Vitkovice – Ingolstadt 5:1 (end) | Třinec – Bern 7:0 (end) | Tappara – Stavanger 7:3 (end)
Kuopio – Sparta 4:5 (2:3 after SO) | Köln – Košice 2:1 (end) | Vienna – Färjestad 4:1 (end)
Krefeld – Skellefteå 1:2 (end) | Curych – Vålerenga 4:1 (end) | Genève – Frölunda 4:3 (end)
Briançon – Villach 1:2 (end) | Zug – SaiPa 1:2 (end) | Liberec – Kärpät 3:4 (end)
SønderjyskE – IFK Helsinki 4:5 (0:2 after SO) | Djurgården – Fribourg 5:4 (after OT) | Växjö – Mannheim 6:1 (end)
final
Kölner Haie
2:1 (1:0, 1:1, 0:0)
HC Košice
Thursday 21.08.2014, 19:30 • LANXESS arena • Champions League
     
    That was a close one! Köln takes the first points in Group A with a 2-1 win over HC Kosice. Give full respect to the guests who battled hard and never gave up, even took out goaltender Melichercik with 85 seconds left. But Kölns defense stood tall and wouldn't let Kosice score again in an highly intense third period. (21:42:24)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:28
    Empty Net Kosice.
     
    58:54
    Big scramble in front of aus den Birken. Kosice just can not find the way to beat the German netminder.
     
    58:27
    Visiting team timeout.
     
    58:00
    Exciting last period with 2 minutes remaining. Cologne with a lot of pressure towards Melichercik.
     
    56:25
    Tic-tac-passes from Falk to Marcel Müller in front of Melichercik, who stays big in his net and makes an important save for his team.
     
    55:17
    Cologne kills the penalty. A bit more than 4 minutes to go.
     
    54:47
    Kloucek with a nice tip in try infront of aus den Birken but misses the net. Cologne clears the zone with 30 seconds remaining on the penalty.
     
    53:17
    2 minutes penalty against Jamie Johnson (Kölner Haie) for Slashing.
     
    52:59
    Every shot on goal is important at this stage of the game. Marcel Müller tries a bad angle shot, but Melichercik turns it into the crowd.
     
    52:19
    Not only battles on the boards but also in front of the goal of Melichercik, which moves the net and we get a faceoff in the offensive zone for Cologne.
     
    50:19
    The Haie are generating more pressure in the Slovakian zone. Intense battles on the boards followed by more shots on goal.
     
    49:52
    Cologne is coming back with a huge breakaway chance right after Kosice's powerplay. Another shot finds the glove of Melichercik a few seconds later. 10 minutes remaining.
     
    48:39
    Penalty over. Cologne with five players again.
     
    46:39
    2 minutes penalty against Chris Minard (Kölner Haie) for Slashing.
     
    45:57
    Back and forth between both ends of the ice without any good chances. Looks like the calm before the storm?
     
    44:09
    Cologne seems to be a bit nervous, but are still trying to control the game. They are giving away too much pucks though.
     
    43:13
    Yet another shot by Kolena saved by aus den Birken. This game is not over yet.
     
    41:58
    And HC Kosice surely does not want to lose. Another huge shot by Bicek right from the slot after a steal and pass from Cesik. Save by aus den Birken.
     
    40:42
    We are live in an exciting last period, where two teams are fighting for their first win in the Champions Hockey League respectively. Cologne is leading by one.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    After two periods it's 2-1 for the home team Köln. After a slow start the game gained some good pace with lots of chances on both sides. Köln controlled the game from a solid defensive effort and expanded its lead to two by a redirection from Andreas Falk on the powerplay. But Kosice came back with their neverending spirit and Jiri Bicek put their first one in on the second rebound. It's still a tight game going into the third period.

    Shots on goal (2nd period):
    Köln 15 – Kosice 10
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    38:43
    Goal for Košice!

    Rebound goal in Powerplay. Kosice had a good powerplay formation right away and created great chances. Jencik already had a quick shot against the end of the stick of aus den Birken and it only looked like matter of time until JIRI BICEK finds a rebound in front of Cologne's goalie and scores the 2-1. Assisted by: Milan Kolena.
     
    37:35
    2 minutes penalty against Chris Minard (Kölner Haie) for High Sticking.
     
    36:43
    Cologne gets stronger and stronger. Rankin shots another puck which finds the glove of Melichercik.
     
    35:33
    Another breakaway chance for Cologne. Stephens to Ohmann, who was alone in front of Melichercik, but could not score.
     
    34:34
    Goal for Köln!

    Köln with good powerplay and sharp passes in the zone. After a scramble in front of the goal Philip Gogulla gets the puck at the blue line and puts it right back in the slot where ANDREAS FALK is sucessful with a redirect. Assisted by: Philip Gogulla.
     
    33:59
    2 minutes penalty against Cernak (HC Kosice), Delay of Game
     
    32:55
    Huge chance on the other side as well. Schmolz with a slap shot from the blue line towards Melichercik and Ankert with a good rebound, but the puck is stopped again.
     
    31:19
    Huge chance for HC Kosice after a diving pass from the outside to Bartanus, who does not manage to get the puck behind aus den Birken though.
     
    30:50
    Faceoff, pass, shot and nice looking glove save by Melichercik.
     
    30:14
    The Slovakian champion could not find their powerplay formation. Krupp is back on the ice for Cologne. 5 against 5 again.
     
    29:01
    Cologne shows a solid penalty kill and is even generating chances. Another shorthanded shot on goal by Alexander Weiss.
     
    28:13
    2 minutes penalty against Björn Krupp (Kölner Haie) for Tripping.
     
    26:46
    Bartos with another shot that went wide followed by a long pass of Cologne through the neutral zone that misses Mo. Müller just by an inch. The game is getting quicker.
     
    25:58
    Still a lot of turnovers in the game, but Kosice is finding another shot on goal of aus den Birken, who controls the rebound well to the far corner.
     
    24:13
    Powerplay over. Kosice complete again.
     
    23:21
    Strong combinations in powerplay lead to several chances, especially with Minard alone in the slot area, but he misses his shot completely.
     
    22:13
    Another giveaway from Kolena leads to a penalty against Kloucek, 2 minutes for Tripping. Powerplay Cologne.
     
    21:49
    Cologne continues with a lot of puck possession but is not taking any risks.
     
    21:00
    A lot of giveaways in the first minute of the second period followed by an icing from Kosice. Faceoff in their defensive zone.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The teams return to the ice with only one minute to go until the start of the second period.
     
    Köln leads 1-0 after the first period. Kosice started a bit better and drew the first chances but highlights were rare to find. Köln was good defensive, especially in two shorthanded situations and took the lead with a nice one-timer from new arrival Alexander Sulzer during a delayed penalty against Kosice. The guests still work hard for their chances as we have at least another 40 minutes of Champions Hockey League hockey in front of us.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:23
    Cologne has more puck possession since their 1-0 lead and is starting to control the game. Kosice is still fighting though.
     
    19:00
    Last minute of the first period.
     
    17:23
    The games calms down a bit with a lot of whistles in the neutral zone.
     
    15:00
    Kosice tries to strike back right away with a nice shot by Bartos, but Danny aus den Birken with a good glove save.
     
    14:34
    It first looked like Kosice found their rhythm faster than Cologne, especially after their second Powerplay, but Sulzer strikes back with a beautiful shot during a delayed penalty.
     
    12:39
    Goal for Köln!

    Delayed penalty against Kosice and Köln turns on the heat with six players in the offensive zone. Jamie Johnson circles the net and passes to ALEXANDER SULZER who scores with a great one-timer for the Kölner Haie. Assisted by: Jamie Johnson.
     
    12:28
    Cologne has the chance to get momentum back. Delayed penalty is called.
     
    10:42
    The match becomes more interesting as the Slovakian champion gets more good shots on goal.
     
    10:10
    Cologne complete.
     
    10:07
    Gogulla with another shot on goal for Cologne, but Kosice finally gets good chances towards aus den Birken after finding their powerplay formation.
     
    08:10
    2 minutes penalty against Charles Stephens (Kölner Haie) for Tripping.
     
    07:34
    A few small chances on both ends so far, but both goalies are not facing any dangerous shots yet.
     
    06:12
    Ankert back on ice and we have our first powerbreak of the game.
     
    05:28
    Cologne with good penalty killing and even a 2 on 1 breakaway chance, but the all important pass does not connect.
     
    04:05
    2 minutes penalty against Torsten Ankert (Kölner Haie) for Slashing.
     
    03:44
    Wrap around try by Ohmann was saved by Melichercik.
     
    03:26
    Cologne manages to generate more pressure in direction of Melichercik but can not find a good shot on goal yet. The crowd is supporting their home team loudly.
     
    01:47
    HC Košice with the first two shots on goal. Solid saves by aus den Birken.
     
    01:12
    Quick changes on both sides right at the start of the game, but no dangerous attacks yet.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The Kölner Haie hit the ice first in red jerseys. HC Košice will be playing in white. First bully is just a few seconds away.
     
    Between all Cologne supporters in the LANXESS arena, you can even find roughly 20-30 Košice fans waving their flags during the pre-game intro of the Kölner Haie.
     
    The teams have just finished warm-up and are waiting for the first puck drop. A handful of players are missing on both sides of the ice. While Cologne is without defenseman Holmqvist and forward Iggulden, the Slovakian team has to go without Pasek, Sojcik and new arrival Lapsansky.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Kölner Haie: Aus den Birken (Stefaniszin) – Sulzer, Mo. Müller – Krupp, Tjärnqvist – Ankert, Lüdemann – Schmolz, Zerressen – Rankin, Falk, Ma. Müller – Minard, Johnson, Gogulla – Tripp, Stephens, Ohmann – Riefers, Pfohl, Weiss

    HC Košice: Melichercik (Hylak) – Cernak, Philipp – Cebak, Janosik – Drgon, Kloucek – Macejko, Strbak – Spilar, Bartos, Jencik – Hrnka, Zagrapan, Bartanus – Bicek, Cesik, Kolena – Hindos, Chovan, Stupka

    Referees: S. Persson (SWE), M. Krawinkel (GER) – B. Hoppe (GER), Ch. Hurtik (GER).
     
    It is the final countdown to the start of the Champions Hockey League. On Thursday evening 7:30pm the puck will drop between Germany's runner-up Kölner Haie and Slovakian champion HC Košice.

    Cologne lost their first and only pre-season game against league rival Iserlohn Roosters 4-1, but are still confidentially looking forward to their first home game of the season. With new arrivals and a lot of experienced players, coach Uwe Krupp feels confident to continue their overall good performance.

    HC Košice played a fantastic season in Slovakia last year and especially 40-year-old Peter Bartos developed into a playoff hero. His team is fairly ready for the showdown in European hockey, but they certainly know that it won't be an easy challenge in Cologne on Thursday.
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 19:30 CET.
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Danny Engels

    CZ@HuskyGoalie

    Robert Heppekausen

    CZ@hockeyblogger

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 13. Sulzer (Johnson), 35. Falk (Gogulla) – 39. Bicek (Kolena)

    Kölner Haie: Aus den Birken (Stefaniszin) – Sulzer, Mo. Müller – Krupp, Tjärnqvist – Ankert, Lüdemann – Schmolz, Zerressen – Rankin, Falk, Ma. Müller – Minard, Johnson, Gogulla – Tripp, Stephens, Ohmann – Riefers, Pfohl, Weiss
    HC Košice: Melichercik (Hylak) – Cernak, Philipp – Cebak, Janosik – Drgon, Kloucek – Macejko, Strbak – Spilar, Bartos, Jencik – Hrnka, Zagrapan, Bartanus – Bicek, Cesik, Kolena – Hindos, Chovan, Stupka
    Referees: S. Persson (SWE), M. Krawinkel (GER) – B. Hoppe (GER), Ch. Hurtik (GER)
    Attendance: 3774