Esbjerg – Zug 3:8 (end) | Eisbären – Luleå 2:1 (end) | Cracovia – Färjestad 1:5 (end)
Wolfsburg – Frölunda 1:2 (end) | Gap – JYP 1:4 (end) | Davos – Rouen 4:1 (end)
final
Esbjerg Energy
3:8 (1:2, 1:4, 1:2)
EV Zug
Friday 19.08.2016, 19:05 • Granly Hockey Arena, Esbjerg • Champions League • Group G
     
    Game over. (21:23:09)
     
    59:59
    After four defeats in last year's campaign, EV Zug is back on track in the Champions Hockey League with a well-deserved victory against the hosts. Ten great minutes in the second period was enough for the guests. Esbjerg Energy 3, EV Zug 8. Best players: Robin Grossmann for EV Zug and Brock Nixon for Esbjerg Energy.
     
    57:49
    Goal for Zug!
    another nice counterattack for the Swiss team and a clean finish by CARL KLINGBERG. Sven Senteler with the assist.
     
    54:31
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Curran – 2 min., slashing).
     
    54:31
    Penalty for EV Zug (Holden – 2 min., interference).
     
    53:32
    1401 spectators tonight in Esbjerg
     
    53:32
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Koch – 2 min.).
     
    50:55
    Goal for Zug!
    Nice powerplay move by Zug. DAVE MCINTYRE with a clean finish and after some good minutes from Esbjerg, the game now seems closed. Fully deserved lead for Zug. Assisted by Lino Maraschino and Rafael Diaz.
     
    49:48
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Andersen – 2 min., tripping).
     
    49:47
    Zug now back on full strength
     
    49:47
    Zug now back on full strength
     
    47:44
    Goal for Esbjerg!
    Esbjerg puts the pressure on Zug and SUNE HJULMAND taps it in from a short range. Still 5 on 3. Assisted by: Brock Nixon.
     
    47:24
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Knight – 2 min., slashing).
     
    47:24
    Penalty for EV Zug (Grossmann – 2 min., roughing).
     
    47:06
    Third penalty for Zug in 51 seconds. Esbjerg coach Pederson takes a time out. Will we see 6 on 3-play now?
     
    46:29
    Almost two minutes of five on three for Esbjerg now. Last chance for the Danes to get back in the game.
     
    46:29
    Penalty for EV Zug (Hellbling – 2 min., high-sticking).
     
    46:15
    Penalty for EV Zug (Schmuckli – 2 min., interference).
     
    43:48
    Zug has the most of it but right now there is not a lot of temperament in the game. Both teams seem to have settled with the result right now.
     
    41:20
    Josh Holden in the CRAMO top scorer shirt shoots – and Søgaard again with a nice save
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:59
    Esbjerg survive the last couple of minutes in boxplay and Søgaard with a couple of nice saves. But this was clearly Zug's period. Some sublime plays and four goals in the first ten minutes.
     
    38:01
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Bruggisser – 2 min., slashing).
     
    37:40
    After the sixth goal of Zug, Esbjerg has come back into the game and is now putting the pressure on the guests, who just need to stand back and defend now. Despite Esbjerg's pressure the Zug fans don't have to worry.
     
    35:55
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Schlumpf – 2 min., hooking).
     
    33:26
    Penalty for EV Zug (Morant – 2 min., holding).
     
    33:01
    First save by Søgaard, and the crowd is right behind him. Played for AaB Ishockey in Aalborg last season and had a couple of games for Team Denmark Under 16.
     
    31:19
    Goal for Esbjerg!
    BROCK NIXON gets the consolation goal for Esbjerg. Nixon gets a loose puck in front of the goal and scores. Unassisted.
     
    30:41
    Penalty for EV Zug (Schmuckli – 2 min.).
     
    30:07
    Henriksen the Esbjerg goalie is pulled and replaced by 15-year old Mads Søgaard! The normal back up, Seldrup, is injured.
     
    30:07
    Goal for Zug!
    Counter attack by the Swiss. Sandro Zanger buries it behind Henriksen without problems and makes it 6-1 Zug.
     
    29:27
    Henriksen with a nice save to avoid Suri and the sixth Swiss goal.
     
    28:23
    Goal for Zug!
    A lot of space for the Swiss behind and in front of the Esbjerg goal again. Klingberg finds JARKKO IMMONEN. The Finn has no problems with finding the net. Assisted by: Carl Klingberg.
     
    The Zug fans are celebrating in the far corner of the arena. Having a good time now.
     
    27:14
    Goal for Zug!
    Zug is keeping the pressure on Esbjerg. LUCA MARTSCHINI with a precise shot from blue line. Scores! Looks like the game is decided now.
     
    This powerplay might be Zug's chance to seal the game.
     
    26:16
    Lasse Bang has had a bad period. Back in the penalty box again
     
    26:00
    Esbjerg is kept under huge pressure by Lammer, Klingberg and Suri and after almost three minutes in their zone Esbjerg manage to get the puck out of the zone.
     
    23:12
    Great start by Zug in the second period. Esbjerg is locked in their own zone
    20:30 Jarkko IMMONEN - 1:3
     
    20:30
    Goal for Zug!
    Some nice moves by Sven Senteler behind the Esbjerg goal – he finds JARKKO IMMONEN who scores. Nice and precise wrist and the rubber sits in the far corner. Pure class from the Swiss in the first shift of the second period. Assisted by: Sven Senteler, Carl Klingberg.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    16:15
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Helbling – 2 min., holding).
    15:54 Tyler FIDDLER - 1:2
     
    15:54
    Goal for Esbjerg!
    Big mistake by Raphael Diaz in his own zone. Loses the puck to Sune Hjulmand who finds TYLERi FIDDLER who has no problem with finding the net. Stephan, the goalie, was out to cover Diaz' mistake.
     
    14:00
    Penalty for EV Zug (Erni – 2 min., slashing).
     
    12:36
    Commercial break now. Some great moments by the guests and after a great start by Esbjerg, the favourites are now in control of the game, it seems
    11:56 Rafael DIAZ - 0:2
     
    11:56
    Goal for Zug!
    Great powerplay effort from Zug and RAFAEL DIAZ fires it from the blue line! Assisted by: David McIntyre.
     
    10:44
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Koch – 2 min., holding).
     
    09:33
    Goal for Zug!
    But Zug keep the pressure on the Esbjerg defence and scores shortly after the powerplay. DOMINIC LAMMER gets the goal! Assisted by: Nolan Diem.
     
    09:26
    Zug doesn't capitalize on their first powerplay as well.
     
    07:26
    Esbjerg gets a penalty. Zug with a couple of nice attacks and dangerous in front of the goal. Søren Nielsen gets two minutes in the sin-bin for holding.
     
    6:00
    Henrik Mærsk Clausen puts pressure on the EV Zug goal. Jared Knight was close. Esbjerg start with the initiative.
     
    04:10
    Nice combinations from Esbjerg during the powerplay but almost no shots. Still 0-0.
     
    1:36
    Penalty for Esbjerg Energy (Morant – 2 min., boarding).
     
    01:30
    First small chance of the game. Sune Hjulmand deflected the puck. Save by Stephan.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Zamboni on the ice for an extra round nox – a little delay of the opening faceoff
     
    Great atmosphere here in Esbjerg – vocals from both team's fans. Noisy travelling contingent from Switzerland as well
     
    The arena is dark and the pre-game introductions before Esbjerg Energy's first CHL game are about to begin!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Esbjerg Energy: Henriksen (Soegaard) – Krogsgaard, Curran, Christensen (A), Bruggisser, Lidstrom, Vinther, Koch – Knight, E. Nielsen, Martindale – Nixon (C), Andersen, Fiddler – Hjulmand, S. Nielsen, Hardason – Bang, Jepsen, Clausen.

    EV Zug: Stephan (Haller) – Helbling, Grossman, Diaz (A), Alatalo, Schlumpf, Erni, Morant, Schmuckl – Klingberg, Immonen, Senteler – Suri (A), Holden (C), Martschini – McIntyre, Lammer, Zangger – Diem, Peter, Schnyder.

    Referees: Bigum (DEN), Gamper (ITA) – Kroyer, Monnaie (both DEN).
     
    Esbjerg Energy is making the club's first appearance ever in the Champions Hockey League, inspired by last season's victories in the semi finals and finals against SønderjyskE and Herning – the nearest and biggest rivals of Esbjerg.

    The team from West Jutland is – for the fourth year in a row – led by coach Mark Pederson, who brings in a whole new bunch of foreign players. Only Brock Nixon – the captain of the new season's team – is back in Denmark.

    But some interesting names are added and a lot of Danish players are back from last year. Interesting to see how young goalie Nicolaj Henriksen will act as the first goalie this season.

    The guests from EV Zug come to Esbjerg as favourites with a lot of top Swiss players and some strong imports on the roster.

    Iconic forward Josh Holden is back – now as captain of the team – and is playing his season number ten in Zug.

    The Swiss will be looking for revenge after last year's campaign where EV Zug lost all games against Tappara Tampere and Djurgården.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 19:00.
    Recommend
    Commentary by

    Michael Sovso

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 16. Fiddler (Hjulmand), 32. Nixon, 48. Hjulmand (Nixon) – 10. Lammer (Diam), 12. Diaz (McIntyre), 21. Immonen (Senteler, Klingberg), 28. Martschini (Diaz), 29. Immonen (Klingberg), 31. Zanger (Schlumpf, Lammer), 51. McIntyre (Martschini, Diaz), 58. Klingberg (Senteler)

    Esbjerg Energy: Henriksen (Soegaard) – Krogsgaard, Curran, Christensen (A), Bruggisser, Lidstrom, Vinther, Koch – Knight, E. Nielsen, Martindale – Nixon (C), Andersen, Fiddler – Hjulmand, S. Nielsen, Hardason – Bang, Jepsen, Clausen.
    EV Zug: Stephan (Haller) – Helbling, Grossman, Diaz (A), Alatalo, Schlumpf, Erni, Morant, Schmuckl – Klingberg, Immonen, Senteler – Suri (A), Holden (C), Martschini – McIntyre, Lammer, Zangger – Diem, Peter, Schnyder.
    Referees: Bigum (DEN), Gamper (ITA) – Kroyer, Monnaie (both DEN)