As some countries have already begun getting ready for the World Championships, the European playoffs are winding down. The finals have already begun in many leagues, while Great Britain and France have their champions and the Rapaces de Gap have qualified for the CHL!
by Luke Fisher
Austria
It’s finals time in Austria, with just two teams left standing in the EBEL playoffs. Red Bull Salzburg were favourites to come through against KAC Klagenfurt, and did so, but few would have predicted the Vienna Capitals making the final round after their disastrous ‘Pick Round’ performance. However, new coach Jim Boni has found a way to win, and his team picked up a goal in the eighth minute of overtime to win 2–1 in Linz to close out that series in five games. The final series begins on Tuesday.
Czech Republic
Another goal in the 8th minute of overtime, this time from Peter Jansky of HC Litvinov secured his team’s place not only in the Extraliga finals but also in next year’s CHL! His team finished as runners up in the regular season, and now have tow wait for the winner of the Sparta Prague – Ocelari Trinec series, which Trinec currently leads 3–2 with a chance to close it out in Prague on Monday night.
Denmark
Bidding for the third consecutive Ligaen title, SonderjyskE Vojens have made an emphatic start in the finals series – racing into a 2–0 series lead against Esbjerg Energy already. They could, in theory, have the championship trophy in their hands by Friday.
France
Having come from eightth place in the regular season to the final series, and then going into a 3–1 lead, winning the Coupe de Magnus was just a step too far for the Epinal Dauphins, who suffered a heartbreak at the hands of the Rapaces de Gap this past week. Epinal twice played in the series knowing a win would see them lift the trophy, but from a 3–1 series lead they lost three consecutive games to see Gap win the series with a 5 – 3 victory on Sunday. Congratulations to the Rapaces, who are French champions and qualify for the CHL!
Finland
It’s all square in both of the Liiga semi-finals after two games in each series, with Karpat Oulu – JYP Jyvaskyla and Tappara Tampere – Lukko Rauma locked in battles to reach the final. Both series have game three take place Monday night, with all four teams looking to gain an advantage.
Germany
It’s ‘Adler vs. Panther’ in the final of the DEL this year, with the Mannheim and Ingolstadt ready to meet in the last best-of-seven series in the league. Mannheim won the regular season – sitting in first place for all but around three weeks of it – and only lost one game on their way to the finals. Their opponents Ingolstadt needed seven games to overcome the Iserlohn Roosters, but made light work of Dusseldorf EG in winning the semi-final series 4–1. The DEL Final begins on Friday.
Great Britain
The annual ‘Play-off Weekend’ took place in Nottingham this past week, with an unusual format whereby both semi-final matches and the final itself are played in the same arena over one weekend. The Coventry Blaze surprisingly made it through to the finals weekend by beating Nottingham in the quarter-finals, and then went one better by beating Belfast in the semis. In the other game, the Sheffield Steelers made it through to the final – but only just, needing a goal with four seconds left to beat the Hull Stingrays 3–2. That set up the Sheffield – Coventry final, and under the guidance of Chuck Webber the Blaze ran out deserving victors. Up 4–0 after the second period, the Blaze had to weather a Steelers’ fightback in the third, but with Sheffield only able to manage two goals the playoff trophy heads to Coventry!
Norway
After finishing off their semi-final opponents in short order, both the Stavanger Oilers and Storhamar Dragons have both had sufficient time to rest before getting the Ligan finals started on Wednesday. Teams one and two in the regular season, both have already qualified for the CHL, while Stavanger search for their fourth straight Norwegian championship.
Slovakia
The final series in the Extraliga is well under way between Kosice and Banska Bystrica, with game four taking place Monday night. Kosice won their first two home games to head on the road with a healthy series lead, but were pegged back by their opponents 3–1 in Bystrica. The result of game four will determine if Kosice will have a chance to win the title back on home ice, or if we’ll be tied at two.
Sweden
Skelleftea AIK’s domination of the SHL this year is almost complete, as they made it through to the finals with a 4–1 series win over Linkoping HC. Who they’ll play in the finals is still up for grabs, though, but could be decided Monday night. Frolunda Gothenburg host the Vaxjo Lakers, knowing that only a win will keep them alive in the playoffs – should the Lakers win, they’ll advance to the finals.
Switzerland
Its a home win each so far for ZSC Lions Zurich and HC Davos in the NLA final series – and both by three goals. ZSC won the series opener in Zurich 3–0 before Davos levelled the series winning 5–2 on their own ice. The teams meet for game three on Monday.