Lukas Lang celebrates the victory

After Monday's game, Karlovy Vary can no longer aspire to win the Spengler Cup.  Even after leading the game, the Czech Champions lost their third match of the tournament against the Mannheim Eagles on a penalty shootout (1:2).

Nervous after leading

For the fifth time this tournament, the Czechs lead the game without being able to sustain their advantage.  Forced into overtime, Karlovy suffered their third defeat after coming up short in the penalty shootout.  King and Papineau (ex-Basel) scored for the successful Eagles; only Nemec managed to connect on one of Karlovy Vary's six attempts. 

The fact that the game could not be decided in regular play time was a testimony to the Eagles ability to hang on despite playing rather poorly for large stretches of time throughout the game.  Though the Czechs had dominated the regular play time, they were not able to capitalize on their clear superiority.  Zigmund Palffy lit up the score board in the 13th minute to give Karlovy Vary who were one man up on the Eagles the lead.  The Slovak star (708 NHL games/732 points), however failed to convert his penalty attempt due to the strong showing by Manneim goalie Lukas Lang (46 saved shots on goal plus four saved penalty shots).

In the end, the advantage shifted

Only at the end of the game did the Mannheim Eagles, this time playing without Daniel Steiner who was rested, show their offensive prowess.  Playing without Goalie and with an extra forward on the ice, the Eagles' Mario Scalzo succeeded in scoring the game equalizer with 28 seconds remaining to make the score 1:1.  Even in overtime, the Germans came very close to victory.

Telegram:

Karlovy Vary - Mannheim Eagles 1:2 (1:0, 0:0, 0:0, 0:0) after penalty shootout

Vaillant Arena. -- 6570 spectators. - Referees: Kurmann/Stalder, Fluri/Kohler. -- Goals: 13. Palffy (Kristek, Melenovsky/disqualified Martinec) 1:0. 60. (59:32) Scalzo (King) 1:1 (without goalie). - Penalty shootout: Pletka - (failed attempt), King 0:1; Nemec 1:1, Urguhart - (failed attempt); Kostal - (failed attempt), Spylo - (missed shot); King - (failed attempt), Nemec - (failed attempt); Urguhart - (missed shot), Melenovsky - (missed shot); Papineau 1:2, Nemec - (missed shot). -- Penalties: 6 times 2 Minutes against Karlovy, 9 times 2 Minutes against Mannheim.

Karlovy Vary: Mensator; Nemec, Loginow; Dobron, Cutta; Kutlak, Tribuncovs; Mucha, Prosek; Kumstat, Skuhravy, Kostal; Palffy, Kristek, Melenovsky; Dej, Pech, Pletka; Zatovic, Kubena, Hluchy.

Adler Mannheim: Lang; Trepanier, Schmidt; Pollock, Scalzo; Hedlund, Butenschön; Petermann, Reul; Mauer, Papineau, Seidenberg; King, Forbes, Robinson; Spylo, Hackert, Urguhart; Martinec, Beardsmore, Kink.

General Notes: Mannheim without Steiner (not in the line up/surplus), Methot (sick). 17. two goal posts Kristek. 39. Palffy failed penalty on Lang. Eagles without goalie as of 58:50. (Si)

Translation: Olivia Kaferly