Munich 2, Bern 0
Munich leads series 1-0
The good news in Bavaria today is that the beloved Fox, who tied for the top spot in the Southern Conference of the EURO League, won the playoff opener in convincing fashion Thursday by shutting out Bern 2-0. The bad news is that they lost Patrik Elias, their leading goal scorer, in the process.
Elias played the entire game Thursday, logging 26 minutes and assisting on a second-period goal by Joe Thornton that turned out to be the game-winner. But afterward, it was revealed he sustained a “lower body injury” and tight-lipped team execs listed him as “day to day.” But sources say he could miss a significant portion of the series.
The 36-year-old Czech is in the final year of a $6 million contract and he has been a consistent contributor to Munich’s offense, missing only 8 games in two seasons. Elias scored 36 goals for the Fox during the regular season, 14 of them coming on the powerplay. He also recorded 41 assists, placing him second on the team in scoring, 11 points behind Thornton. It was a better season for him than the one he turned in in 2012-13, when he scored 29 goals and 63 points.
It will be next to impossible for Munich to replace his production on the first line. Other left wings on the Fox are of the defensive, hitting variety and who will flank Thornton on the top line remains to be seen. Chris Higgins (46 points in the regular season), Matt Cooke (43 points) and rookie Tomas Zaborsky (12 points) were the other left wings on the roster Thursday and Steve Downie (42 points), a RW, is likely to return to the Munich lineup and might be considered for the top line. Bryan Bickell (7 points), playing the out of position on the right side, could also be moved back to the left.
Actually, the Fox beat Bern without much help from Elias. His stats line showed no shots, no hits, and one blocked shot. That might have been the one that hurt him. Munich outshot the Bears 32-18, clamping down in the third to allow just 4 shots to reach Jonathan Quick.
Paris 5, Milan 2
Paris leads series 1-0
Goalies were busy in France Thursday as the teams combined for 75 shots on goal, and Antti Niemi wilted in the third period, allowing 4 goals to the delight of 19,268 Paris fans. Mike Green was the star of the game, scoring three goals including the game-tying and –winning goals in the final period. The game also featured a lot of penalties, with a total of 17 powerplay chances and two PP goals for each side. Former Spartan Miko Koivu had 10 shots for Paris to lead all shooters and Alex Pietrangelo and Travis Hamonic (also acquired in a trade with the Spartans) were good on defense for Les Rouges Eiffels, blocking 6 shots and recording 7 hits combined.
Geneva 4, Bratislava 1
Geneva leads series 1-0
The defending champs came into the playoffs as the underdogs in their series with Bratislava, but they proved again that playoff hockey is their specialty. The Generals never trailed in the game, although it was a tight affair for most of it. Thomas Vanek’s powerplay goal with 2:25 remaining gave Geneva a two-goal cushion and effectively ended the game. Geneva fought off a one-minute, 5-on-3 disadvantage in the early part of the third period to preserve a tenuous 2-1 lead. Kari Lehtonen, in goal for Geneva, was named the game’s first star. Both he and Bratislava’s Craig Anderson made 30 or more saves. Mike Fisher of the Generals, led everyone in shots on goal with 7 and he scored the eventual game-winning goal.
Athens 5, Zurich 2
Athens leads series 1-0
Brian Elliott can play better than he did Thursday. The Lions’ goalie allowed 5 Greek goals on 27 shots, which was not good enough, especially when Cam Ward, in the other goal, was making 31 saves. T.J. Oshie and rookie Vadim Shipachyov had wonderful games playing on Athens’ number 2 forward line, combining for 3 goals and 3 assists. Oshie and rookie defenseman Staffan Kronwall were both plus 3 for Athens. Zurich’s most noticeable forward was Michal Frolik, who got 6 shots on Ward in 10 minutes, only to be shut out. This series has all the makings of one that will go the distance. During the regular season, the two teams finished with identical 47-32-3 records. Athens had a slightly better offense during the regular season, while Zurich was a little tighter defensively.
