The Cologne Sharks succumbed to another defeat against the Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams on Thursday evening, losing 4-0 at the Lanxess arena, which leaves them stranded second from bottom in the DEL table.
So often the case in the current campaign, the Sharks were short of neither possession nor endeavour, but lacked the clinical finishing that their opponents possessed. The home fans’ disenchantment with this season’s state of affairs was evident from as early as the fourth minute, when Kinch reacted quickest to shoot the puck home in a goalmouth scramble, and further compounded as Alavaara fired a spectacular shot from range ten minutes later to give Wolfsburg a comfortable early lead.
Almost straight from face-off, the home fans chose to support the Grizzly Adams, who fielded four players on Cologne’s books last season, rather than the struggling Sharks, applauding ironically and regularly jeering mistakes by their own team.
Although Cologne managed to fashion some decent chances in the first period, the hosts were never really in danger of threatening Jonas in the away goal.
Wolfsburg’s lead was doubled midway through the second period by Hospelt and Furchner, both former Cologne favourites, who scored in quick succession before the Sharks switched netminders and Horneber came on to replace Doyle.
The Sharks were able to contain the Grizzly Adams for the remainder of the match and forced some saves from Jonas, but could not beat the Wolfsburg keeper.
The defeat does little to help haul the club out of its current state of disarray. Unable to retain their best players and facing the prospect of relegation, the Sharks rely heavily on youngsters to fill team line-outs and four 17 year olds featured against Wolfsburg.
Failing to reach the playoffs would be a further significant blow to the club, whose financial situation is already a severe problem, given it appears unlikely it will be able to afford lease of the Lanxess Arena beyond this season.
28 February 2009 | Cologne
Posted by tomlfoley 
