Friday, October 05, 2007

Baikal-Energia Squeaks into Round II

BOULDER, Colorado -- I have not reported in a while because, to be honest, I was scared to watch Baikal-Energia after their dismal performances against SKA-Neftyanik, Mayak and Kuzbass. And I was correct to not watch them - they went 2-3 for the rest of the first round, just barely taking the sixth spot to guarantee a place in round 2.

After the Kuzbass loss, they were trounced again by Yenisei Krasnoyarsk, 8-3 on September 9th. Two days later, they bounced back, though only slightly, besting Sayany Abakan 3-2 (the team that fell to seventh place, just one point behind Irkutsk.) A 3-1 win over Mettalurg Bratsk was only temporary consolation, as they lost their final two games, against Sibselmash Novosibirsk 8-5, and lowly Lesokhimik Ust-Ilimsk, 6-5.

Ugh - the prospects for Baikal in Moscow do not look too bright for this year's team. Maybe Lesokhimik is a better bet ...

Round 2 begins October 17th.

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