It wasn’t nice, it didn’t matter, that wasn’t the point! But: The Grizzlys Wolfsburg have finally got their first three. In the eighth attempt – after the season opener against the same opponent. Julian Melchiori, Jordan Boucher and Sebastian Furchner met at 3: 2 (0: 0, 1: 1, 2: 1) at the Krefeld Penguins. That was a very important step: in the fight for fourth place, in the fight for more self-confidence and also in the effort to bring calm. Wolfsburg coach Pat Cortina was under pressure after five defeats in six previous games.
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Personal: In addition to Dominik Bittner, Gerrit Fauser and now also Garrett Festerling (both lower body injuries) were missing from the Grizzlys. Due to Festerling’s absence, four pairs of wings rotated to three centers. Pleasing: Janik Möser made his comeback. The first and only use of the ex-Mannheimer was the test game against Crimmitschau, after which a heart muscle inflammation, probably as a result of a corona illness, had put him out for a long time. He had only returned to ice training last week. Until his failure, however, he had top fitness values, which probably made it easier for him to return quickly.
With his number 24 he was in the starting line-up at the side of the experienced Julian Melchiori. Coach Pat Cortina on the surprise comeback: “We’re very happy, he’s an important part of the team. That was a difficult situation for him. It’s good when a young man can pursue his passion again, it gives us a lot of energy. ” An interplay continued in the Wolfsburg goal, Chet Pickard (also in the box at home 4: 1 against Krefeld) replaced Dustin Strahlmeier.
Ex-grizzly Lucas Lessio was missing from the penguins, who have eleven import players and therefore always have to leave two outside. Strange: In the first meeting of the two clubs in the Magentasport Cup, the penguins ran aground with five ex-grizzlies. Wade Bergman (Augsburg), Kai Hospelt (Ravensburg), Kris Foucault (Berlin) and Torsten Ankert (Iserlohn) then went.
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Tough first third
The Grizzlys got themselves into trouble, Ryan Button received a penalty in the second minute, but Wolfsburg’s penalty killers had no trouble. After that, the guests acted cautiously as in the previous games. Every now and then it flashed that the grizzlies must be the better team. A little faster, technically a little better. But again with many inaccurate passes, some in the feet instead of on the racket. One or the other chance was there, but also for Krefeld. Olimb barely forgave for the grizzlies, who had more of the game but were again too harmless overall.
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Finally goals
In the second section, the guests quickly became outnumbered. And that looked really good. Clear formation, good passes, a few shots. Noticeable but also – again: Max Görtz has a huge spread, even his colleagues did not force Sergei Belov in the Krefeld box to perform brilliantly. Bad, what followed in this power play: Matti Järvinen and Phil Bruggisser simply left Brett Olson out of sight at the blue line (apparently they were thinking of the slowly necessary change at their own bench), who ran down after the pass alone to Pickard and finished 1-0 for the penguins.
But the Lower Saxony stayed calm and did better in the next power play. Again it was quick and well set up – Melchiori scored his first DEL goal to make it 1-1. The game did justice to the table constellation (last without points against third-last, who had been waiting for a three-man for seven games): it was bad. But it wasn’t about entertainment for either of them. A victory should come, from Wolfsburg’s point of view it was almost a must. And the Cortina team sniffed it next: Görtz (34th) hammered on the bar.
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The Breast Loosener?
Wolfsburg also kept calm in the final section, initially taking a calculated risk against the Rhinelander, who had only five defenders. Then the busy Boucher and Fabio Pfohl suddenly snapped shut in the Forecheck, Pfohl hung up, drove the counterattack, Boucher finished alone in the gable – 2: 1 for the Wolfsburg, who shortly afterwards with luck and skill in the crowd against Martin Schymainski Prevented compensation.
The guests followed suit, by a nice, fast train: Matti Järvinen served Furchner. The 3-1 was also the 38-year-old’s 286th DEL goal. He is now third on the eternal top scorer list in the elite class. Järvinen, of all people, made it exciting again: blind pass from his own corner, shot from the blue line, deflected unsustainably. Only 3: 2. But the Wolfsburg brought the lead over time. This victory – is he the breast loosener for the grizzlies? On Sunday (2.30 p.m.) against Bremerhaven it will show.
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Statistics
Penguins: Belov – Bapper, Bindulis; C. Braun, Trivellato; Bull – Buncis, Olson, Karsums; L. Braun, Petrakov, Saponari; Tianulin, Blank, Schymainski; Klöpper, Postel, Niederberger; Kuhnekath.
Grizzlys: Pickard – Melchiori, Möser; Bruggisser, worm; Likens, Button; Adam, Raabe – Busch, Olimb, Machacek; Furchner, Järvinen, Görtz; Boucher, Pfohl, Rech; Nijenhuis, Hungerecker.
Referee: Kopitz / Schadewaldt. – Penalty minutes: Krefeld 6, Wolfsburg 4.
Tore: 1: 0 (23:29) Olson (Trivellato – 4: 5), 1: 1 (29:09) Melchiori (Rech / Olimb – 5: 4), 1: 2 (43:40) Boucher (Pfohl), 1 : 3 (49:41) Furchner (Järvinen / Likens), 2: 3 (51:49) Olson (Buncis).
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