IFK Helsinki – Zug 1:4 (end) | TPS – Liberec 3:1 (end) | Davos – Djurgården 3:1 (end)
Linköping – JYP 4:3 (end)
final
IFK Helsinki
1:4 (0:0, 0:2, 1:2)
EV Zug
Friday 02.09.2016, 18:00 • Helsingin Jäähalli • Champions League • Group G
     
    Niklas Bäckström commented: “Zug is a really professional team from top to bottom. They played very disciplined game and didn’t lose pucks. Also, they forechecked hard and played solid ahead of their own net. We haven’t really had breakout attacks in these two games." (23:22:13)
     
    Robin Grossmann said: “We scored an important first goal. Our goalkeeper was brilliant and we were good on penalty killing.”
    "“It feels great to advance to the next round."



    A little respect to the captain.
     
    Comments from Niklas Bäckström and Robin Grossmann coming later in the report.
     
    It's over. Zug wins 4-1 and clinches the playoff spot. HIFK and Esbjerg will battle out for the second spot.

    HIFK cannot win the group. Esbjerg can but they need nine points and good enough goal difference.
     
    Game over.
     
    59:54
    Goal for Zug!
    Eronen doesn't catch a pass from Partanen and the puck almost goes to the own net. Anyway, JARKKO IMMONEN scores shortly afterwards.
     
    59:00
    Bäckström waving to the bench but will HIFK pull the goalie? Yes they will.
     
    58:15
    Hintz shots a bit wide from the left.
     
    57:32
    Alatalo defends well while puck was in the air. HIFK gets the puck to the offensive zone afterwards and Stephan saves.
     
    56:00
    Finley defends Martschini but loose puck goes to Suri who shoots. Save by Bäckström.
     
    54:31
    Zug returns to full strength just as HIFK goes offside.
     
    53:40
    Half of the penalty gone with no real chances for HIFK.
     
    52:30
    HIFK will get their chance after the power break as Alatalo is sent to the box.
     
    51:25
    A shot by Salmela goes to the protective netting after the save by Stephan.
     
    50:14
    Petrell gets a rebound chance but Stephan stays cool and saves.
     
    48:20
    HIFK is giving pressure but Zug defends well especially on loose pucks.
     
    It hasn't really looking that HIFK is coming back since Zug scored their third goal. But as we know, things can change quickly.
     
    47:19
    Penultimate power break of the day.
     
    46:39
    Home team at full strength.
     
    This power play didn't go well for Zug but they still have two-goal advantage.
     
    44:39
    Penalty for IFK Helsinki (Leino – 2 min., tripping).
     
    42:49
    Goal for Zug!
    Only five seconds after the faceoff, the puck is played to the top scorer LINO MARTSCHINI who wrists it to the net. Power-play goal.
    Assists: Josh Holden, Jarkko Immonen.
     
    42:44
    Too many man on the ice so it's a bench minor for HIFK, served by Partanen.
    40:57 ERONEN - 1:2
     
    40:57
    Goal for IFK Helsinki!
    TEEMU ERONEN, who hasn't had a quality game before this, intercepts the clearing attempt, moves past an attacker and puts the wrister to the top right corner. Power-play goal.
    Unassisted.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Teams back on the ice for the third period.
     
    Zug has taken an advantage in shots too. After second period they lead 25-22, which means the numbers in the middle period were 16-10.
     
    Reminding you that Zug will clinch the playoff spot if they win this game in any fashion.
     
    Overall, a lot of defensive mistakes by HIFK. Goalies have played well but even Bäckström can't save everything.
     
    2-0 for Zug after two periods. 67 seconds on the penalty clock for Zug at the start of third period.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:07
    A power play chance for HIFK which goes on to the 3rd period if the home team doesn't score quickly.
     
    38:10
    Schnyder doesn't catch a pass this time, otherwise it would have been another breakaway for Zug.
    37:06 IMMONEN - 0:2
     
    37:06
    Goal for Zug!
    Klingberg gets a breakaway but Bäckström saves. The puck goes behind the net and Swede gets there first and feeds JARKKO IMMONEN who converts. Assisted by: Carl Klingberg.
     
    36:21
    Another glove save by Stephan, this time on Finley. Right at the moment the penalty expires.
     
    35:02
    Puustinen feeds Hintz but one-timer doesn't go in as Stephan catches it.
     
    34:21
    Power play chance for HIFK soon after offensive zone faceoff.
     
    34:15
    Second power break of the second period. Zug has been better team especially on the defensive side so far.
     
    34:00
    McIntyre tries a backhand shot between the faceoff circles but can't get enough power for it.
     
    31:30
    Eronen loses the puck on attacking blueline but Teppo saves the situation for HIFK and Zug doesn't get any scoring chance.
     
    31:00
    Schlumpf stops Elkins nicely in 1-on-1 chance.
     
    29:52
    Home team at full strength.
     
    27:52
    Leino feeds Saarelainen an one-timer chance but a brilliant save by Stephan. On the other end top scorers clash and Taimi is sent to the box. The crowd doesn't like it.
     
    26:37
    A power break with Zug leading 1-0.
     
    26:20
    Schnyder steals the puck from Finley on defensive blueline and goes for the breakaway. Taimi interferes little and Bäckström saves.
     
    24:15
    HIFK has had several bad passes in their own zone. This time Lammer has chance but Bäckström saves.
     
    22:01
    The goal gave Zug more confidence and they have been better team since that.
    20:20 KLINGBERG - 0:1
     
    20:20
    Goal for Zug!
    Grossmann intercepts the clearing attempt and passes to CARL KLINGBERG, who shoots it to the net via post. Assisted by: Robin Grossman.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    The teams have returned to the ice for the second period.
     
    Shots on goal were 12-9 in favour of HIFK. Part of it explained by their PP opportunity, on full strength it was a close period.
     
    No goals in the first period. The intermission is 18 minutes.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:46
    An important interception by Geisser as Puustinen tries to feed an one-timer chance.
     
    18:09
    Salmela shoots from the blueline corner but there is no traffic ahead of Stephan so an easy save.
     
    17:00
    A defensive zone takeaway by Suri turns the game around quickly. Suri himself gets the chance on the other end but with no goal.
     
    13:50
    Fohrler tried a breakout pass but it was defended well.
     
    13:36
    Second power break of the first period. The game is still scoreless.
     
    12:15
    Immonen shoots well and Grillfors is first in the rebound so Zug doesn't get better chance.
     
    10:40
    Schnyder hits the post with the quick shot from the left.
     
    10:00
    HIFK managed to get its best 5-on-5 moments just before midpoint of the first period.
     
    7:21
    Schnyder steals the puck from Eronen but Zug can't convert the chance.
     
    6:49
    A turnover by Taimi gives Zug a chance but the shot is weak. First power break of the day.
     
    5:00
    Diaz was checked well in the corner so for a moment, Zug had only two players defending. HIFK wasn't able to take advantage and penalties are now over.
     
    3:31
    A great save by Stephan on shot by Puustinen from the left.
     
    2:44
    5-on-3 chance for HIFK as Grossmann sent to the box for tripping.
     
    2:13
    Attacking zone penalty for Zug as Lammer takes down goalie Bäckström.
     
    1:40
    A bit lucky bounce gives McIntyre a chance but he shoots wide.
     
    1:00
    HIFK has its first chance and the puck is bouncing from Zug defenseman towards the own net but Stephan is awake and saves.
     
    0:30
    Zug wins the first faceoff and builds a bit of pressure until the interception by Teppo.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Starting lineups:

    IFK Helsinki: Bäckström (Lankinen) – Eronen, Teppo, Grillfors, Salmela, Finley, Taimi, Heikkinen – Aaltonen, Hintz, Puustinen – Saarelainen, Leino, Rask – Partanen, Elkins, Tuomisto – Petrell, Nykopp, Åsten, Mieho.

    EV Zug: Stephan (Haller) – Fohrler, Grossmann, Alatalo, Schlumpf, Geisser, Helbling, Schmukli, Erli – Senteler, Immonen, Klingberg – Suri, Holden, Martschini – Lammer, McIntyre, Zangger – Schnyder, Peter, Diem.

    Referees: Björk (SWE), Leppänen – Heinonen, Nieminen (All FIN).
     
    The teams are on the ice.
     
    The game will start in 10 minutes.
     
    As only two games have been played in Group G, there isn't a great deal that can be decided tonight – only a win for Zug in either regulation or after overtime/penalty shots can put them through to the next round. For IFK, tonight's match is a chance to get on the board in terms of points, and give themselves a headstart over Esbjerg in the race to catch the Swiss side.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 18:00.
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    Commentary by

    Eero Hurmerinta

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 41. Eronen – 21. Klingberg (Grossmann), 38. Immonen (Klingberg), 43. Martschini (Holden, Immonen), 60. Immonen

    IFK Helsinki: Bäckström (Lankinen) – Eronen, Teppo, Grillfors, Salmela, Finley, Taimi, Heikkinen – Aaltonen, Hintz, Puustinen – Saarelainen, Leino, Rask – Partanen, Elkins, Tuomisto – Petrell, Nykopp, Åsten, Mieho.
    EV Zug: Stephan (Haller) – Fohrler, Grossmann, Alatalo, Schlumpf, Geisser, Helbling, Schmukli, Erli – Senteler, Immonen, Klingberg – Suri, Holden, Martschini – Lammer, McIntyre, Zangger – Schnyder, Peter, Diem.
    Referees: Björk (SWE), Leppänen – Heinonen, Nieminen (All FIN)