Second Period - Deja Vu
After a great start the tides would turn again in the second period handing the Stars their second double digit loss in a row.
The Game started out extremely well for the JV Stars, shutting the Red Bulls down at the red line and creating turnovers and offesive chances. Multiple 2 v 1 breaks and even a couple of 3 v 1 opportunities off the forecheck. Salzburg was getting frustrated and managed only a couple of shots in the Period. With a little over 5 minutes to go in the first Patrick Dieber chipped a puck up the wall and Nikita Zantmans would win the puck on the boards and attack 2 v 1 as Speedster Garrit Blume jumped up to join the rush. With a nice saucer pass over to the Big "G" it was 1-0 for the Stars and they would take this lead into the first intermission.
7 minutes into the second period on a sloppy defensive zone turnover the puck was suddenly in the back of our net. 27 seconds later, another shot and another goal. It was an almost exact replica of our second period in Innsbruck. In a 7 minute span 7 goals were scored on 9 shots. A mental let down for one team is a huge boost for another team, especially the top team in the league. They could smell the angst in the air,
With Richard Albrecht away with the Mexican National Team, Dominik Dieber would have to fight this one alone. It was one of those nights where every puck was getting deflected and every rebound was finding a Salzburg stick, but give the Red Bulls credit for being in the right spots and getting pucks to the net. Sometimes that is all it takes.
The third period both teams had chances but it would be the Red Bulls who would capitalize 4 more times to make the final 11-1. Actually not a bad game for the Stars who created alot of good things in the offensive zone. However the last 5 minutes of the game was not LA Stars hockey. This team is known for not giving up and playing to the final buzzer, but the last 5 minutes tonight were unacceptable. Again the game might have been over, but 5 minutes was wasted, valuable time for a team always looking to learn. Words were spoken after the game and with 3 Players returning to the lineup tomorrow, I am ready to see LA Stars hockey being played again.
LA Stars:RBS 1:11 (1:0,0:7,0:4)
