Brûleurs de Loups secure shootout victory against GKS Katowice in Continental Cup thriller - Eurohockey.com
Brûleurs de Loups secure shootout victory against GKS Katowice in Continental Cup thriller

Brûleurs de Loups secure shootout victory against GKS Katowice in Continental Cup thriller

Davide Tuniz18 Jan 2025Davide Tuniz»
 

A nail-biting game sets the stage for a winner-takes-all finale

 
 
 
 

The second game of the 2025 IIHF Continental Cup SuperFinals saw an intense clash between Poland's GKS Katowice and France's Brûleurs de Loups.

Both teams came into the game with different pressures: Katowice needed a regulation win to remain in contention for the title, while Grenoble sought to set the stage for a final victory on Sunday


The game began with GKS Katowice showing greater urgency, testing Grenoble’s defence in the opening minutes. Despite their energy, it was Brûleurs de Loups who struck first. In the eighth minute, Guillaume Leclerc’s initial attempt was deflected by John Murray, but Adel Koudri capitalized on the rebound, putting the French team ahead.

Katowice had their chances to equalize, including a near-miss from Patryk Wronka late in the period. Meanwhile, the Poles faced constant counter-pressure as Grenoble launched long passes to test their defence. A tense moment came when Aurélien Dair seemed to double the French lead, but a video review ruled the puck had not crossed the line. The period ended with Grenoble holding a slim 1-0 advantage.

Regrouping during the intermission, Katowice returned with renewed determination, dominating the second period. Their efforts bore fruit in the 27th minute when Santeri Koponen unleashed a precise shot from the blue line to tie the game. Just minutes later, sustained pressure and back-to-back penalties from Grenoble created another opportunity for the Poles. Grzegorz Pasiut found himself in the perfect position to convert Patryk Wronka's pass into a goal, giving GKS a 2-1 lead.

Grenoble struggled to regain composure, prompting a time-out by coach Per Hanberg. While the French team stabilized somewhat, Katowice continued to dictate the tempo, narrowly missing further scoring opportunities. By the end of the second period, the Poles were firmly in control.

The final period brought heightened drama as Katowice sought to extend their lead, knowing a three-goal margin was vital for tournament survival. Despite relentless pressure and a four-minute power play, the Polish team failed to find the net again. Bartosz Fraszko came close on several occasions but was unable to convert, including a golden chance during a one-on-one break.

The turning point came in the 55th minute. With Katowice’s Koponen in the penalty box, Grenoble capitalized on a power play. A chaotic scramble in front of the net ended with Matias Bachelet pushing the puck past Murray to equalize. The goal, confirmed after another video review, deflated Katowice’s hopes and simplified the tournament standings—any hope of a three-way tie for the title was now eliminated.

Neither team could find a breakthrough in overtime, despite chances on both ends. Nicolas Deschamps came closest for Grenoble, while Katowice squandered a late power play opportunity.

In the penalty shootout, the French side held their nerve. Aurélien Dair scored the decisive goal in sudden death, while Benjamin Sokay’s final attempt for Katowice missed the target. Brûleurs de Loups sealed a 3-2 victory, putting them in a prime position to claim the Continental Cup with a win against Cardiff in Sunday’s decisive game.

With this victory, Brûleurs de Loups face Cardiff Devils on Sunday in a winner-takes-all showdown. For both teams, it’s a chance to secure their first-ever Continental Cup trophy.


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