- Wolfsburg opened up the scoring in the first period
- Both teams were 100% effective on the penalty kill
- Wolfsburg's Justin Pogge outstanding, secures first shutout of the season
Grizzlys Wolfsburg netted their second win against Olimpija Ljubljana, taking their first win on the road 4-0.
It was a clean first period with Wolfsburg opening up the scoring in the first period on the hosts. Canadian forward Jean-Christophe Beaudin ripped a shot from the high slot off a pass to make it 1-0 for the visitors. Netminder Justin Pogge got the start for the German side but had a quiet first stanza with relatively few shots on.
With the intermission done and the second period underway, Olimpija got to task pushing the Germans to falter but their efforts were fruitless. Wolfsburg had several great attempts, but the first and second efforts of Canadian netminder Anthony Morrone were sensational in denying Wolfsburg.
The German side had a chance to extend their lead after a high-sticking penalty, but it was cut short after top scorer Tyler Morley slid into Morrone, collecting the net. The penalty assigned to Morley resulted in a 4-on-4, and a brief powerplay for the Slovenian hosts.
With even-strength play resuming, and less than five minutes remaining in the second period, Olimpija got caught out on an odd man rush. Morrone had no chance after a lateral pass from Fabio Pfohl to linemate Thomas Reichel would see the lefthand side of the net wide open for the taking, making it 2-0 for Wolfsburg.
A third goal would come off a net-front scramble. Morrone, who made the initial save, was beaten by Czech forward Lucas Dumont who was planted netfront, and jammed the puck past the netminder. Olimpija tried desperately to close the gap before the period end, but a flurry of five consecutive shots unleashed on Pogge were all stonewalled by the veteran netminder.
A penalty early in the third stanza gave the team from Ljubljana another opportunity, but they couldn't find the back of the net. Wolfsburg extended their lead thanks to Morley who sent a pass through the slot, and perfectly onto the tape of linemate Darren Archibald. The tap in put the visitors up 4-0. With the chances of a comeback slipping away by the minute Olimpija were unable to get on the board before the final buzzer sounded.
The victory gives Wolfsburg an additional three vital points in Group B, while the Slovenian side suffer their fourth consecutive loss.