EIHL Game Night Round-Up: 7 September 2013

There were five games on opening night of the EIHL season.

Fife Flyers 2 Cardiff Devils 5

The visitors skated away with the points despite losing number one goaltender Dan Lacosta with an injury at the end of the second period. They were a goal to the good at this point and with Lacosta unable to take any further part in the game, British goaltender Joe Meyers stepped up for the third period. He watched his team net another two whilst he kept his cage intact.

It had been a different story at the start of the game as the home side took the lead with a powerplay goal from Tim Hartung at 4.04. The score remained at this until the final minute of the opening period with Matt Nickerson receiving a match penalty for fighting the Devils took full advantage of the five minute powerplay they were back on level terms with a goal from Max Birbraer at 19.11.

The start of the second period saw them score another two powerplay goals 23 seconds apart on the five minute penalty. The first of these came at 21.32 from Brad Plumton followed by Mac Faulkner at 21.55. The home side pulled one back late in the period as Derek Roehl netted at 38.45.

The Devils increased their lead at the start of the third period when Ben Davies struck the puck home at 41.04. The scoring was ended at 56.07 as the visitors netted their fifth from Andrew Lord.

Elite League/Challenge Cup Group A – Belfast Giants 5 Edinburgh Capitals 0

A tremendous start for Paul Adey’s troops as they opened the season with a whitewash against Edinburgh. Stephen Murphy was began his Elite campaign with Edinburgh stood firm between the pipes to record the league’s first shutout of the season.

After a goalless first period it was returnee Jeff Swez that netted the only goals of the second period for the home side. He netted on the powerplay at 26.05 and then added a second at 29.35.

The Giants added a third on the powerplay as Dustin Whitecotton found the net at 44.21. The game was ended as a contest just over midway in the third period as the hosts scored two in 31 seconds. The first of these came at 51.07 as Chris Higgins netted and then Adam Keefe completed the scoring at 51.38.

Elite League/Challenge Cup Group A – Braehead Clan 1 Dundee Stars 2

A solitary goal from the Stars in the third period gave the visitors a win by the odd goal in three as they collected the points that go towards the league, conference and Challenge Cup.

The opening period saw both teams creating chances however the better of these were coming the way of the home team. They actually had the puck in the net in the 4th minute but it was disallowed for a Clan player being in the crease. The Stars had three powerplay opportunities but failed to make any of them count.

The second period was every bit as tight with neither team able to find the opening goal. It eventually came the way of the visitors as Nico Sacchetti netted at 28.52. The hosts were back on level terms with a strike from Matt Haywood at 32.53. This was how it remained for the remainder of the period.

The third period was no different from the first two as the game remained tight and it looked as though one goal would seal it for either team. That turned out to be the case as Jerry Pollastrone fired into the net at 49.27 to put the visitors in front for a second time. Despite pulling goaltender Jones for the extra skater in the final minute the home failed to find the goal that would have taken the game into overtime.

League/Challenge Cup Group B – Nottingham Panthers 9 Hull Stingrays 3

For two periods this game could have gone either way with only a goal between the teams. However, five without reply in the third period from the home side saw then win the game rather easily. With young Brit Robert Lachowicz netting himself a hat trick.

Panthers got themselves off to a perfect start as Robert Lachowicz put them in front at 6.17. The hosts doubled their lead with a strike from Brandon Benedict at 13.20. The visitors pulled one back from the stick of Jereme Tendler at 14.21. Panthers regained their two goal advantage just over a minute later with a goal from Bob Wren at 15.52.

A second goal from Tendler at 23.39 got the Stingrays to within one and then at 28.31 the game was all square as Jason Silverthorn netted. Having got themselves back on level terms the visitors found themselves behind once again as Wren scored his second of the game at 33.10. Going into the third period the hosts were in front by the odd goal in seven.

Panthers struck early in the third period as Chris Capraro netted on the powerplay at 41.22. A further two goals in just over a minute saw the Panthers increase their lead as Lachowicz with his second of the game at 44.20 and then Chris Murray at 45.32 put the three in front.

The game was ended as a contest as Matt Francis at 51.29 and then a strike from Lachowicz at 53.15 to complete his hat trick and end the scoring.

Challenge Cup Group B – Coventry Blaze 2 Sheffield Steelers 4

This game was won in the opening session as the visitors took a two goal lead. Despite the hosts pulling one back in the second period it was a goal from the visitors in the third period that gave them the points.

The visitors went in front early on as Jonathan Phillips netted at 1.59. They added a second at 7.39 with a strike from Danny Meyers, they were then three in front with a goal from Stefan Meyer at 17.42. The hosts managed to pull one back before the end of the period as Ryan Ginand was on hand to net on the powerplay at 18.47.

With only 7 seconds of the second period played the Blaze made it a one goal game as Adam Henrich netted on the powerplay. Despite this early strike the hosts failed to make any headway in the remainder of the period.

Having got themselves right back into the game the Blaze then gave up a shorthanded goal at 45.34 as Jeff League netted the last goal of the game.