The 93rd Spengler Cup kicked off on Thursday afternoon with an upset. Tournament newcomer Ambri-Piotta defeated Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4-1. Robert Sabolic, Matt D’Agostini, and Marco Müller put the Ticinesi up 3-0 just 24 minutes into the game.

What a start to the 93rd Spengler Cup! Tournament newcomer Ambri-Piotta and Salavat Yulaev Ufa delivered the offensive fireworks the 6300 in attendance at the sold-out ice arena were looking for. Just 148 seconds into the game the atmosphere boiled as Robert Sabolic put the Ticinesi ahead. As the Swiss did not show the Russians any undue respect, an animated game unfolded with many scoring opportunities on both sides. Just as Salavat seemed to be close to evening the score, Ambri countered bravely while on the penalty kill. It was then that Matt D’Agostini unstoppably redirected a long range shot by Michael Fora to make it 2-0 (16.).

Ambri was impressive not only with a its all-out attitude but also its on-ice performance, highlighted by a assertive combination leading to Marco Muller’s 3-0 powerplay goal (24.). The stunned Russians needed a few minutes to recover from the three-goal deficit. Only towards the end of the second period did their offence come back in swing, when Yevgeni Lisowez, assisted by Linus Omark, netted the first goal for Salavat.
Ambri failed to close out the the game early to begin the final period, when a goal by Wojtek Wolski was reversed due to goaltender interference. Following that, it was the Russians who pressed hard to get back into the game. But the Ticinesi’s defense stood tight allowing their opponents barely any promising scoring opportunities. In one of those rare occasions the post saved the solid Ambri goaltender Daniel Manzato. The Russians pulled their goalie already 140 seconds before the final buzzer when Ambri’s Mattia Hinterkircher went to the penalty box. But the Ticinesi’s stronghold withstood Ufa’s late onslaught. 18 seconds before the end of the game it was Muller’s second personal marker that made it a 4-1 final. So, Ambri’s fans were given the chance to sing “la Montanara”, their victory song, already in their Spengler Cup debut.

Ambri-Piotta – Salavat Yulaev Ufa 4-1 (2-0, 1-1, 1-0)
Eisstadion Davos. – Attendance: 6300 (sold out). – Refs Romasko/Stricker (RUS/SUI), Kaderli/Schischlo (RUS).
Scoring: 3. Sabolic (Zwerger, Fischer) 1:0. 16. D'Agostini (Fora, Egli/penalty Zwerger!) 2:0. 24. Müller (Zwerger, Miranda/penalty Kuzmin) 3:0. 39. Lisowez (Omark, Burmistrow) 3:1. 60. (59:42) Müller
Penalties: 3x2' minors on Ambri-Piotta, 5x2' minors on Ufa.
Ambri-Piotta: Manzato; Fora, Dotti; Fischer, Plastino; Ngoy, Pinana; Fohrler; Trisconi, Goi, Hinterkircher; Flynn, D'Agostini, Wolski; Zwerger, Müller, Miranda; Sabolic, Douay, Egli.
Ufa: Karejew; Sergejew, Koledow; Zuligin, Lisowez; Muchamadullin, Petrischew; Garejew; Amirow, Burmistrow, Omark; Baschkirow, Kartajew, Schoschnikow; Baranow, Pimenow, Majorow; Lukin, Pustezerow, Kuzmin; Tschewtschenko.

Text: Spengler Cup-Online  Foto: Keystone