With Playoffs qualification still a very real possibility for two Group G participants who’ve yet to punch their ticket, these remaining match-ups will be as crucial as ever in helping to decide who suits up in the CHL come November.
For the Rouen Dragons, at least, their 5-1 win over Danish side Rungsted Seier Capital brings a sense of satisfaction to the French club according to defenceman Dylan Yeo.
“I thought our boys played well tonight. We scored when we had to score, our powerplay was doing well, and the biggest thing was we only allowed them to get one goal. Playing like that we’re a really hard team to play against.”
The French broke through first on the powerplay, but then early in the second, Henrik Hetta opened the scoring for the visitors.
If we play like this, we’re going to make it really hard for teams to beat us.Dylan Yeo, Rouen Dragons
Following Rungsted’s equaliser, the hosts believed they had regained the lead – twice – but were the unfortunate recipients of negated goals on both occasions. Rouen continued to get pucks deep and kept up on the forecheck as they eventually found their footing late in the second period netting two goals in quick succession, the first of which was Yeo’s.
“We were all working together; our forwards supported our defence and we got the puck out quick which was a big focal point of our game tonight.”
Rouen’s resiliency was nothing new to Yeo who went on to say, “If we play like this, we’re going to make it really hard for teams to beat us." As for the possibility of Playoff qualification, “we’ll just take one game at a time.”
We scored when we had to score.Dylan Yeo, Rouen Dragons
With their win, Rouen now have seven points – two more than both Rungsted and Ukrainian newcomers HC Donbass Donetsk, the latter of which found themselves on the losing side against top team KAC Klagenfurt to the chagrin of Feliks Morozov who admitted that his team had some obstacles to overcome in the early going.
“I think it was a tough, competitive game. We had a slow start in the first period.”
But after a less-than-stellar opening stanza, Donbass began their resurgence starting with a tally by Illia Korenchuk. It would be their only marker of the middle frame, but a promising third was on the horizon.
First, Morozov found the back of the net off a 2-on-1 rush, cutting Klagenfurt’s lead to one. Viktar Turkin would pot Donbass' third on the powerplay with less than five minutes to go, and with that the score was level.
“We showed character and we played our best - we gave it everything we got.”
Momentum, for a moment, looked like it would favour the hosts who were putting on a show for their fans. Sometimes, however, the hockey gods have other plans and that would be the case for Donbass who fell victim to a late goal and a disappointing defeat.
We want to thank all the fans and all the people that cheer for us and came to watch us play.Feliks Morozov, HC Donbass Donetsk
For Morozov, the loss was inexcusable; but his appreciation for the fans is indescribable.
“No words, it’s incredible. We want to thank all the fans and all the people that cheer for us and came to watch us play. We feel bad it didn’t go the way we want it, but we want to thank all the fans again.”
Sadly for Donbass, their Wednesday rematch with Klagenfurt will be their final game of the 2021/22 season, as the Ukrainians are now mathematically confirmed to be out of contention for the Playoffs, but what a show they've put on in their debut season!