Asiago and Jesenice sweep into semis

In Tivoli Hall HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice finished off the job in style. With a 6:0 win they swept HK SZ Olimpija in the big Slovenian derby quarterfinals. Despite an early foul the steelers got off to a great start. After an offensive error by the dragons on the blue line Miha Logan finished a two men breakaway perfectly. Visitors doubled the lead on the power play in 33rd minute. Shortly after coming on the ice Luka Kalan received the puck and beat Tilen Spreitzer between the legs. Less than two minutes later David Planko made it 0:3 from the blue line. When Markus Piispanen also added his name to the goal scorers list the winner was decided. Still the defending Slovenian champions weren’t quite done just yet. Aleksandar Magovac and Nejc Stojan both added a goal of their own. On the other side Clarke Saunders recorded his second consecutive shutout of the series. It was the second highest playoff win in Alps Hockey League history.

 

Vipiteno had only one useful result to continue the series: a victory against Asiago. The Broncos always played without Ben Duffy. Felix Tschimben was the only absent player compare to the last match. Some news in Asiago: Anthony Nigro, Federico Benetti (injured in the last game) and Matteo Tessari were absent. Josef Foltin and Stephen Pietrobon returned to play. The start of the game was immediately full of emotions because the teams played a lot in attack. Anthony Bardaro hit the crossbar after 30 seconds. Then also the home team created dangerous situation but Frederic Cloutier was ready. Just the two goalkeepers had some great saves. Davide Conci has two good chances for the yellow-read team while Jure Sotlar and Luca Felicetti are dangerous for the Broncos. Then after 12 minutes Marco Rosa didn’t finalize a great action of the guests. The first powerplay of the match was immediately important. The Sterzing took the lead with a one timer in diagonally of Mark Lee after 13 minutes as they closed the first period ahead of a goal. In the middle period, the game was still very open and the two goalkeepers were always very involved. Then there was the first powerplay of the guests. From a possible double for Broncos in penalty killing, it was the draw of Asiago with Michele Stevan who found a good aisle and then put the puck in the net. In the same actions, there was another penalty against Broncos: Asiago doubled with a blue line of Alex Gellert. But it wasn’t over because the visitors have found an extra gear. First the goal of Stephen Pietrobon who realized on rebound after a save of Gianluca Vallini. Then there was the most beautiful goal with an overwhelming action by Fabrizio Pace who deposited the puck under the crossbar. Four goals in just four minutes. The guests closed the second half on 4:1. During the third time the Asiago controlled the game as they made the third powerplay out of three thanks to another goal of Pietrobon. Asiago won the game 4 for 5:1 against Broncos as they earned the series for 4:0. 

 

Alexander Kinkelin was the goalkeeper of the Wolves in Game 4 while among the skaters there was also David Laner. Niklas Gehringer and Benjamin Kyllonen were not present on the Feldkirch team. During the first minutes of play the maneuver of the Wolves was more incisive in attack zone: Max Oberrauch and Patrick Bona were dangerous in front of the opponent's goal. As often happened the first powerplay of the game was already decisive: Sean Ringrose, after 7 minutes, took the lead with a shot from the middle distance. Then minute by minute the Austrian team grew up in the game. Marcel Witting and Stefan Wiedmaier created good opportunities. The draw came with Martin Mairitsch (17.). The draw of the Feldkirch was validated after the video replay. In the second period the history of the game was the same. Bruneck was still more incisive with the opportunities of De Lorenzo and Berger. Then again Ringrose made the new advantage of the Wolves with a deflection. But from the middle of the match the home team became nervous and took the penalties, playing in trouble. The VEU equalized after half-time with Mairitsch (31.) and then after a minute with Dylan Stanley in powerplay. The visitors closed the second half in the lead by 3: 2. Then in the third time the game was played open face. The referees cancelled one goal per side per man in the area of goalkeeper. Then Canadian defender Nick Bruneteau made the draw after 53 minutes. For the second time in a row, the result will be decided at overtime. The decisive moment was after 74 minutes when Lukas Tauber performed in powerplay with a shot from the close range. Wolves won by 4: 3 and equalized the series against Feldkirch (2: 2). The Wolves also win the first ever home game in the playoffs of the AHL.

 

Referees: OFNER, WIDMANN, Bedynek, M. Cristeli

Goals Jesenice: Logar (5./sh/Alagic-Pem), Kalan (33./pp/Planko-Pem), Planko (35./Alagic-J. Sodja), Piispanen (47./Kalan-Saunders), Magovac (49./Basic-Tavzelj), Stojan (53./pp/Logar-Piispanen)

Final score in the „best-of-seven“ quarterfinal series, JES – HKO: 4:0

 

Referees: BULOVEC, RUETZ, Snoj, Tschrepitsch

Goal WSV: 1:0 Lee (15./PP1/Nyren-Sotlar); 

Goals ASH: 1:1 Stevan (28./PP1); 1:2 Gellert (29./PP1/Rosa); 1:3 Pietrobon (31./Gellert-Scandella); 1:4 Pace (32.); 1:5 Pietrobon (50./Scandella-Bardaro); 

Final score in the „best-of-seven“ quarterfinal series, ASH – WSV: 4:0

 

Referees: BAJT, LAZZERI, F. Giacomozzi, Rezek

Goals PUS: 1:0 Ringrose (7./PP1/Andergassen-Hofer); 2:1 Ringrose (26./Andergassen-Oberrauch); 3:3 Bruneteau (52./J.Jacques); 4:3 Tauber (74./PP1/Pance -Di Casmirro); 

Goals VEU: 1:1 Mairitsch (17./PP1/Birnstill-Tikkinen); 2:2 Mairitsch (31./Stanley-Birnstill); 2:3 Stanley (32./PP1/Birnstill-Tikkinen); 

Score in the „best-of-seven“ quarterfinal series, VEU – HCP: 2:2

Photo: Oskar Brunner