With two of three games played, KHL Sisak and Energija Elektrėnai are in the driver’s seats of their respective groups. With 2-0 records, each needs only a point in their final group game to secure advancement, and are also in good shape to advance with a regulation loss. Coincidentally, three of Saturday’s four games finished with 6-1 scores.
Group A (Sofia, Bulgaria):
SC Irbis-Skate Sofia (BGR) 1 – Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB) 6
In a matchup of two teams who lost their openers, the Serbian champs evened their record, thanks to a four-goal first period. Vuk Kravljanać and Marko Dragović had three points each for the victors, while the still-winless group host got a second-period goal from Miroslav Vasilev.
KHL Sisak (CRO) 6 – Liège Bulldogs (BEL) 1
Sisak scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, then crused to victory against the Belgian Bulldogs, who also won their first game. Carson Brière once again led his team offensively with two goals, giving him seven points in two games. Yoren de Smet scored the lone Liège goal late in the second period.
Standings after two games each: 1. KHL Sisak (CRO) 6 points, +19, 2. Liège Bulldogs (BEL) 3 points -4. 3. Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB) 6 points, +4, 4. SC Irbis-Skate Sofia (BGR) 0 points, -19.
Group B (Narva, Estonia):
CH Jaca (ESP) 1 – Energija Elektrėnai (LTU) 6
In an all-important game between Group B’s two winners on Friday, Energija from Lithuania took a major step toward advancing. The game was 2-0 into the third period and 3-0 midway through before Energija broke it open with three goals in a span of 3:43. Eimantas Noreika had two goals and an assist for the victors, while Adrian Torralba Gutierrez broke Arkadijus Grigaravicius-Reyzin’s bid for a second-straight shutout with 28 seconds to play.
Narva PSK (EST) 8 – Skautafélag Reykjavíkur (ISL) 4
Group host Narva led 1-0 after one period, 4-1 after two, and was up 7-1 in the third before settling for an 8-4 win to even its record. Maksim Berezonov led the offense with five points, followed by Kirill Ilin with four and Jegor Nevorov with three. Kari Arnarsson and Thorgils Eggertsson had three points each for the Icelandic champs.
Standings after two games each: 1. Energija Elektrėnai (LTU) 6 points, +10, 2. CH Jaca (ESP) 3 points, -1, 3. Narva PSK (EST) 3 points, even, 4. Skautafélag Reykjavíkur (ISL) 0 points, -9.
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