Tölzer Löwen: victory against ice pirates not excluded
Created: 01/16/2022 13:38
By: Nick Scheder
Finally want to celebrate together again: After a long injury break, Thomas Merl (front) is returning from the hospital and will play with Marcus Götz for the home game against Crimmitschau.
© Ewald Scheitterer/Archive
Tölzer Löwen could start the game against Crimmitschau with a full bench.
Bad Tölz – Almost a crowd on the Löwen bench: With the signing of striker Pascal Aquin and the return from the hospital of Thomas Merl and Thomas Brandl, coach Kevin Gaudet gets three storm rows back onto the ice for the first time in a long time. Or not. Before the Tölzer home game against the Ice Pirates Crimmitschau (this Sunday, 6.30 p.m.), Löwen captain Philipp Schlager was still suffering from a sore groin. Because Dennis Miller is also needed again at his DEL club Augsburg, things could get tight again for the lions' three complete offensive lines.
Victory against Ice Pirates not excluded
The Tölzer could use every man against the Saxons on Sunday.
For the Eispiraten Crimmitschau, fifth in the DEL 2 table, the year 2022 got off to a good start with a winning streak.
"Maybe the surprise team of the season," says Gaudet.
The Tölzer lost the two games against the Saxons so far, 2:4 at home and 2:3 in Crimmitschau after extra time.
"I have to say that the Ice Pirates played excellently," praised the Löwen coach.
A team of great defenders, with Slovenia international goalkeeper Luka Gracnar a strong back-up between the posts.
One of the reasons why the Saxons have conceded the fewest goals in the league so far, most of which have won games by a narrow margin.
Things aren't going so well in front
But things aren't going so well at the front. Crimmitschau has one of the fewest goals scored among the DEL 2 clubs. Among the top scorers in the league there is no striker from the ranks of the ice pirates. First comes Mathieu Lemay with 29 points (10 goals/19 assists) followed by scorers Scott Feser (15 goals), André Schietzold (12) and Scott Timmins. "They have dangerous people," says Gaudet.
For his Tölzer, the focus – as always – is on discipline.
Not only to avoid penalties - the Saxons already have one of the weakest power plays (14.4 percent) in the league comparison - but also to call up tactical requirements.
This will show how well the returnees and the newcomer will find their way around the lion pack.
In any case, Gaudet is happy to have five defenders to fall back on with the return of Dominik Bohac.
"I don't think victory is out of the question," says Gaudet.
"But we shouldn't concede more than two or three goals."
Goalkeeper position still open
The Tölz coach wasn't quite sure who he would trust as a goalkeeper, but wanted to make it dependent on Friday's game in Kaufbeuren.
The Tölz coach does not want to speak of a competition for number one between Jimmy Hertel and Josef Hölzl.
"But we've had so many games close together that it's not bad for a goalkeeper to take a break every now and then."