GAME REPORT: Fitzgerald gets coaching career off to winning start
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Glasgow Clan 3 EHC Freiburg 2
Zack Fitzgerald got his Glasgow Clan career as the coach off to a winning start, edging a five-goal game in the first contest of the season.
The return of Pete Russell as opponents Freiburg’s coach added some spice to this intu Cup clash and it proved to be a useful exercise
Clan had plenty of chances in the opening period to make the breakthrough, but found visiting goalie Ben Meisner in top form.
Two chances from Jordan Heywood were well saved, while Scott Pitt and Matt Beca also looked to unlock the door in the opening exchanges.
Freiburg took the lead against the run of play when Luke Pither made his way up the inside right to create an opening, but was initially denied by Clan goalie Patrick Killeen.
Cam Spiro was there to tuck away the rebound to give Pete Russell’s side the lead after the first period.
The visitors began the second period with plenty of energy, causing Killeen some minor concerns, but Clan managed to weather the storm.
Up the other end, Meisner had to contend with chances from Matt Haywood and Scott Tanski and you sensed the breakthrough was coming. And it did.
Travis Ehrhardt drifted forward in a centre position and moved the puck away from an advancing D-man to get the shot in on Meisner.
The Freiburg nettie made the block, but didn’t count on Mathieu Roy at the back post in place to dutifully tuck it home on the powerplay.
Clan then moved into the lead when a quick pass from Matt Beca on the far left saw it skid across the blue paint and finding Scott Pitt smashing in a one-timer.
Meisner then made a superb double save to deny Chad Rau with the initial effort then denying Beca on the rebound, which would have opened a two-goal lead.
The home side got their third goal in the third period as Jordan Heywood made his mark with a fabulous solo effort, moving himself through the middle to deliver the finish.
But Pither got another assist when his effort was well saved by Killeen, only for Nick Pageau to tuck in the rebound.
