KMH Budapest-4 at HC SKP Bratislava-0
HC SKP Bratislava took one on the chin against KMH Budapest at Vlado Dzurilla ice rink in Bratislava, Slovakia on Saturday, October 2.
Bratislava was playing their second game of the 2021-22 EWHL season. In their first game on September 25, they won 7-1 against KSV Neuberg Highlanders. KMH Budapest entered their second game of the young season as well, winning their first, a 9-2 victory over KEHV Lakers on September 25.
With both teams undefeated, one team would leave the ice at the end of it, undefeated in their first two matches of the season.
The opening period was a tight one, with both teams getting to the net with shots but, both goaltenders closing the door shut until the final half of the first. KMH Budapest broke the 0-0 deadlock, with a goal from Alexandra Huszak at 10:24, assisted by Reka Dabsi.
The middle period would be scoreless. Shots on goal after two periods, 22-16 for KMH Budapest.
KMH Budapest would dominate the third period, with three unanswered markers, with Alexandra Huszak, potting the final two goals of the game for her hat trick. The other goal came from Hayley Williams, who opened up the period at the one minute mark.
Huszak (3-0=3) and Dabasi (0-3=3) finished with 3 points each for KMH Budapest. Williams, Huszak, Sarah Knee, Whitney Dove all finished with a plus/minus of +3; Dabsi a plus/minus of +2.
KMH power play was 1 for 2, while Bratislava was 0 for 5.
Zsofia Toth of KMH Budapest stopped all 16 shots she faced for her first shutout of the regular season.
Budapest Jegkorong Academia -2 at Silesian Metropolis Katowice-1 OT
As the above score indicates, the game was indeed close and a back and forth event between the two teams as they vyed for their first “W” in the win column, taking to the ice in Bytom, Poland on October 2.
The game was the first of a two game weekend between the two clubs, the final match on Sunday, October 3.
Budapest JA entered the contest with two games under their belt in the regular season, both overtime losses to DEC Salzburg Eagles on September 25 and 26.
Silesican Metropolis entered the game winless in their first two game of the regular season as well, both losses to EHV Sabres by 7-0 scores, on September 11 and 12.
The two teams kept it close in the first period, neither team wanting to give up that important first goal of the game, and neither goalie would end up doing that as the buzzer sounded to end the period. Shots on goal 7-5 Katowice.
The second period would see the Polish team open up their game a little bit more than in the opening period, getting a few more shots, but it would be the visitors who would strike first, at 4:41 as Nina Ivady got the goal; assists to Mercédesz Imets and Zsófia Losonci to give Budapest JA a 1-0 advantage.
Katowice continued to stay with the game plan, waiting for a fortunate break to even the game up at 1-1.
And prayers were answered.
On their third straight power play of the period, 4 minutes and 34 seconds after Budapest opened up the scoring, Ewelina Czarnecka broke the Budapest shutout, assisted by Karolina Pozniewska, at 9:15; and the game was tied at 1-1.
Shots were 22-11 (7-5, 15-6) for Katowice after two periods.
Budapest and Katowice played a scoreless third period but Budapest JA had glorious chances with three power plays in the final 10 minutes and 7 seconds but were stopped cold by the home squad, and kept from netting that winning goal in regulation play. Shots 12-7 Katowice.
After a three minute break and no ice flood, both teams were back at it in overtime.
Katowice must have got a good lecture at the bench from their coach on their good fortune of killing off those penalties in the last half of the third period, and realized a sense of urgency to end this game in their favor.
It didn’t take long. The clock ticked off 31 seconds, and the puck was in the net and Katowice had their first win of the EWHL regular season. Pozniewska, unassisted at 0:31 on the only shot of overtime.
For the victory, Katowice picked up 2 points, while Budapest picked up a single point for the overtime loss.
Katowice goalie Martyna Sass stopped 17 of 18 shots for a .944 Save Percentage (SV%).
Aino Laitinen of Budapest JA, stopped 33 of 35 shots for a .943 SV% (Save Percentage).
Power plays were 1 for 4 Katowice, 0 for 4 for Budapest JA.
The same two teams play each other tomorrow in the in the second and final game of their two game weekend.