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) | Zürich – 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
Krefeld Pinguine
1:2 (1:0, 0:1, 0:1)
Skellefteå AIK
Thursday 21.08.2014, 19:30 • König-Palast • Champions League
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 19:30 CET.
     
    The Krefeld Penguins, who are newcomers to the stage of European competitions, are looking forward to meeting the Swedish team from Skelleftea, fully aware of that team's great performances in the last four seasons.

    Krefeld made it into the Champions Hockey League by virtue of finishing 2nd place in the DEL's regular season, then reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to eventual champion ERC Ingolstadt in five games. They boast last season's DEL scoring champion, Adam Courchaine, who had 74 points in 51 games.

    AIK Skelleftea, meanwhile, is the reigning Swedish Hockey League champion. They finished 1st overall in the regular season with 111 points, then went through the playoffs with a 12-2 record, sweeping Farjestad in the final. However, they enter the CHL without last season's SHL MVP Joakim Lindström, who will be going to the St. Louis Blues training camp. They do, however, still have Oscar Möller.

    An estimated crowd of 4000 may attend the game in Krefeld and the fans will do their best to give the Penguins the support they are used to.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Krefeld Pinguine: Duba (Klein) – Fischer, St. Pierre, Sonnenburg, Meyers, Mebus, Weihager, Supis, Hanusch – Courchaine, Pietta, Perrault – Vasiljevs, Driendl, Sofron – Schymainski, Methot, Long – Hauner, Kretschmann, Mieszkowski.

    Skellefteå AIK: Hanses (Svenson) – Aho, Andersen,Burström, Edström, Heed, Lindgren, A. Lindholm, A. Lundberg, M. Pettersson, Sevc – Calof, Forssell, Holmström, Kabanov, Lehtonen, P. Lindholm, M. Lundberg, Norman, A. Pettersson, Petterström, Sundquist, Sörensen, Widing, Zackrisson.

    Referees: P. Lindqvist (FIN), D. Piechaczek (GER) – A. Kowert (GER), A. Schrader (GER).
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:09
    The home team started with an icing.
     
    00:16
    Joshua Meyers (KRE) gets a minor penalty for holding an opponent.
     
    02:48
    Anton Karlsson (SKE) gets a minor penalty for charging.
     
    02:16
    Home team at full strength.
     
    03:45
    Hanses made a great save and paused the game.
     
    04:21
    Vasiljevs was in a good shooting position, but he tried to find one of his teammates instead and failed.
     
    04:48
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    05:59
    Duba stayed focused against nice shot of Zackrisson and peformed a great glove save.
     
    06:33
    Skellefteå gets a minor penalty for too many players on ice and it will be served by Marcus Pettersson (SKE). Another powerplay for Krefeld.
     
    06:39
    Hanses' glove stopped the shot right after the face-off in front of him.
     
    06:53
    Skellefteå clears the zone and changes formations.
     
    07:20
    Hanses was ready by his left post and his teammates threw the puck away again.
     
    08:00
    Goal for Krefeld!
    The Penguins took the lead with a nice combination on their powerplay. Driendl got into the zone, passed it towards Sofron between the circles who was able to notice HERBERTS VASILJEVS in even better position. 1:0! Assisted by Istvan Sofron and Andreas Driendl.
    Herberts VASILJEVS - 1:0
     
    08:35
    Lehtonen's attempt went wide. Another shot of Skellefteå's players ends in Duba's glove.
     
    09:56
    Pietta tried his luck from a blue line, but Hanses was ready.
     
    10:14
    Widing lost puck while getting through the neutral zone and Duba covered it as it got near to him.
     
    10:43
    First formation of Krefeld makes space again in front of Hanses.
     
    11:06
    Nice save by Duba, who showed his movement ability and spread his legs all over the crease. Sundqvist could have tap the puck in above him, but missed the goal completely with a backhanded attempt!
     
    12:18
    Great chance also on the other side! Schymainski tried to finish a 2-on-1 breakaway, but missed the target as well.
     
    13:04
    Skellefteå has problems with Krefeld's forechecking.
     
    13:37
    Nice defensive work by Burstrom and Lindgren, who hasted while returning back to kill another 2-on-1 situation.
     
    14:05
    Sevc's backhanded dump onto Duba didn't make any difference.
     
    15:09
    Krefeld gained the puck behind its own goal.
     
    15:35
    Calof's shot from a sharp angle was an easy save for Duba.
     
    16:25
    Krefeld's passing play looks much better than the opponent's at the moment.
     
    16:59
    Weihager stood strong on his own blue line and gave a nice hit against a player of Skellefteå trying to slip through.
     
    17:31
    Forssell got in front of Duba and had plenty of time to finish twice. However, Duba kept his clean sheet for now with nice movement.
     
    18:21
    David Fischer (KRE) gets called for slashing. Powerplay for Skellefteå in the end of opening period.
     
    18:28
    Pettersson's shot didn't find its way through scrimmage in front of Duba.
     
    18:47
    Krefeld clears the zone.
     
    18:59
    Courchaine could have increase with a shorthanded goal! He got alone in front of Hanses, but didn't finish properly.
     
    19:35
    Another chance for the Penguins, but another one wasted. What a penalty-killing display this is anyway!
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    First period is now over and we've seen a nice game so far. Krefeld took the lead with a powerplay goal by Herberts Vasiljevs. The home side was more active and agressive so far, which resulted also in two more chances while they were shorthanded in the final minute of the period. Since they both remained untaken, Skellefteå will bring rest of its powerplay into the second period.
     
    Next period begins at 20:23.

     
    21 second of powerplay remains exactly for Skellefteå in the second period.
     
    Shots on goal: 10 – 14
    Face-offs: 11 – 9
    PIM: 4 – 4
     
    Players of both teams are coming back on the ice.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:23
    Lindgren's bad pass sent Skellefteå into the neutral zone just as their powerplay ran out.
     
    21:19
    Goal for Skellefteå!
    And now it's even again! Pettersson took the puck into the offensive zone and tried to find anyone of his teammates in front of goal. After a fortunate bounce from the back board and mistake of defender, ERIK FORSSELL got to it and put it behind Duba to make it even – 1:1! Assisted by Martin Sevc.
    Erik FORSSELL - 1:1
     
    22:18
    Duba covered the puck and paused the game.
     
    22:27
    The Swedes are literally everywhere after the equaliser.
     
    23:32
    Nice combination of Skellefteå will result into another powerplay.
     
    23:40
    Lindgren took the way in front of Duba's goal crease and was disrupted while finishing by Mike Mieszkowski (KRE) who got a minor penalty.
     
    24:27
    Zackrisson's shot blocked away by Duba. Skellefteå stay on puck.
     
    25:13
    Krefeld cleared the zone, but only two of its players made it to the bench.
     
    25:40
    Home team at full strength.
     
    25:42
    Immediately, there is a powerplay also for the home side. Martin Sevc (SKE) lost balance and tripped his opponent.
     
    26:09
    Courchaine shoots right after crossing the blue line. Hanses saves, face-off wil follow.
     
    26:34
    Great fore-checking by Lindgren forced the Germans to leave the zone.
     
    27:05
    Skellefteå clears its defensive zone for now.
     
    27:42
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    28:08
    St-Pierre made a mistake, but Lindholm didn't take advantage of it.
     
    28:48
    Burstrom's attempt from a sharp angle hit Duba's chest.
     
    29:32
    Power break will follow.
     
    29:42
    Sundqvist appeared alone between the circles, but he missed the target completely!
     
    30:44
    The Penguins improved their game and looks a bit more agressive in the recent minutes.
     
    31:19
    Nice solo attack by Lehtonen. Deke between his own legs and shot, which was stopped by Duba.
     
    32:08
    Sofron made the offensive blue line, but lost balance right behind it and only threw the puck behind the goal while falling in a wierd spin-o-rama.
     
    32:30
    Lundberg's snap shot from the left side made a fuzz as Duba didn't manage to keep it and had to turn around quickly to cover the puck.
     
    33:05
    Lindholm's pass in front of goal was looking for Lundberg, but he missed it.
     
    33:28
    Face-off in front of Hanses after a quick counter-attack by Krefeld.
     
    34:20
    Marcus Pettersson (SKE) gets a minor penalty for tripping.
     
    34:57
    Krefeld settled down in the zone.
     
    35:19
    Courchaine's crossing pass was well read by Adam Pettersson, who clears the zone immediately.
     
    35:30
    Sundqvist injured himself while giving a hit to opponent. Hopefully, he'll be okay.
     
    35:39
    David Fischer (KRE) gets a minor penalty as well. It's four on four right now.
     
    36:07
    Lehtonen showed a piece of skill getting through the blue line and his shot was well hidden behind the defender as well, but Duba stopped it.
     
    36:20
    Pettersson is back. Skellefteå has a powerplay.
     
    37:17
    Krefeld clears the zone.
     
    37:39
    Home team at full strength.
     
    37:46
    It was David Fischer, who got into a solo breakaway right from the penalty box. However, Hanses made a brilliant glove save and stole his chance.
     
    39:02
    Duba helps his teammates with a stick.
     
    39:32
    Strange situation, when nobody knew for a while, where was the puck. Lindholm was still poking into Duba, while Krefeld players went with it on the other side.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    It's anybody's game after two periods as both captains made the goalmark in the game. Vasiljevs' goal put Krefeld into the lead in the first period, but Erik Forssell anwsered in the second one with a powerplay. Skellefteå started much better in the second part, but scored only once, even though its players had much more chances.
     
    Next period begins at 21:15.
     
    Shots on goal: 14 – 21
    Face-offs: 21 – 13
    PIM: 6 – 8
     
    Both teams are back on ice and ready for the third period to start.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:27
    Lehtonen's shot from blue line wasn't that hard, but Duba didn't certainly look calm while trying to catch it.
     
    40:46
    Another save by Duba. Probably a penalty for Skellefteå.
     
    40:51
    In the end, Adam Pettersson got only a warning for slashing into Duba's pads.
     
    41:30
    Czech goalie makes one save after another right now as he's pelted with shots from all positions.
     
    41:50
    Joel Perrault (KRE) gets called for elbowing. It looked like a shoulder hit to me, but the referees have a different opinion. Powerplay for Skellefteå. Perrault also gets a personal misconduct penalty on top of normal two minutes.
     
    42:34
    Krefeld clears the zone and changes formations.
     
    42:46
    It's the second penalty of the game for too many players on the ice on Skellefteå's side. Mikko Lehtonen (SKE) will serve this one. It's 4 on 4.
     
    43:16
    The Penguins didn't get past the neutral zone with a puck.
     
    43:39
    Second try was better and Methot even tried to finish with a wirst shot. However, he was disrupted in the final moment possible and didn't hit target.
     
    43:50
    Home team at full strength. Short powerplay for Krefeld.
     
    44:35
    Skellefteå defends brillantly and don't let Krefeld players into their own zone.
     
    44:46
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    45:05
    Krefeld had a nice chance with a confusing situation in front of Hanses, but no shot was fired and no save needed.
     
    46:26
    Burstrom's crossing pass gets deflected out into the neutral zone.
     
    47:05
    Slap shot by Andersson hit only board behind Duba.
     
    47:58
    Power break will follow.
     
    48:27
    Sonnenburg's dump-in was blocked away by Hanses.
     
    49:01
    Par Lindholm's shot from right side ends in Duba's glove.
     
    49:10
    Goal for Skellefteå!
    It's turned over by Skellefteå! ERIK ANDERSSON took the puck after a face-off won in the offensive zone and his hidden snap shot from the blue line find its way into the net – 1:2! Assisted by Par Lindholm.
    Erik ANDERSSON - 1:2
     
    50:37
    Duba's on fire last few moments. Krefeld has to improve in case they want some points out of this one.
     
    50:58
    There's a complication for Krefeld. Adam Courchaine (KRE) gets a minor penalty.
     
    51:56
    Krefeld is playing well this penalty kill.
     
    52:20
    Another puck cleared by the Penguins.
     
    52:58
    Home team at full strength.
     
    53:06
    Great chance for Par Lindholm, who shooted from the circles with a disrupted goalie, but he didn't hit the target.
     
    53:15
    Last power break will follow.
     
    53:23
    Martin Sevc (SKE) gets a minor penalty + personal misconduct for 10 minutes for checking in the head.
     
    54:07
    Nice powerplay movement around the zone, but Skellefteå threw the puck away eventually.
     
    55:00
    Skellefteå players clear the zone.
     
    55:00
    There was a hard attack on Sofron, who didn't look okay and there will be more penalties!
     
    55:00
    Joel Perrault is getting back from the penalty box meanwhile.
     
    55:23
    Visiting team at full strength.
     
    55:30
    It's a cross-checking penalty for Andreas Driendl (KRE) and roughing penalty for Anton Lindholm (SKE). Both teams will play at full strength.
     
    56:50
    There are some hard challenges on the ice. It looks like the emotions are taking over the place.
     
    56:58
    It's another penalty. Anton Karlsson (SKE) is sent out for roughing together with Martin Schymainski (KRE).
     
    58:10
    It's 4 on 4 at the moment.
     
    58:18
    Duba covers the puck. Face-off in Krefeld's defensive zone.
     
    58:27
    The Penguins got a face-off in the offensive zone now.
     
    58:52
    Skellefteå hold the puck and controlls the end.
     
    59:43
    The game is still played behind Duba's goal.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    It's a win for Skellefteå AIK, who defeated Krefeld Pinguine away!
     
    We've seen a nice game with lots of emotions and three goals. Krefeld got in front with Vasiljevs' goal from the powerplay inside first period, but Skellefteå anwsered in the second part with Forssell's goal attempt and the Swedes completed the turnover in the third period with goal by Erik Andersson.
     
    Post-game reactions

    Herberts Vasiljevs (captain, Krefeld Pinguine): "In the second period, the Swedish team got better. We made a few mistakes and it cost us the game. We need more structure in our game. We can't let the other guys to do what they want like they did."

    Richard Adduono (coach, Krefeld Pinguine): "I have to be happy. We played great first period, we could have score maybe more goals. We lost one bad face-off and they roofed it. It was a tense game, like a play-off game. We created some opportunities, but Duba was solid also. We need to be a bit better to beat a team like this next time."

    Erik Forssell (captain, Skellefteå AIK): "I'm excited to win today. We started a bit slow in the first period, but in the rest of the game, we played well. We tried to have a good passsing play and a good speed, which developed more during the game."

    Hans Wallson (coach, Skellefteå AIK): "It was a tough game. Krefeld was better in the first period, but then we started growing. We're happy to win. We have twelve new players and it was a difficult game to win."
     
    It's all from me for today. Have a nice evening. (22:04:45)
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Marek Kratochvíl

    CZ@marekratochvil

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 8. Vasiljevs (Sofron, Driendl) – 22. Forssell (Sevc), 50. Andersson (Lindholm)

    Krefeld Pinguine: Duba (Klein) – Fischer, St. Pierre, Sonnenburg, Meyers, Mebus, Weihager, Supis, Hanusch – Courchaine, Pietta, Perrault – Vasiljevs, Driendl, Sofron – Schymainski, Methot, Long – Hauner, Kretschmann, Mieszkowski
    Skellefteå AIK: Hanses (Svenson) – Aho, Andersen, Burström, Edström, Heed, Lindgren, A. Lindholm, A. Lundberg, M. Pettersson, Sevc – Calof, Forssell, Holmström, Kabanov, Lehtonen, P. Lindholm, M. Lundberg, Norman, A. Pettersson, Petterström, Sundquist, Sörensen, Widing, Zackrisson
    Referees: P. Lindqvist (FIN), D. Piechaczek (GER) – A. Kowert (GER), A. Schrader (GER)