Peiting's play-off opponents in almost all statistics with the best values - but coach Saal remains confident
Created: 03/18/2022, 07:45
By: Roland Halmel
Burning for the play-offs: After the two victories against Lindau, the people of Peiting are now hot for the Saale Bulls Halle.
However, the team from Saxony-Anhalt, which won the title in the Oberliga Nord, is the clear favourite.
© Holger Wieland
The opponent has won the title in the Oberliga Nord and is the clear favourite.
But Peiting's coach Anton Saal is not afraid of this difficult task in the play-off round of 16.
Peiting
– EC Peiting wanted to avoid the pre-play-offs at all costs.
Ultimately, the ECP had to take this detour to move into the play-offs of the Oberliga, which coach Anton Saal does not consider to be so bad in retrospect - especially since his team was successful in the two duels against Lindau (6: 3, 5: 0). .
"The team has gained self-confidence through the two victories," said Saal.
In addition, goalkeeper Florian Hechenrieder kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.
In summary: "We've already got a feeling for the knockout games," said Saal before the start of the round of 16.
A very compact and counterattacking force that didn't come first for nothing.
Peiting's coach Anton Saal about the Saale Bulls Halle
There, the people from Peiting have to deal with the Saale Bulls Halle, who won the championship title in the Oberliga Nord.
"A very compact and strong team that didn't come first for nothing," is Saal's verdict on the team from Saxony-Anhalt, which is coached by Canadian Ryan Foster.
He caused a sensation with his team, although they are not always ahead in the statistics.
The Bulls scored 221 goals in 47 games.
That means second place in terms of offensive strength.
The defense conceded 121 hits.
This is a value that two other teams have fallen below (Leipzig 104 goals conceded in 47 games, Tilburg 107 goals conceded in 48 games).
Halle was the best team in power play in the Oberliga Nord
In the power play table, however, the team from Halle is in first place.
“They close the neutral zone very well.
They live from winning targets and don't need many chances to score", the ECP coach found out as further strengths of the Bulls while studying the video.
The people of Peiting should keep a watchful eye on the two contingent players of the North Champion.
The two Finns Tatu Vihavainen (27 goals, 48 assists in 37 games) and Joonas Niemelä (35 goals, 48 assists in 37 games), who play together in the front row, collected 148 scorer points together.
"They're good, but they have other strong players in the team," Saal said.
The number one in the "Bulls" box is Sebastian Albrecht, who has a catch rate of over 91 percent.
"It's going to be quite a challenge
Peiting's coach hopes his team can surprise
Peiting's trainer sees his men as outsiders, who are not going to Saxony-Anhalt without a chance this Friday (March 18).
"We've already experienced that we were the first to be eliminated against the eighth", says Saal and hopes that the people from Peiting can cause a surprise.
"We just have to play and only make a few mistakes," Saal drummed into his squad.
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Peiting has to compete without Marco Habermann and Simon Maier
In terms of personnel, however, he cannot draw on unlimited resources.
Marco Habermann and Simon Maier are injured.
In the first duel against Halle, Lukas Motloch is also suspended.
That's why striker Shane Heffernan will feature. Czech Motloch and Canadian Heffernan will still not be seen together on the ice as Nardo Nagtzaam's naturalization process continues to drag on.
The use of the ailing Christoph Frankenberg is also questionable.
Saal is hoping for the return of Fabian Weyrich, who has started training again, next week.
Three wins are necessary to advance to the quarterfinals
After the start of the round of 16, which was in “best of five” mode (three wins required to progress), on Friday in Halle, game two continues on Sunday (March 20) in Peiting.
On Tuesday (March 22nd) the third game is already on the agenda, then again with the Saale Bulls (7 p.m.).
If no one has three wins under their belt by then, both teams will meet again in Peiting next Friday, March 25th.