Release from 12.03.2018
Alps Hockey League, 4th quarterfinals (best of seven):
Tue, 13.03.2018, 19:15 Uhr: HK SZ Olimpija (6) vs. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (3)
Referees: OFNER, WIDMANN, Bedynek, M. Cristeli
Score in the „best of seven“ quarterfinal series, JES – HKO: 3:0
The Slovenian quarterfinal series has been one-sided so far. Saturday's 5:0 home victory was Jesenice's 8th successive win and they extended the series lead to 3:0. Now it returns to Hala Tivoli again, where Olimpija wants to get on the playoff scoreboard. Jesenice has won eight of nine season meetings with their local rivals, though, and the team of head coach Gaber Glavic decided all four road games to their favour. With three goals and four assists Jesenice forward Tadej Cimzar is the top scorer of the series. While Olimpija player Nik Petek comes back after suspension, team mate Kristjan Cepon mises one more game.
Tue, 13.03.2018, 20:00 Uhr: WSV Sterzing Broncos Weihenstephan (8) vs. Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 (1)
Referees: BULOVEC, RUETZ, Snoj, Tschrepitsch
Score in the „best of seven“ quarterfinal series, ASH – WSV: 3:0
Despite Sterzing stretching the favourite to the limit, Asiago leads the series 3:0 and can go through to semis on Tuesday. However, the special teams of Tom Barrasso's side have not worked well so far as they have some room for improvement: While the Broncos scored five of eight goals on power play, Asiago only netted three times with a man advantage. With both teams playing at full strength, the yellow-reds have often found their target. Anthony Bardaro leads playoff scoring charts with one goal and seven assists, while Marco Rosa's five goals are top of postseason. Sterzing will probably miss their top scorer Ben Duffy and captain Federico Benetti because of injury.
Tue, 13.03.2018, 20:00 Uhr: HC Pustertal Wölfe (5) vs. FBI VEU Feldkirch (4)
Referees: BAJT, LAZZERI, F. Giacomozzi, Rezek
Score in the „best of seven“ quarterfinal series, VEU – HCP: 2:1
A bad defensive mistake reduced Pustertal's comeback to nothing in game 3 - die visitors came back from a 3:0 deficit and finally suffered an overtime defeat. With their second successive win, the VEU turned the series around and have a 2:1 lead before going to Brunico for a second time. In the previous three quarterfinal games, the team that scored the first goal has always won. Dylan Stanley, who was the top VEU goalgetter in regular season, has shined with five assists. To tie the series, HCP now needs a first ever playoff home win in Alps Hockey League.
Photo: David S. Wassagruba