The start of the second round of the IIHF Continental Cup on the Ritten is over and the Ritten Buam SkyAlps can celebrate straight away. The Blue-Reds won 5-4 in an exciting game against Sokil Kyiv. Previously, the opening game took place between HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice and KHL Sisak, which Jesenice won 3-1.
18 October 2024
From: leo
The duel between Italy and the Ukrainian champions was fast-paced from the start. The guests in particular got off to a flying start: in the 4th minute, Borodai slammed the puck onto the post, a little later he slipped into the role of assist provider when he served Zakharov perfectly, so that he only had to push it in (5.57). Zakharov himself was unlucky against the post in the 12th minute, but from that moment on the Rittner, who appeared with their best line-up for the first time this season after Soracreppa’s return, started to get better and better into the game. At first Hjorth and Insam failed because of Kiev goalie Diachenko (14th), then the time had come. The puck somehow slipped through the slot to Cuglietta, who stayed ice cold in front of the Ukrainian goal and hit the far top corner (18.11). Cuglietta and Giacomuzzi could have even made it 2-1 before the third break, but Diachenko was there both times (19th).
And the Buam continued at the same pace even after the restart. At first Diachenko was able to save a few more times, but at 2-1 he was powerless when he was able to push the puck away from the alone Cuglietta with his stick, but Giacomuzzi maneuvered the follow-up shot into the empty net (27.14). As if out of nowhere, the guests equalized with a deflected Romashchenko shot (30.22), but then Ritten showed his best ice hockey and made it 4-2 with a double strike. First, Hjorth scored with a direct shot after a nice relay of passes with Lobis and Szypula (33.52), then an Insam shot from the boards bounced right in front of the goal, where Kevin Fink scored with a shot through Diachenko’s pads (35.16).
The Rittner Buam SkyAlps completely missed the start of the final third and were also severely punished. After 19 seconds, Zakharov shortened the lead from the deep slot to 3:4 for Sokil Kyiv (40.19), less than 20 seconds later a long shot from Tolstushko landed in the net and the game was equal again (40.38). But that made for a very exciting game in which there were top-class players on both sides, but a power play was needed to score the next goal. When Ritten was on the ice with the majority, Szypula put the puck in the middle to Simon Kostner, who made it 5:4 with a direct shot (55.30). The rest of the time the Blue-Reds played cleverly and the opening win was in the bag.
Jesenice uses his experience against Sisak
In the first game of the day, the Slovenian champions HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice and the Croatian champions KHL Sisak faced off at 4 p.m. In a hard-fought game, the Slovenians ultimately prevailed 3-1 thanks to two goals in the last three minutes. After a scoreless starting third, Koblar gave Jesenice the lead 28 seconds into the second period after a rebound (20:28). Sisak, who countered the more experienced Slovenians with high speed and enthusiasm throughout the game, responded with a dream goal from Australian Bronte. His backhand shot from the turn flew right into the top corner (31.45), but he got Jesenices Lyons’ stick right in the face and both had to come off the ice: Bronte with a facial injury, Lyons received a game misconduct penalty.
In the final third it looked like overtime for a long time, but shortly before the end Bohinc took courage in the deep slot, got the puck ready and hit the short corner unstoppably (57.35). Sisak threw everything forward again and took goalie Rosandic off the ice, but conceded the 1:3 with three seconds left. Jesenices Urukalo maneuvered the puck from his own third into the Croatian goal with a shot against the boards (59.57).
Continental Cup:
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – Sokil Kyiv 5:4
Tore: 0:1 Zakharov (5.57), 1:1 Cuglietta (18.11), 2:1 Giacomuzzi (27.14), 2:2 Romashchenko (32.15), 3:2 Hjorth (33.52), 4:2 Kevin Fink (35.16) , 4:3 Zakharov (40.19), 4:4 Tolstushko (40.38), 5:4 Simon Kostner (55.30)
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – KHL Sisak 3:1
Tore: 1:0 Koblar (20.28), 1:1 Bronte (31.45), 2:1 Bohinc (57.35), 3:1 Urukalo (59.57)
Program for Saturday, October 19th:
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – Sokil Kyiv (16 Uhr)
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – KHL Sisak (8 p.m.)
