TPS – Bolzano 9:0 (end) | JYP – Salzburg 3:2 (end) | Eisbären – Berani Zlín 3:4 (3:4 after SO)
Hamburg – Luleå 1:4 (end) | Nottingham – Lukko 2:4 (end) | Linköping – Pardubice 2:1 (end)
HV71 – Kloten 3:2 (end)
final
Hamburg Freezers
1:4 (0:4, 1:0, 0:0)
Luleå Hockey
Friday 22.08.2014, 19:30 • O2 World Arena, Hamburg • Champions League
     
    There's the final buzzer, and Lulea Hockey have got their Champions Hockey League campaign off to a flyer with a confident 4-1 win over the Hamburg Freezers away from home! They always looked in complete control and thoroughly deserve their win. Lucas Wallmark, Per Ledin with a double and Jonathan Granstrom blew their opponents away in the first period, with only Adam Mitchell's response deep into the game giving the home fans something to cheer about. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more exciting Champions Hockey League action! (22:04:55)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:57
    The game has been littered with penalties right from the very beginning and here's another with Lulea about to win the game! For having two many players on the ice the Swedes have been penalised
     
    58:44
    Kevin Clark has also been penalised for Hamburg though, as Lulea will now have a four on three powerplay for themselves
     
    57:43
    Peter Cehlarik of Lulea for roughing has been called as well making it a four on four game with time running down
     
    57:43
    Once again players of both sides can't keep their tempers in check! Christoph Schubert completely batters his opponent to the ground, and just as a fight would have ensued the Hamburg man has been sent to the penalty box for charging
     
    56:51
    Dimitrij Kotschnew fields a dump from deep into his crease and freezes as to not take any chances
     
    55:18
    Pettinger! As soon as I said that Hamburg could have really got back into it! All alone closing in on the crease Matthew Pettinger practically has the goal at his mercy, but he wrists wide of the left hand post!
     
    55:01
    Just about all the home fans are on their feet singing at the top of their voices making for a wonderful atmosphere! But this match does have the look of a game that's petering out
     
    53:08
    Lulea couldn't get anything going on that powerplay at all and their opponents are back at full strength
     
    51:08
    Lulea move offside with the home fans still full of voice despite the score! But an offence has been spotted in that play, with Adam Mitchell of Hamburg being penalised for high sticking
     
    49:41
    With the game just starting to quieten down the hosts are back at full strength
     
    49:14
    Marcus Oskarsson wrists well wide of the target when in a promising position between the circles! And as the puck trickles back into the crease Dimitrij Kotschnew gloves it to freeze the play
     
    47:41
    Hamburg's growing momentum has been ground to a halt here though, Mathieu Roy for holding his opponent has been sent to the penalty box
     
    46:00
    The home side's pressure is seriously mounting! A heavy slapper from distance looks to have been deflected in, but with Hamburg's fans already on their feet the referees signal no goal! A Lulea defenceman got back to hack it off the line in time!
     
    45:12
    A long wrister is chucked in from the blue line, and with traffic in between the puck and the netminder Daniel Larsson does well to shuffle it wide!
     
    44:39
    Hamburg are looking a lot better in this period! Daniel Larsson is getting involved in the action a lot more, Lulea might have relaxed a bit too early!
     
    42:31
    How didn't that go in! With the puck bouncing all around the Lulea slot Martin Sertich makes poor contact with completely free at the left hand post! The Swedish netminder got lucky there!
     
    41:20
    Daniel Larsson sweeps a loose puck out of the air as it flew in from behind the net on the left as to not cause any danger
     
    40:47
    The third period has got going! Hamburg will be looking to build on that goal scored right at the end of the second!
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play:

    Shots: 15-25
    Saves made by the goalkeeper: 21-14
    Penalty minutes: 21-6
     
    Lulea pinned their opponents back in their own zone for the majority of the second stanza, but right at the end Hamburg have got themselves back into it. It promises to be an exciting third period coming up!
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:30
    With Hamburg really starting to assert their confidence buoyed by that goal we're already into the final seconds of an aggressive second period!
     
    38:34
    Goal for Hamburg! The home crowd finally has something to cheer about! A heavy slapper from the blue line is tipped in by ADAM MITCHELL right in front of the goaltender's eyes! Powerplay goal and it's 1-4! Assisted by: Mathieu Roy and Thomas Oppenheimer.
     
    37:16
    For interference Per Savilahti-Nagander of Lulea has been penalised giving the hosts a powerplay opportunity to get something going
     
    36:30
    Off a draw on the right faceoff circle the puck squirms along and into Daniel Larsson's glove who doesn't take any chances with freezing
     
    36:01
    Lulea are in the Hamburg zone for what at time seems simply the whole game, they aren't letting their opponents breath at all
     
    33:20
    Sandstrom! Taking up the puck all alone on the left faceoff circle Jan Sandstrom moves in, wrists in accurately but it's easy for the goaltender to fend off!
     
    32:39
    It's a five on five hockey game again as Hamburg's penalty killing is certainly improving
     
    31:49
    With Per Ledin lurking on the crease the puck rolls into Dimitrij Kotschnew's grateful grasp as it was squeezed in from the left
     
    30:39
    Unsurprisingly there's another penalty here, for roughing Christoph Schubert of Hamburg has been hit with a two minute minor
     
    30:31
    Kristian Nakyva at the high slot fires in a one timer, but the goalkeeper is right behind it! And again tempers start to raise as the referees blow on the play!
     
    28:58
    Hamburg have survived that extended penalty without conceding any more goals and they're at full strength again
     
    28:03
    Granstrom! Twisting all around the net from the right Jonathan Granstrom turns sharply on the opposite faceoff circle, wrists devilishly but the netminder flashes leather beautifully!
     
    26:52
    Lulea are back at full strength again as they try and keep the pressure on deep in their opponents' zone
     
    26:12
    This game is threatening to seriously boil over! Just before the gloves are dropped by Daniel Mannberg and Mathieu Roy the referees get involved, but no penalty has been issued to either!
     
    26:01
    Dimitrij Kotschnew makes a low solid save glove side as Lulea try to get set up in the attacking zone. They're not quite going full throttle as in the first period as yet
     
    24:52
    Hamburg have at least been given some reprieve, Lucas Wallmark for tripping has been called into the penalty box for Lulea
     
    23:58
    Philippe Dupuis of the hosts for body checking has picked up a 5+20 penalty, things keep on going from bad to worse for them! Brett Festerling for roughing in that play has also been called, making it a five on three Lulea powerplay!
     
    22:21
    Dimitrij Kotschnew clings on to a slapper from the right flank crouched down and succeeds in not giving up a rebound
     
    21:17
    Thomas Oppenheimer after neat interchange play whips the puck across the slot from the right, but visiting defenders send it clear
     
    20:51
    Just as a goalmouth scramble threatened to erupt on the Lulea crease the net is dislodged and we're going to have a short stoppage while it's fixed back on
     
    20:15
    The second stanza is underway! Hamburg have to do something differently if they want to cause some problems for their on fire opponents!
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period:

    Shots: 5-10
    Saves made by the goalkeeper: 6-5
    Penalty minutes: 12-2
     
    That was as much of a one sided period as you're going to see, as Lulea have completely blown their opponents out of the water scoring four unanswered goals. Hamburg can't keep fouling if they want to get back into this one!
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:51
    Both teams are now of course back at full strength as it's the final seconds of the opening period of play which has been completely dominated by Lulea!
     
    19:31
    All of a sudden the hosts seems to have woken up as Thomas Oppenheimer bullies the puck off his opponent, closes down one on one but blocker side he fails to get the better of the goaltender!
     
    19:09
    Clark! Hamburg have their first real chance of not as shorthanded Kevin Clark is set up at the high slot, but he fires the puck wide of the right hand post!
     
    17:48
    Goal for Luleå! You cannot keep gifting Lulea chances that they aren't going to miss! A wrister from the left hand boards is kicked out by the goaltender right into the path of PER LEDIN, and at the far post he neatly tucks it into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 0-4! Assisted by: Chris Abbott, Daniel Zaar.
     
    17:18
    Hamburg seriously need the first break, they're being run ragged! For holding Frederik Cabana is now the guilty part for the Germans
     
    16:02
    Matthew Pettinger of Hamburg for cross checking has been called as the Germans just cannot stop committing fouls!
     
    15:51
    Mannberg! Charging down the left flank beating all of his opponents for sheer pace Daniel Mannberg wrists looking for the far corner, but he's out muscled at the crucial moment!
     
    14:54
    The hosts come back to full strength having looked more solid killing that penalty
     
    12:54
    Hamburg just cannot get anything going at all and yet again they're going on the penalty kill, Jerome Flaake for hooking is the next to be handed a two minute minor
     
    12:13
    Goal for Luleå! The Swedes are running away with it! The puck is held at a tight angle on the right, Stephen Dixon chucks it across the face of goal and JONATHAN GRANSTROM flicks it past the forlorn netminder! Powerplay goal and it's 0-3! Assisted by: Stephen Dixon.
     
    11:41
    A heavy slapper is thumped in from the left faceoff circle, and Dimitrij Kostschnew does really well to not give up any rebounds!
     
    10:14
    And that Lulea powerplay has soon become a five on three! For cross checking the hosts have been punished again!
     
    09:38
    Hamburg are really struggling here and they've picked up another penalty against their name, Druval Westcott for slashing has been called
     
    09:32
    Hjelm! Showing excellent skills holding the puck away from his opponent Andreas Hjelm cuts in from the right, but from between the circles he's denied by Dimitrij Kotschnew's pad blocker side!
     
    08:20
    Daniel Larsson does now get a touch of the puck as he covers up a low backhanded into his crease from the right of the point
     
    07:14
    Icing is committed by Hamburg as they're struggling to get out of their own zone
     
    07:02
    Stephen Dixon drives in on the left, takes on a heavy slapshot just past the faceoff circle but it gets deflected up and out of play
     
    06:12
    Hamburg really are up against it as they have endured a nightmare start! Daniel Larsson in the Lulea net has had nothing to do as yet!
     
    05:10
    Goal for Luleå! The Swedes aren't in a forgiving mood today! As soon as they are back to full strength the puck is moved neatly around the zone on the left flank, PER LEDIN is picked out at the tip of the slot and he slips it between the goalkeeper's pads! Powerplay goal and it's 0-2! Assisted by: Daniel Zaar, Chris Abbott.
     
    03:38
    That powerplay didn't last for long though. Thomas Oppenheimer of Hamburg for holding has now been sent to the penalty box making it a four on four hockey game for now
     
    02:28
    Kristian Nakyva of Lulea for interference has been called though almost immediately, and Hamburg have a great powerplay opportunity to level the score up
     
    01:57
    Goal for Luleå! That didn't take long as Lulea silence the O2 World Arena! LUCAS WALLMARK gets the better of his defender on the slot, the puck is flashed across from the right flank and he gets his stick on it to poke it home! It's 0-1! Assisted by: Daniel Zaar, Per Ledin.
     
    01:23
    Hamburg drift offside. Their opponents Lulea have started off with the early initiative, they're the favourites today despite playing away from home!
     
    00:21
    Here we go inside the impressive O2 World Arena in Hamburg! The home fans certainly seem up for this already!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now out on to the ice, and it's time for Hamburg and Lulea to get their Champions Hockey League campaigns off and running!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Hamburg Freezers: Kotschnew (Caron)- Schubert, Westcott, Pettinger, Jakobsen, Mitchell- Festerling, Klassen, Oppenheimer, Dupuis, Kraemmer- Schmidt, Roy, Cabana, Clark, Sertich- Pohl, Flaake, Rinke

    Luleå Hockey: Larsson (Lassinantti)- Savilahti-Nagander, Nakyva, Mannberg, Cam Abbott, Chris Abbott- Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Dixon, Granstrom, Petrell- Oskarsson, Hjelm, Wallmark, Zaar, Ledin- Kukan, Forsberg, Cehlarik, Fogstrom, Fabricius

    Referees: M. Nikolic (AUT), B. Haupt (GER) – M. Höfer (GER), A. Schrader (GER).
     
    Both these teams are involved in Group K, where they are also joined by Lukko Rauma and the Nottingham Panthers. You have to say that Lulea and Lukko are favourites to fight it out for first place, but Hamburg and Nottingham won't be willing to give up that easily.
     
    Today's hosts the Hamburg Freezers made the semi finals of the DEL last season, but with the loud atmosphere of their O2 World crowd they will be a force to be reckoned with. Lulea are favourites coming into this game, despite only having reached the quarter finals of the SHL last year.
     
    The Champions Hockey League is now beginning its inaugural season after being revamped, and if the opening signs are to suggest anything, the tournament is going to turn into a real success, with European ice hockey fans having been craving this tournament for a long time.
     
    Hello and welcome to this Champions Hockey League Group K match between the Hamburg Freezers and Lulea Hockey! This is one of the most interesting fixtures of the opening round of games, as Swedish outfit Lulea travel to Germany looking to avoid an upset.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:30.
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 39. Mitchell (Roy, Oppenheimer) – 2. Wallmark (Zaar, Ledin), 6. Ledin (Zaar, Abbott), 13. Granstrom (Dixon), 18. Ledin (Abbott, Zaar)

    Hamburg Freezers: Kotschnew (Caron)- Schubert, Westcott, Pettinger, Jakobsen, Mitchell- Festerling, Klassen, Oppenheimer, Dupuis, Kraemmer- Schmidt, Roy, Cabana, Clark, Sertich- Pohl, Flaake, Rinke
    Luleå Hockey: Larsson (Lassinantti)- Savilahti-Nagander, Nakyva, Mannberg, Cam Abbott, Chris Abbott- Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Dixon, Granstrom, Petrell- Oskarsson, Hjelm, Wallmark, Zaar, Ledin- Kukan, Forsberg, Cehlarik, Fogstrom, Fabricius
    Referees: M. Nikolic (AUT), B. Haupt (GER) – M. Höfer (GER), A. Schrader (GER)