similar to Canada from the day before. "The key to victory was that we played a much more disciplined game than yesterday. We have prepared ourselves for the fact that the referees call more fouls (particularly high-sticking) than in our home league."
Why were so many goals scored in the third period? "We made many shots and then focused on the follow-through. One success factor was the continued pressure we put on our opponents during that third period."

Ingolstadt's second line defender Stephan Daschner, explains, "During the first period both teams seemed to be well matched. We were even a touch better, but that's when our Karlsbad opponents had maybe not warmed up yet. From the 30th minute onwards we seemed to lose focus. It is hard to say what started that avalanche of goals. Maybe we lost too much of our fighting spirit." (hlr)

Karlovy Vary - Ingoldstadt 5:2 (0:0, 1:1, 4:1)

Vaillant Arena. -- 6668 spectators. -- SR Prugger/Stricker, Kohler/Müller. -- Tore: 32. Dobron (Kumstat) 1:0. 36. Steiner (Lemm, Martinovic/disqualification Sarault!) 1:1. 45. Reznicek (Dobron/disqualification Milroy) 2:1. 48. (47:10) Melenovsky (Skladany, Pech) 3:1. 48. (47:59) Zatovic (Zucker) 4:1. 58. (57:10) Pech (Skladany) 5:1. 58. (57:58) Seidenberg (Rourke) 5:2 - Penalties: 6times 2 minutes each.

Karlovy Vary: Sablik; Dobron, Reznicek; Nemec, Prosek; Cerny, Duben; Mudroch, Schmidt; Kumstat, Skuhravy, Kostal; Melenovsky, Pech, Skladany; Zucker, Dej, Zatovic; Jan Bauer, Jakub Bauer, Rohan.

Ingolstadt: Waite; Draxinger, Rourke; Muir, Daschner; Holland, Martinovic; Kobach; Greilinger, Seidenberg, Milroy; Keith, Goddall, Waginger; Roethke, Sarault, Boucher; Steiner, Lemm, Setzinger.

Game notes: 48 min time out for Ingolstadt.

Translation: Olivia Kaferly