Group Cattini
Standings
Team
|
W
|
OT/SOW
|
OT/SOL
|
L
|
PTS
|
GD
|
Team Canada
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
+4
|
HC Davos
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
-1
|
Alder Mannheim
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
-3
|
Group Summary
The opening matchup was Team Canada and Alder Mannheim. After trading penalties, Alder Mannheim opened the scoring with Adam Mitchell getting credit for the goal. The second period was much of the same with penalties. In both periods, Team Canada could not get their powerplay working, and was only about to control the offensive zone within the last couple minutes of the periods. Team Canada finally tied the game up midway through the third, as Tyler Seguin broke Dennis Endras’ shutout bid. Overtime saw Team Canada get a breakaway, only to see Endras make a save. Alder Mannheim quickly turned the puck down ice and sprung Jason Pominville on a breakaway, who beat Jonathan Bernier. Alder Mannheim beat Team Canada 2-1, showing that the German club should not be taken lightly.
After losing, Team Canada had to play HC Davos. The results were a lot different than their first game. Team Canada was a more gelled team, and was in control for most of the match. HC Davos took two penalties early in the first and Team Canada capitalized on the later one, with John Tavares blasting a one-timer past Reto Berra. Ryan Smyth quickly extended the lead less than a minute later. The second period belonged to two Team Canada players: Byron Ritchie and Josh Holden. Ritchie scored twice, one shorthanded and one on the powerplay. Holden assisted on the shorthanded goal and created a breakaway chance for him. Jason Williams scored late in the third to make it 5-0. Devan Dubnyk stopped 25 shots to earn the shutout (yes, an Oiler goalie got a shutout). The line of Joe Thornton-Patrick Kane-Damien Brunner did not do well, with Brunner at one time giving up the puck in his own zone and taking a penalty trying to cover his mistake. If any NHL scout was watching, I hope Josh Holden gets another shot.
The last game of the group was Alder Mannheim versus HC Davos. Alder Mannheim opened the scoring early on a (few) lucky bounce(s) after a Dennis Seidenberg slapshot. Florian Kettemer extended Mannheim’s lead early in the second. After that, it was all downhill for the German club. Enzo Corvi opened the scoring for HC Davos soon after Kettemer’s goal. Then Dino Wieser scored twice within three minutes, giving HC Davos the first lead they had all tournament. The third period was not any kinder to Mannheim, as Loui Eriksson scored less than a minute in to extend the lead. Gregory Hofmann and Santeri Alatalo scored midway though the period, as the Alder Mannheim defense could not hold against HC Davos’ attack. HC Davos won 6-2.
Group Torriani
Standings
Team
|
W
|
OT/SOW
|
OT/SOL
|
L
|
PTS
|
GD
|
HC Vitkovice Steel
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
Fribourg-Gotteron
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
+3
|
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
-3
|
Group Summary
The opening game of the tournament saw Fribourg-Gotteron take on Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Ufa was able to fend off a couple early penalties, then turned around and opened the scoring on a powerplay late in the first. After that it was all Fribourg-Gotteron. The Swiss club tied the game early in the second period, and took the lead shortly after on a Greg Mauldin shorthanded goal. Fribourg-Gotteron did not strike again until midway though the third, as Andrei Bykov extended the lead to 3-1. Julian Sprunger and Mike Knoepfli added insurance goals late, as Fribourg-Gotteron beat Ufa 5-1.
The lost meant Ufa was back at it the next day, facing the Czech club HC Vitkovice Steel. Rudolf Huna started the scoring for HC Vitkovice, potting two goals. Ufa cut the lead in half with Sergei Zinovyev scoring late in the period. The second period saw both teams swapping goals. Nikita Filatov scored just over half a minute in the third to tie the game up for Ufa. 16 seconds into overtime, Kirill Koltsov scored the game winning goal for Ufa, giving them a 5-4 win.
The final game of the group was HC Vitkovice facing Fribourg-Gotteron. Roman Szturc scored for HC Vitkovice midway though the first. Rudolf Huna extended his goal-streak in the second, putting one past Cory Schneider. Julian Sprunger helped Fribourg-Gotteron get on the scoreboard in the third, but that was all for the Swiss club. HC Vitkovice won 2-1, with Filip Sindelar stopping 38 shots to help the Czech club finish first on the group. No word on if Fribourg-Gotteron will sign Eddie Lack for the playoffs.
Playoffs
Quarter-Finals
Fribourg-Gotteron vs. Alder Mannheim
HC Davos vs. Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Semi-Finals
Team Canada vs. (Fribourg-Gotteron/Alder Mannheim)
HC Vitkovice vs. (HC Davos/Salavat Yulaev Ufa)
The first Quarter-Finals matchup will see a Fribourg-Gotteron team trying to rebound after a heartbreaker and a Alder Mannheim team that was devastated in their last game. Goaltending maybe the biggest factor, as German national goalie Dennis Endras has played relatively well in his two games. Fribourg-Gotteron will have to decide between former Swiss U20 stud Benjamin Conz and Canucks savior (or so I’ve heard) Cory Schneider.
HC Davos and Salavat Yulaev Ufa will be all about the firepower. Ufa has been stymied in their two games and will be looking to breakout in this game. For HC Davos, more is needed from the big three. Loui Eriksson and Joe Thornton started heating up last game and will try to keep that going. Patrick Kane has been shaky at times and will need to find his rhythm quickly in this game.
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