Hosts Herning Blue Fox kept their campaign alive with a 3-0 win over the Sheffield Steelers in the evening game from group D. The British team held their Danish hosts in the 1st period but ran into penalty trouble for the rest of the game as they took numerous 2 minute minors and 10 minute misconducts. Sheffield had to fend off numerous 5 on 3’s but already short benched compared to their opponents they eventually succumbed to the Danish teams pressure and couldn’t get back into the game.
HC Asiago need to win against hosts Herning Blue Fox to secure their place in the Super Finals on Sunday evening. If they lose in overtime or on penalty shots I believe Herning would go through on the same points but with having beaten their opponents. This, of course depends on how Dunaujvaros have done in the afternoon game against Sheffield. If the Hungarians win they can still go through but would need Herning to win in regulation. All very complicated stuff but none the less exciting.
Group E saw both teams who won Friday pick up their 2nd wins of the weekend on Saturday as well. Rubin Tyumen left it late to beat Liepajas Metalurgs 4-3, with the game winning goal coming from Bezrukov with 37 seconds left. Liepajas had held 2-0 and 3-1 leads in this game but allowed the Russian team back into the game and eventually had their campaign ended with that cruel late goal.
Hosts Donbass Donetsk won their evening game against Cracovia Krakow 3-1 and set up a Sunday showdown against Rubin. It will be the evening game from the group to finish the weekend and it will be whichever team can hold their nerve and get the win that will go through to the Super Finals in Rouen come January.
- Adam Yates
