Red Bull Munich qualified for the Champions Hockey League Semi-Finals on Tuesday night after beating Finnish side Lukko Rauma in an intense game that was decided in overtime.
After a 2-2 First Game in Finland everybody knew the Return Game in Munich's Olympia-Eisstadion was going to be close.
Munich had a shaky start to the game finding themselves more often on the defensive than attacking the net but it took over 30 minutes of game time for either team to open their scoresheet.
They are a great skating teamJustin Schütz
"In the first period they played us to the wall in parts,” explained Munich’s Justin Schütz, “Playing against them was really tough, they are a great skating team."
Lukko’s Sebastian Repo drew first blood but going one goal down was a turning point in Munich’s game as from the halfway point they took over the reins and were on the offensive.
Schütz, who would play a major role in the action to come, also noted this turning point in the game, "From the second period on, we were the superior team. That's when we did our thing."
With the score locked at 2-2 after 60 minutes of game time up this heated duel headed to overtime.
Two and a half minutes in, Munich’s offensive trio found themselves high up the ice and right in front of the Lukko net. But netminder Lassi Lehtinen stood firm, putting himself in the path of shot after shot. It looked like Lukko had this covered.
But up stepped Schütz who fired the puck in off the rebound from the edge of the crease to score the game-winning goal. What do you feel after scoring such an important goal?
"I just felt feelings of happiness," Schütz said, "It was amazing to help the team like that, we deserved to win in the end."
Schütz’s important goal also landed him Play of the night!