After a 48 game regular season filled with twists and turns the MOL League semi finals are finally here.
The reward for DAB.Docler as having the top record during the MOL League regular season is that they could choose the team that they would face in the semi final match up. The coaching staff and the management left that they matched up the best against Brasov, the team from Transylvania who last year missed out on the playoffs on the last day of the season made it and are ready to play the part of the underdog.
Brasov will be traveling to Dunaújváros to play two games on Wednesday and Thursday night before the series heads to Romania for game three of the series, if needed game four will be played in Brasov as well with a fifth game back in Dunaujváros.
DAB.Docler not only has the MOL League’s leading scorer on their roster in Balázs Ladányi who had 63 points but are also set in the goal as Peter Sevela leads the league in save percentage. Backing up Sevela are two very good keepers in Tamás Kiss who can come off the bench anytime when needed and Janis Kalnins who Stephan Lundh after the second Super Cup game described as “To me they are the same (Sevela and Kalnins). Both are very good goalies and I can go with either one at any time”.
Joining Ladányi in terrorizing goalies all season was Zsolt Azari, Nikandrosz Galanisz, Andy Contois and Dávid Szappanos who all averaged a point per game during the season.
Brasov finished in third place but was only two points ahead of the fourth placed Miskolc. Even though they might not be as strong as DAB.Docler they make the rest up in confidence.
“We are very excited to make it to the playoffs after difficult regular season. The team is playing better and better all time and our goal is win the league,” says Juha Hietämaki.
In Heitamäki and Kevin Wehrs Brasov has two of the top three scorers among defencemen. If Brasov is on the powerplay these two are very dangerous from the the blue line. Countering the goalie combination of Sevela, Kalnins and Kiss, Brasov will have Patrik Polc between the pipes, who was second in the league in wins and in save percentage as well. Leading scorer Martin Saluga finished the season with 51 points in 47 games.
“Brasov if they use their speed and the imports are the stars then they have a chance,” said former Brasov forward Josh Bonar about the series.
Schedule
February 26, 18:00, Dunaújváros: game 1
February 27, 18:00, Dunaújváros: game 2
March 2, Brasov: game 3
March 3, Brasov (if needed): game 4
March 6, Dunaújváros (if needed): game 5
Words: Szabolcs Závodszky @Zavodszky
Photo: László Mudra