EC-KAC Falls Short Against Berlin in Hard-Fought Match
EC-KAC dropped a tight match in Berlin, falling despite a late third-period push and a strong performance from debutant goaltender Mareks Mitens, according to match reports from the EC-KAC official website. The Klagenfurt side applied heavy pressure in the closing minutes, pulling their goaltender for an extra attacker with 145 seconds remaining, but failed to secure the equalizing goal.
Berlin Secures Early Advantage Behind Kirk and Tiffels Goals
The hosts broke the deadlock in the second period when Liam Kirk capitalized on a rebound at the 34-minute mark following a shot from Ty Ronning. Berlin extended their lead shortly after when Frederik Tiffels scored with a backhand shot from the left hashmarks in the 38th minute. Goaltender Jack LaFontaine turned away multiple Klagenfurt scoring chances, including a spectacular glove save on a second-period one-timer by Daniel Obersteiner during a power play. Earlier in the first period, Travis St. Denis tested LaFontaine from the left back-space in the 4th minute, while Korbinian Geibel had a wrister from the high slot stopped by Mitens’s catching glove in the 10th minute and a deflected shot blocked by the pad in the 17th minute. At the other end in the opening frame, Ben Öfner missed a wide-open net on a rebound from a Clemens Unterweger long-range shot in the 11th minute, and Thomas Hundertpfund was denied by LaFontaine’s shoulder in the 12th minute. Kai Wissmann registered a deflected power-play slapshot from the blue line that Mitens stopped with his pad in the 19th minute. During the second period, Mitens turned away Markus Vikingstad in the 28th minute, stopped a deflected shot from Jonas Müller and smothered a follow-up attempt by Andreas Eder in a split save in the 36th minute, and denied Manuel Wiederer’s one-timer during a two-on-two rush in the 37th minute. Tobias Sablattnig and David Waschnig combined for a close-range deflection saved by LaFontaine’s upper body in the 40th minute.
Klagenfurt Fights Back With Late Third-Period Strike
The visitors narrowed the deficit to 2-1 at the 50-minute mark. Finn van Ee intercepted the puck inside the blue line and fed Thomas Hundertpfund, who converted his second effort past LaFontaine. EC-KAC continued to pressure the Berlin defense, coming closest to an equalizer when Jesper Jensen Aabo fired a hidden slapshot that struck the crossbar in the 54th minute. Earlier in the final frame, Markus Vikingstad shot just wide from between the hashmarks in the 47th minute, and a multi-player scramble at the crease preceded a point shot from Calle Göransson that LaFontaine handled in the 48th minute, immediately followed by a van Ee tip over the crossbar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the goals for Berlin in the match against EC-KAC?
Liam Kirk and Frederik Tiffels provided the scoring for Berlin, securing the goals in the second period.
How close did EC-KAC come to tying the game in the third period?
Klagenfurt pulled within one goal at the 50-minute mark thanks to Thomas Hundertpfund and later hit the crossbar with a slapshot from Jesper Jensen Aabo in the 54th minute before pulling their goaltender late in regulation.
Who made their debut in goal for EC-KAC?
Mareks Mitens made his debut in goal for Klagenfurt, turning away numerous shots throughout the contest.
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