Sometimes you need a little luck and the young Stars got there share plus a solid performance by goalie Raphi Ungar helped them secure both points from a visibly disappointed Villach Sport Verein. VSV started strong and played well but were unable to score more than once in the first period which was then evened by Sam Antonitsch from Hummel and Schroeder late in the period.

The second period was not much better and again the inability to capitalize cost the home side, as the 48er Stars scored twice to take the lead into the third. Philipp Kreuzer on a nice solo effort unassisted and Fabian Tomanek on a nice shot to the top left corner on a drop pass from Marco Richter should have given them the momentum they needed going into the third.

With a 3 – 1 lead and twenty minutes to play all that remained was to play sound defensively and bring home the win but with Kreuzer in the box for hooking Villach scored 30 seconds later on the Power play and the game would now prove to be a dog fight to the end. The 48er/Stars did show a determined defensive effort and staved off a late power play and 6 on 5 with Villach pulling their goalie to bring home the win.

“I was a bit disappointed in our overall effort and lack of concentration but sometimes you need to be lucky too, to win. Most of the boys have played their third game in four nights and after a long Christmas break and with little or no training both conditioning and timing will tend be a little off.  I’m sure we will bounce back with a better effort next week in Klagenfurt” were Coach Vorlicek’s comments after the game.