Ex-KHL crack comes: Matikainen after defeat: “Like a damn roller coaster”
Yesterday’s home defeat against Innsbruck showed that KAC could need reinforcements in attack. With Rihard Bukats, a new person is about to be signed. The Latvian, who has been without a club so far this season, would be import number ten and could replace injured Daniel Obersteiner and Johannes Bischofberer, who are unlikely to return. The 26-year-old was last active with Admiral Vladivostok in the KHL.
If you listen to the coach, you urgently need fresh energy. “We’re moving like a bloody roller coaster,” Petri Matikainen said angrily. The team improves in small steps and suddenly you fall apart again against an opponent who was wrongly considered not so attractive. “A terrible evening from the first to the last change. We have to announce what’s going on here as soon as possible, because we can’t perform like this. Point,” Matikainen pointed out.
In terms of personnel, the Klagenfurt team lined up like they did in the defeat against Salzburg two days ago. After seven minutes you had to run after a deficit. Brady Shaw scores on the power play. A little later, Lucas Lessio was laid on a breakaway. The Canadian failed to put the disc in the goal from the penalty spot. The KAC attacker was then able to write in the 14th minute. After a nice combination with Nick Petersen, Lessio equalized.
The Redjackets probably came out of the dressing room nicely and are having their best period. Lukas Haudum and Thomas Vallant and Jesper Jensen Aabo had the best chances. Goal scorer Lessio could have scored again. Paul Postma failed at the post. And so it came as it had to come. After a carelessness behind the goal, Innsbruck took the lead again.
Favored by an early power play, the red jackets had the better chances in the final section as well. But the disc didn’t want to go in the goal. In their new arena, the people of Klagenfurt are not really getting going. In five games you could only win twice – once after a penalty shootout, once after overtime.