PRAGUE — Matthew Pimentel stopped all 31 shots he faced, and the NU Brno Lions scored twice in the second period to beat the VSFS Prague Guardians 2–0 on Saturday, 7 November. It was a night of firsts: Pimentel’s first shutout of the season and Alexei Burkley’s first goal in the EUCHL.
After a scoreless first, Ashton Duchini broke the deadlock on his own with 12:20 left in the second. That unassisted effort stood as the game winner.
Burkley doubled the lead with 7:46 to go in the period. Logan Grimbleby and captain Jaxsen Healey set up the play, and Burkley finished it for his first career goal in the league.
Brno controlled the shot count 45–31. Only Guardians goaltender Nick Ehl kept it close, making 43 saves for a .956 save percentage.
The game turned physical from the second period on. Officials called 23 minors, 12 against Brno and 11 against Prague, seven of them for roughing. Neither side scored on the power play, and both Lions goals came at even strength.
Brno had to finish the job shorthanded. With 41 seconds left, Raphael Landry was called for roughing and slashing against a single roughing minor to Prague’s Memfis Burgeson. The Lions killed off the final seconds, and Pimentel closed the door to seal the shutout.
“Prague came out strong and made us earn every inch tonight,” said head coach Robert Mokrohajský. “We have to work harder than that. Matthew was outstanding in net and gave us a chance to win. It was a night of milestones, with his first shutout of the year and Alexei’s first goal in the EUCHL. But we can’t relax now. We have a big week ahead with back-to-back games against Bratislava, one on the road and one at home. That’s the test we want.”
The full game replay is available on the Prague Guardian’s Youtube Channel.
Up next
The Lions face the league-leading Bratislava Capitals in back-to-back games, first on the road and then at home.
Box score
Brno 2, Prague 0 · Shots: Brno 45, Prague 31 · Penalty minutes: Brno 24, Prague 22
|
Period |
Time left |
Goal |
Assists |
Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd |
12:20 |
#13 Ashton Duchini (BRN) |
Unassisted |
1–0 BRN |
|
2nd |
7:46 |
#77 Alexei Burkley (BRN) |
#19 Logan Grimbleby, #37 Jaxsen Healey |
2–0 BRN |
|
Goaltender |
Shots |
Saves |
Save % |
|---|---|---|---|
|
#30 Matthew Pimentel (BRN) |
31 |
31 |
1.000 |
|
#79 Nick Ehl (PRG) |
45 |
43 |
.956 |
