The success of the traveling teams continued into early evening Saturday, as IFK Helsinki and Bili Tygri Liberec won wearing road white, before the Vienna Capitals and ERC Ingolstadt became the first two home teams of the day to win.
Krefeld Pinguine 3-5 IFK Helsinki
On Thursday, IFK Helsinki erased a 3-0 deficit to win in a shootout. Today they trailed 3-1 in Krefeld but scored four times in the third period to win 5-3. Toni Soderholm led the comeback with 3 assists, while Matti Kuparinen scored 2 goals including the equaliser and Mika Partanen scored the winner with 7:01 to play. Daniel Pietta had 2 assists for Krefeld.
Kölner Haie 1-4 Bili Tygri Liberec
After losing their opening game at home, Bili Tygri Liberec joins the list of road warriors on Saturday, winning 4-1 in Cologne to earn their first 3 points in Group A. Petr Vampola had 2 goals and Martin Bartek 2 assists, while Philip Riefers scored the lone goal for Kölner Haie, which tied the game at 1 late in the first period.
"I got the puck from the outside and wanted to pass it back in the middle but it got deflected. Luckily Charlie [Stephens] picked it up and took a shot and it bounced right back to me and I just had to put it in," described Riefers. On the game overall, he said, "We had a good game and played well, were technicially strong and had lots of chances. Some of those chances we should have converted just didn’t go in today."
As for his goals, Vampola said, "There’s always a bit of luck to it but we also had some chances we didn’t score on. In the end a goal is a goal regardless of what it looks like. We won the game and I’m very happy about that." He also added, "Marek played just excellent tonight, he was fantastic last game too. He is a goaltender we sure can rely on."
Vienna Capitals 2-1 Valerenga Oslo
The Vienna Capitals became the first home team to win on Saturday, edging Valerenga Oslo 2-1. All three goals in the game were on the power play, and Peter MacArthur scored both Vienna goals, including the game-winner with 6:47 on the clock. Both were assisted by Rafael Rotter and defenceman Florian Iberer. Nicklas Broems scored for Valerenga.
ERC Ingolstadt 4-1 SaiPa Lappeenranta
ERC Ingolstadt bounced back from Thursday to win 4-1 on home ice, thanks largely to the goaltending of Timo Pielmeier. SaiPa fired 55 shots at the Finn, but only beat him once. Brian Salcido scored in the 34th minute, but by that time Ingolstadt had already scored four. Patrick Koppchen, Jeffrey Szwez, Brandon Buck and Ryan MacMurchy all recorded 2 points.
"I think we got a very good lesson how to play in front of both nets and I think that was the reason why the home team won this game today," said SaiPa coach Pekka Tirkkonen. "They were strong on defence and they were also aggressive and strong in playing the puck and in driving to our net."
"I am very proud of our team for the performance tonight," said Ingolstadt coach Larry Huras. "We played against a very good team. I think it is a learning process for us playing at this level." He then nodded toward his Finnish counterpart and said, "In about 10 days we go back to Pekka's rink. I am sure they're waiting for us."