The First Legs of this season's Round of 16 are done, and now the remaining teams face all or nothing clashes in the Return Games.
German side Adler Mannheim have a one-goal deficit to overcome in their return matchup against Mountfield HK of the Czech Republic. Mountfield took a slender victory against Die Adler on Wednesday night, with a late goal from Aleš Jergl proving to be the decisive and only goal in favour of the Czech side, giving them a 1-0 advantage ahead of the return leg on Wednesday.
"We saw a very good game, both teams played well defensively,” said Mannheim Head Coach Pavel Gross in the post-game Press Conference. “We knew that Mountfield would play very defensively."
It wasn't a bad game for us, but we didn't score any goals, so it was't enough today."Adler Mannheim Head Coach Pavel Gross following the 1-0 loss to Mountfield HK
Mannheim couldn’t find the back of the net on any of their 23 shots on goal. “We did not really play offensively either, and we weren't playing well in the DEL before going into the international break," continued the Head Coach. "Our defense was giving up too many goals, that's why we first tried not to allow mistakes in our own zone. After that, we wanted to go on the offensive but there was not quite enough of that in the first game."
With impressive performances in net for both goalies, Mannheim will need to keep trying to break through Mazanec when the two teams meet again on Wednesday.
"Yes, the netminders were really good. There were many good chances, although I have to say that the goal, unfortunately, came from more of a half chance - it wasn't exactly a dangerous situation but that's the way it is" added Gross.
"We just have to score two more goals than them next week, and we'll work hard on that. We didn't play badly, but we have to get some goals" he concluded.