Skrevet af Malin McKay
Herlev Eagles var kun et mål fra point mod tophold Frederikshavn White Hawks fredag den 25. september, hvor det endte 2-1 foran 1.910 tilskuere i Nordjyske Bank Arena – et imponerende publikum så tidligt i sæsonen. Backen Marius Kring Andersen er fortsat på skadeslisten med en overkropsskade, oplyser assistenttræner Kim Staal, mens Noah Samsøe var tilbage efter at have afsonet sin karantæne på to kampe.
For backen fra tredjekæden var det et kærkomment comeback.“Det er fedt at være tilbage,” siger han. “Jeg har selvfølgelig fulgt drengene fra lægterne, men det er overhovedet ikke det samme.” Det var hårdt at se to nederlag fra tilskuerpladserne, indrømmer han. “Der vil man gerne være der og hjælpe.”
Frederikshavn førte 2-0 efter to perioder. Aleksi Halme åbnede scoringen efter 5:27, og Leo Ring øgede til 2-0 efter 23:44, men ifølge flere var det en tæt kamp med chancer i begge ender. “Vi formåede at vise noget af det hurtige spil, og det fungerede godt i perioder,” siger Oliver True, der reducerede efter 47:07 med assist fra angriberen Carl Skärström og backen Christopher Mulberg.
For True var målet en forløsning. “Det havde været lidt længe undervejs, så det var dejligt endelig at få en ind.”. “I tredje periode var det, som om vi lige havde et ekstra gear,” siger han. Herlev tog målmand Alexander Hellnemo ud efter 58:10 for et sidste pres, men Frederikshavns ungarske keeper Adam Vay holdt fast i 2-1.
“Et stort cadeau til deres målmand,” siger True. “Han stod godt derinde.” Efter onsdagens nederlag til SønderjyskE talte spillerne om at skulle spille i fulde 60 minutter. I Frederikshavn var de tættere på.“Vi skal formå at strikke en 60 minutters kamp sammen, hvor vi spiller på vores ypperste, og det har vi desværre ikke helt formået endnu,” siger Samsøe. “Men for hver kamp, vi spiller, bliver det bedre og bedre.” Det, der mangler, er i den anden ende, tilføjer han. “Vi skal score nogle mål for at vinde kampe, og det har haltet lidt. Det håber jeg, vi kan få gang i snarest muligt.”
Tirsdag kl. 19.30 møder Herlev Herning Blue Fox i KVIK Arena. Kampen kan streames på DirekteSport.
English:
True’s Breakthrough Not Enough Against the Leaders
Herlev Eagles came within a goal of league leaders Frederikshavn White Hawks on Friday, falling 2-1 in front of 1,910 fans, a big crowd for this early in the season. Defenseman Marius Kring Andersen remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, but Noah Samsøe returned to the lineup after serving his two-game suspension.
For the third-line defenseman, it was a welcome return. “It’s great to be back,” he said. “Of course I’ve followed the boys from the stands, but it’s not the same at all.” Watching two losses from the stands was hard, he admitted. “In those moments, you really want to be there and help.”
Frederikshavn led 2-0 after two periods, with Aleksi Halme opening the scoring at 5:27 and Leo Ring doubling the lead at 23:44, but by most accounts it was a tight game with chances at both ends. “We managed to show some of our fast game, and that worked well at times,” said Oliver True, who scored at 47:07, assisted by forward Carl Skärström and defenseman Christopher Mulberg.
For True, the goal was a relief. “It was a long time coming, so it was nice to finally get one in.” “In the third period it was like we just had an extra gear,” he said. Herlev pulled goaltender Alexander Hellnemo at 58:10 for a final push, but Frederikshavn’s Hungarian keeper Adam Vay held on to the 2-1 lead.
“A lot of credit to their goalkeeper,” True said. “He stood tall in there.” After Wednesday’s loss to SønderjyskE, the players spoke about needing to play a full 60 minutes. In Frederikshavn, they came closer. “We have to manage to put together a 60-minute game where we play at our very best, and unfortunately we haven’t quite managed that yet,” Samsøe said. “But with every game we play, it gets better and better.” The missing piece, he added, is at the other end. “We need to score some goals to win games, and that’s been lacking a little. Hopefully we can get that going as soon as possible.”
On Tuesday at 19:30, Herlev will play Herning Blue Fox at KVIK Arena. The game can be streamed on DirekteSport.