Munich, Germany - Bill Lindsay scored with 56 seconds to go in regulation and struck again at 10:38 of the overtime period to lift the Kölner Haie to a memorable come-from-behind win in Game 4 against the DEG Metro Stars. The Haie won 4-3 in front of 18,698 at KölnArena Thursday to knot the best-of-five semifinal series at 2-2 and force a Game 5 showdown in Düsseldorf Sunday.
The Haie drew first blood when Alex Hicks scored on the two-man advantage at 13:41 of the first period. Thomas Jörg tied the game at 1-1 early in the middle frame, scoring off a rebound of a shot by Chris Ferraro. The Haie reclaimed a 2-1 lead at the 6:49-mark when defenseman Stephane Julien ripped a one-timer from between the hashmarks through Andrei Trefilov's legs after a behind-the-net feed from Dave McLlwain.
Veteran Alex Hicks then was assessed a potential career-ending penalty for a dumb check-from-behind on DEG defender Alex Sulzer. Hicks was assessed a five-minute major plus game misconduct. The foul may turn out to be the final moment of a long pro career as Hicks has announced that he will hang up his skates after the season. The game misconduct penalty results in a suspension for Game 5 and Hicks' career would only live on if the Haie reach the DEL Finals.
The momentum shifted as two more penalties against the Haie set up a long two-man advantage for Düsseldorf. The Metro Stars cashed in with a pair of goals. At the 11:13-mark, Klaus Kathan wristed a bad-angle shot past Thomas Greiss' blocker to tie the score at 2-2. Andy Schneider gave the Stars a 3-2 lead at 12:55, connecting on a rebound of a one-timer from Craig Johnson.
Cologne responded with a power-play goal of its own 5:44 into the third when Eduard Lewandowski re-directed in a centering feed from Dave McLlwain to knot the score at 3-3. The Haie kept pressing, but it was the Metro Stars who found the back of the net again. Düsseldorf was awarded a penalty shot when Patrick Reimer was taken down from behind by Brad Schlegel on a short-handed breakaway. Craig Johnston beat Greiss high to the stick-side to put the Stars up 4-3 at 10:31 of the final stanza.
Düsseldorf came within a minute of reaching the finals. But Cologne's late charge was successful. With only 56 seconds on the clock, Philipp Gogulla forced the puck into the Stars zone. Off a lucky bounce, the puck landed near Brad Schlegel who took a quick shot at the net. Trefilov made the stop but Lindsay took the rebound and put it in to force overtime.
In the overtime period, Düsseldorf killed off back to back minors against Craig Johnston and Andy Schneider. On a power-play opportunity of their own, Jeff Tory knocked down Haie forward Lewandowski on a short-handed breakaway and referee Rick Looker awarded another penalty shot. Jan Alinc made a fancy move on Trefilov, but failed to score as he fanned on the puck. So it was up to Lindsay again. He stole the puck from DEG defender Mike Pellegrims right in front of the net and backhanded it through Trefilov's five-hole for the 5-4 game-winner.
