Knockout Stage | Quarter-Finals
—Vesienväl vs. Viratia—
The first game of the knockout stage was surely not one to miss. The top ranked Vesienväl takes on Viratia and almost immediately, chaos ensues. Less than ten minutes into the first period, Viratia takes not one, not two, but THREE penalties. First for hooking, last two for interference, spending about three minutes down two men on a 5 on 3 PK.
Miraculously they’re able to kill it all off without conceding a goal, even with some good attempts from Samuli Tuomela and Jani Yrjölä on the Vesienväller powerplay. The rest of the first remained somewhat uneventful, but Vesienväl come out swinging in the second.
Enea Testa, the Viratine goaltender, played what may have been the best game of his career. Stopping a total of 18 shots in the second period, many of which were prime scoring opportunities for Vesienväl. However as the period came to a close with Vesienvällers having dominated, Viratia gets a rush off of a turnover in their defensive zone and Mario Morelli beat Rauni Kuoppala over his glove and gives Viratia the lead.
The third period proved to be a slugfest, with Vesienväl attempting to even the score and Viratia attempting to desperately defend it. However in the end Vesienväl just could not get past the brick wall of Enea Testa. Viratia defeats Vesienväl, 1 - 0. Enea Testa gets his second shutout of the tournament.
—Lunsesara vs. Zemeprievadai—
Game number two of knockout round, two equally performing teams in the group stage, this game was clearly not going to be an easy one. Less than a five minutes into the game, Mili Zyomin picks up a rebound in front, sliding it by AuksÄ— UrbonienÄ—, giving Lunsesara the early lead.
An unideal start for the Zemeprievadains seemed to have had them spooked, as they were unable to generate almost any offense for the first period, but luckily, Lunsesara seemed to suffer the same offensive ailment, and the first concluded relatively uneventful.
The second period started similarly, neither team able to penetrate the other’s defensive structure, but Dovilė Zagorskytė woke everyone from that trance after his open-ice collision with Lunsesaran captain Cheita’a Murasdrei.
This check allowed Zemeprievadai to gain possession, and set up an offense, which they were able to capitalize on after a scrum in front of the crease. Romualda Augaitė picked up a loose puck, flicking it over Lara Kazakova’s pad, tying the game up at one.
Entering the third it seemed this game may have been destined for overtime, but that was not meant to be, as Nanud Suzil’a deked around Urbonienė, for an easy breakaway goal to give them back the lead. All period, the Lunsesarans continued to pepper Urbonienė, but he would not budge until the late third. Nikita Tamarkin fires a pass to an open Zyomin, who buries it before Urbonienė had time to react. Sealing the game, Lunsesara defeats Zemeprievadai 3 - 1.
—West Borea vs. Almodaria—
In the third game West Borea, takes on Almodaria. This one back and forth for a lot of the game, rush after rush after rush. Neither team was able to possess the puck for long, and while there were some opportunities that came from these quick rushes, nothing came of it.
It was clear both teams would need to change their tactics, and Almodaria seemed to have done the better job. After an aggressive poke check in the neutral-zone they were able to get a shot off. George Yurisimo picked up the rebound, and was able to tuck it away to give Almodaria the lead.
Almodaria continued their push deep into the third, eagerly looking to extend their lead by any means necessary. And they very well could’ve, had it not been for West Borean goaltender Jerun Rulas, making an incredible glove save to keep the deficit only one.
It would unfortunately be for naught, as Harry Jameson scored an empty net goal after a late push by West Borea with the extra attacker. Almodaria defeats West Borea 2 - 0.
—Tavaris vs. Alksearia—
The fourth and arguably most anticipated game of these quarter finals, rivals Tavaris and Alksearia went head to head and they did not disappoint. The most physical game of all so far, it was a surprise we had to wait only 8 minutes for the first big hit. Georges Boissonade was leveled by Sergei Popov. Boissonade was slow to get up and eventually left the ice with an injury, put a pin in that as that will be important later.
Not soon after, Otan Oren Kantodar on a breakaway danced around the Alkari goaltender Arnaud Levett to open the scoring for Tavaris. But quickly afterward Benoît Giraud evened the score after a 2 on 1 rush after winning the faceoff immediately after the goal.
Tied going into the second period, things started off with a bang as well. Sergei Popov, clearing the puck out of the defensive zone was elbowed and subsequently boarded by LĂ©onard Bittencourt, most likely in response to his hit on Boissonade in the first. Bittencourt recieved a five minute major for boarding and a game misconduct, now leaving Alksearia with two less skaters than normal.
Tavaris would quickly make Bittencourt pay, scoring less than a minute into the powerplay. Cestar Lanash Bendri, receiving a pass from behind the net by Tevri Nevran Qetti, scored in the top right corner of the net to give Tavaris the lead.
In the third Tavaris continued to put pucks on the net, pressuring the Alkari defense. It seemed only a matter of time until they scored. But unfortunately, Orand Nabren Tenda was called for tripping after trying to poke the puck away from an Alkari defender. This was just what the Alkari needed, as Jean-Philippe Devillers, with a slapshot from the blueline scored on a screened Veshtar Nuvo Dandri to tie the game. However, as overtime drew nearer, it was ripped away after a fatal puck battle in the Tavari zone gave the Alkari a prime chance to take the lead, which they did. Benoît Giraud wide open in front recieves a pass and taps the puck in to give Alksearia the lead with less than two minutes to go. They would hold on and Alksearia defeats Tavaris 3 - 2.
—Knockout Round Bracket—
