Polar bear Julian Melchiori (left) works on Czech NHL star Tomas Herl from the San José Sharks Photo: picture alliance/dpa/AP
By Jörg Lubrich and Florent Comtesse
Pity polar bears! Our champion bravely held out for a long time against the million-strong San Jose Sharks (player budget: 82.5 million dollars/82.6 million euros) in front of 12,013 fans in the MB Arena, but lost 1:3 in the end. Nevertheless, respect!
It’s the Sharks’ final Test before Friday’s first game of the season in Prague against Nashville. Unfortunately, the German Stanley Cup winner Niko Sturm (27) cannot play and only follows the game from a box. suspected concussion.
But even without a storm, the NHL stars whirl vigorously. Luck when Noah Gregor hits the post (19′). Our master defends himself bravely – 0:0 after the 1st third. Strong eleven saves from goalkeeper Tobias Ancicka. He saved all 21 shots until he was substituted (32nd/Juho Markkanen comes in for him).
Berlin’s Giovanni Fiore (back left) celebrates his goal to make it 1-0 with his teammates Photo: picture alliance/dpa/AP
Strong: Giovanni Fiore completes a nice counterattack on Marcel Barinka’s assist. The fans celebrate the 1-0 (33rd). This wakes up the NHL stars.
In just 40 seconds, San Jose turned the game around. First Czech striker Tomas Hertl scored, then Canadian center Steven Lorentz (both 38′) – 1:2 after the second period. Luke Kunin (52nd) puts the lid on it to make it 1: 3. Bad luck for Marko Nowak, who has to leave injured (upper body).
Already on Wednesday (7.30 p.m.) the polar bears in the CHL have to play against Hradec Kralove in the Corrugated Blechpalast.