Asiago and Jesenice move into the final

Rittner Buam – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 4:5 OT (0:0,1:3,3:1,0:1)
The game in Klobenstein started swinging with slight advantages for the home side. The goalkeepers on both sides were alert and the game went into the first break with a goalless draw. The first goal came in the 23rd minute when Rajsar passed into the slot and Jasa Jenko netted in for 1:0. In the middle of the second period, Eric Pance increased the lead to 2:0, but the home side had an immediate answer when Manuel Öhlers' shot landed at MacGregor Sharp (33rd), who cut the deficit in half. Again, it took just over a minute before the next goal was scored. This time Luka Ulamec was in the right place to restore the two-goal lead from an acute angle. In the final period, the hosts initially pressed for a goal, but missed good chances. And when Viikila made it 4:1 in the 51st minute, the preliminary decision seemed to have been made. But a brilliant comeback followed: Six and a half minutes before the end, Ritten coach Heiskanen took a time-out and goalie Smith off the ice. Zach Osburn hammered the puck into the corner and only 53 seconds later Sharp successfully deflected the puck. With 36 seconds left in regulation, Andreas Lutz scored from the blue line to make it 4:4 and the game went into overtime. The Rittner Buam were the more active team, but could not convert their chances into a goal. The decision was made in the 76th minute when Jesenice had a one man advantage. An Elo shot was deflected decisively and with the 5:4 victory Jesenice entered the AHL final for the first time.



EHC Lustenau – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 2:3 OT (0:0,2:1,0:1,0:1)
Asiago came to Lustenau with the confidence of a 2:1 series lead. The Italians had more of the game for long stretches of the first period, but repeatedly failed to score against EHC goalie Erik Hanses, who recorded 20 saves in the first 20 minutes alone. In the middle period, the visitors set the tone again and took the lead in the 26th minute: Anthony Salinitri scored from an acute angle to make it 1:0. Late in the second period, the hosts had their best phase and were promptly rewarded. After 37 minutes, Chris D'Alvise scored on the power play with a shot under the crossbar. And just two minutes later, Max Wilfan even made it 2:1. After a nice combination, the EHC captain gave Asiago goalie Gianluca Vallini no chance with a beautiful move. But Asiago struck back in the third period, a Ginnetti goal made it 2:2. In further consequence there were only few scoring chances and the game went into overtime. In the 68th minute, Asiago was a bit longer in the offensive zone and Michele Marchetti scored with an one timer. While Lustenau were eliminated in the semifinals for the third time in a row, the Italians made their fourth final. The "best-of-five" final series between Asiago and Jesenice starts next Saturday in Italy.



Alps Hockey League | 02.04.2022 | Semifinal 4:
Rittner Buam – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 4:5 OT (0:0,1:3,3:1,0:1)
Referees: HUBER A., RUETZ, Mantovani, Puff.
Goals 0:1 JES Jenko J. (22:59 / Rajsar P. ,Glavic G. / EQ), 0:2 JES Pance E. (31:36 / Svetina E. ,Ulamec L. / EQ), 1:2 RIT Sharp M. (32:59 / Öhler M. / EQ), 1:3 JES Ulamec L. (34:06 / Brus N. ,Svetina E. / EQ), 1:4 JES Viikila J. (50:11 / unassisted / EQ), 2:4 RIT Osburn Z. (54:18 / Lutz A. ,Spinell M. / EQ), 3:4 RIT Sharp M. (55:11 / Marzolini M. ,Lutz A. / EQ), 4:4 RIT Lutz A. (59:24 / unassisted / EQ), 4:5 JES Elo E. (75:35 / Pance E. ,Logar M. / PP)
Final score in the "best-of-five" series: 1:3

EHC Lustenau – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 2:3 OT (0:0,2:1,0:1,0:1)
Referees: MOSCHEN, SCHAUER, Eisl, Wimmler.
Goals 0:1 ASH Salinitri A. (25:58 / Magnabosco J. ,Parini G. / EQ), 1:1 EHC D'Alvise C. (37:01 / Wilfan M. ,Giftopoulos R. / PP), 2:1 EHC Wilfan M. (39:15 / D'Alvise C. ,Krammer A. / EQ), 2:2 ASH Ginnetti C. (45:01 / Casetti L. ,Vankus M. / EQ), 2:3 ASH Marchetti M. (64:43 / Giliati S. ,Mantenuto D. / EQ)
Final score in the "best-of-five" series: 1:3

Photo: Serena Fantini