Star Vault Into First Place, And The Finals

The L.A. Stars took on the HC Trnava Gladiators on Friday evening at the Swiss INS Tournament in Wichtrach, Switzerland. With a record of 2-1, the Stars knew a win would give them a berth in the finals,  while a loss would send them home. Raphael Ungar got the start in goal against the Slovakian squad, who had defeated the SCL Tigers just two nights before. The repercussions of the game were of interest to the Tigers as well, who were also sporting a record of 3-1. With a Stars victory, three teams would be sitting tied, and the deciding factor would goals for and against. with their first three game scores of 6-1, 8-0, and a loss of 3-2, the Stars plus minus was solid.

The Stars opened the scoring in the first period on the power play, as Albert Krammer buried a one-timer past the Slovak net minder on a great screen by Daniel Gysi. Picking up assists on the play were Fabio Kläy and Gysi. Not long after, Gustaf Wärnelius's wrister beat the Slovakian goalie, and the Stars were holding a period lead of 2-0 after twenty minutes of play. Ungar was not tested heavily in the first, but remained acute between the pipes.

The second period saw a much more intense Slovak team, and it reaped rewards for the easterly neighbor as they buried a power play marker nearing the midway point of the frame. The problem was the Stars had already, as Daniel Leisser had buried on a beautiful cross-crease pass from Fritz Schröder. Daniel Gysi picked up the other assist on the play. Ungar was called upon more in the second, and he responded with stellar play, including a tremendous poke-check on a partial breakaway for the Gladiators, keeping the game at 3-1.

The final twenty minutes saw a more evenly matched game, as the shots and the face-offs were much closer. Neither team could gain any advantage, however, as the score remained the same, and the Stars escaped with a 3-1 win and a berth in the finals.

L.A. Stars Prep 3 - HC Trnava 1 (2:0; 1:1; 0;0)