Stars Suffer From Lack of Mental Toughness in Zell am See
The L.A. Stars suffered a twenty-minute mental lapse on Sunday, and it cost them 2 points in the league standing, and a potential long-term suspension for one player.
In a game that had everything from lead changes, scrums, to goaltenders getting run over, the Stars came up short on effort, and the ability to remain composed under stressful situations. This cost the team the lead and ultimately the game, as Zell Am See rode the coattails of Clemens Unterweger, Philip Putnik and Johannes Schernthaner to victory. Sandro Aeschlimann took the loss in goal for the Stars.
The game started well for the Stars, as Daniel Leisser scored on a wraparound just under five minutes into the game (Rilk). The Eisbaren responded not long after, however, as Thomas Grabmayr was left alone and unchallenged to the side of Aeschlimann. After a smart play by Schernthaner at the point, he found Grabmayr at the side for the easy backdoor play, and the game was tied at one. Just two minutes later, Kevin Ferstl again beat a helpless Aeschlimann as the defensive zone for the Stars seemed to by tired and slow all day long. As the period ended, however, Niki Kraus evened the score at two apiece on a great pass from Marco Richter as he caught Dominik Frank out of position, and the two teams were even after 20 minutes of play. Nikolaus Houben picked up the other assist on the play.
In the second period, things remained even until just six minutes remained on the period. With the Stars on the powerplay, a lack-lustre effort off of a faceoff turned into a two-on-one for the Eisbaren. Unterweger buried the feed on a nice deke, and the short-handed goal gave the Eisbaren the lead heading into the dressing room.
On the first shift of the period the Stars again drew even. Great communication from Kraus saw a face-off play shot from point man Gustaf Wärnelius deflected by Kraus past Frank, and the Stars were once again back in the game. Fritz Schroder drew the other helper. It was not until the penalty call by referee Manfred Sporer that things got hairy. After a linesman’s assistance, a two-and-ten check to the head call on Stars defenseman Stefan Hrdina was given. On the ensuing powerplay, the Zell Am See squad were able to capitalize on the play as Schernthaner’s blast from the point somehow found its way through Aeschlimann. Just six minutes later, Julian Grosslercher beat Aeschlimann with Flamand in the box, and the Eisbaren found themselves on the end of a 5-3 victory, while the Stars were left puzzled, trying to figure out a reason why their powerplay and discipline somehow escaped them on the day.
“We need to be more composed and more acute; point-blank,” accounted O’Leary after the loss. “Regardless of the officiating, regardless of the surrounding pressure, we need to respond in a manner that is productive and effective. That simply wasn’t it.” The game was not without fireworks. With just seconds to go on the clock, a puck scramble turned into a fiasco. Sebastian Rilk, assessed a Match Penalty, and Nikola Lazarevic (five minute major for fighting) were both ejected, as tempers flared between the benches. With a February 5th rematch here in Sankt Polten, you can bet that there will be more of a response from the Stars.
Next up the Stars host Hungary’s Zskesfehrevar for two games on Thursday and Friday. The Stars then have the weekend off, before league-leading Linz BlackWings travel down the A1 for a Tuesday night draw here in the Klenkdome.
