Asiago captures last top-4 spot

Referees: F. GIACOMOZZI, RUETZ, Cristeli, P. Giacomozzi

The Red Bull Hockey Juniors started with a lot of pressure into the game against HC Gherdeina. The Juniors shot 20 times in the first period onto the goal of Misa Pietilä. Justin Schütz fired the only shot with success. Gherdeina hat the quick start in the second period. Gabriel Vinatzer scored the equalizer after only 42 seconds. After that the Juniors acted much more efficiently. Varejcka two times, Meisaari and Nordberg built the lead to 5:1. Vinatzer scored his second goal of the night to decrease the gap. Gherdeina didn’t manage to turn the game in the final period. Casper Evertsson created the result of 6:2.

Goals RBJ: 1:0 Schütz (7. Nordberg- Varejcka), 2:1 Varejcka (23./pp1 Evertsson-Nordberg), 3:1 Meisaari (28. Feldner-Nordberg), 4:1 Varejcka (32./pp1 Meisaari- Nordberg), 5:1 Nordberg (34. Schütz- Kokkila), 6:2 Evertsson (51./pp1 Nordberg-Lobach)

Goals GHE: 1:1 Vinatzer (21. Demetz), 5:2 Vinatzer (Demetz- Viitanen), 

Referees: GAMPER, SUPPER, Weiss, Wimmler

The VEU Feldkirch celebrated a 7:2 win against Hockey Milano Rossoblu. Milano ended its first AH-season on the 16th place. Feldkirch is heading from the sevenths place into the pre-playoffs facing S.G. Cortina Hafro. Both teams created chances in the first period but Feldkirch had advantages. Daniel Fekete opened the scoring of the night and Dylan Stanley doubled the lead only seconds later. Feldkirch increased the pressure in the second and kept on scoring. Mairitsch and Steurer created the 4:0 lead, before Burton used a powerplay for the first goal of Milano. Draschkowitz and Mairitsch second goal increased the lead of Feldkirch. In the final period both teams took out the speed. Asinelli scored for Milano before Gehringer created the result of 7:2 for Feldkirch.

Goals VEU: 1:0 Fekete (8. Ratz- Wiedmaier), 2:0 Stanley (9. Soudek- Rauter), 3:0 Mairitsch (29. Draschkowitz- Gehringer), 4:0 Steurer (32. Mairitsch- Puschnik), 5:1 Draschkowitz (38./pp1 Birnstill-Stanley), 6:1 Mairitsch (38./pp1 Grasböck- Jennes), 7:2 Gehringer (59./pp1 Jennes 

Goals MIL: 4:1 Burton (36./pp1 Borghi- Caletti), 6:2 Asinelli (57. Ilic-Borghi)

Referees: DURCHNER, LEGA, Legat, Terragni

EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau delivered the big surprise in the final round of the regular season. The Austrian celebrated a 5:3 success against leader Pustertal without any effects on the final standings. Lustenau is heading as sixth ranked team into the pre-playoffs facing the HC Gherdeina. Pustertal started with a lot of pressure into the game. Armin Helfer scored the lead after only 30 seconds. But Lustenau came back strong and turned the game with goals of Wilfan and Putnik. Pustertal had again a good start into the second period, scoring the equalizer by Berger. Lustenau had again the right answer - Tschernutter and Hrdina built a two goals lead. Armin Hofer managed to narrow the gap still in th second period. Pustertal tried everything to turn the game in the final period, without success. PhlilipPutnik brought the final decision for Lustenau with a penalty shot.

Goals EHC: 1:1 Wilfan (5. Putnik-Vallerand), 2:1 Putnik (9. Vallerand- Auer), 3:2 Tschernutter-(34. Lins- Koczera), 4:2 Hrdina (37. Grabher Meier-Winzig), Putnik (57./ps.)

Goals PUS: 0:1 Helfer (1. Elliscasis-Virtala), 2:2 Berger (33./pp1 Elliscasis- Virtala), 4:3 Hofer (39.), 

 

Referees: LENDL, METZINGER, Marchardt, Markizeti

It was a clear situation for the Rittner Buam before the game. They had to win to still have a chance gaining the final top-4 spot. Both teams started with a lot of caution in the first period, causing no goals in the opening period. The Buam increased pressure in the second with success. Andreas Lutz scored the first goal of the game in powerplay. The Buam took a couple of penalties in the following but had strong shifts in numerous disadvantage. Simon Kostner as well as Daniel Tudin scored shorthander for the 3:0 lead. Ritten also controlled the game in the final period scoring no further goals. Despite of winning, the Rittner Buam have to continue their season in the pre-playoffs. The first AHL-Champ ended the regular season on the fifths place. The Buam are now facing the Kitzbühler Adler in the best of three pre-playoff-series.

Goals RIT: 0:1 Lutz (24./pp1 Kostner-Eriksson), 0:2 Kostner (31./sh Eisath), 0:3 Tudin (36./sh)

 

Referees: FAJDIGA, WALLNER, Rinker, Snoj

The HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana started with a lot of pressure into the game. For the EC-KAC II it was already clear, that it will be the lust game of the season. Ljubljana created chance after chance scoring three goals in the opening period by Music, Koblar and Bohinc. Ljubljana also had full control in the second period. Jakob Holzer had a full day of work in the goal of the KAC. Gal Koren was the only player beating Holzer in the second, scoring the 4:0. Daniel Obersteiner scored the first and only goal for the KAC II in the final period. Finally Nik Simsik created the result of 5:1 with an empty netter.

Goals HKO: 1:0 Music (11. Koren-Kranjc), 2:0 Koblar (12./pp1Planko-Zorko), 3:0 Bohinc (18Ulamec-Brus), 4:0 Koren (35. Zajc. Cepon), 5:1 Simsic (58./sh. Jezovsek)

Goal KA2: 4:1 Obersteiner (42. Schnetzer-Cirtek), 

 

Referees: BENVEGNU, FICHTNER, Holzer, Riecken

Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey captured the final direct quarterfinal ticket. Asiago celebrated a 6:1 win against EC “die Adler” Stadtwerke Kitzbühel in the final round and confirmed a top-four spot. In the first period Asiago had a slight advantage, but didn’t manage to score. Kitzbühel started strong into the second, taking the lead by Peter Lenes. Asiago had the right answer scoring three goals by Naclerio, Dal sasso and Rosa in powerplay. Kitzbühel tried to come back in the final period, creating good chances. But only Asiago managed to score. Pietroniro, Conci and Magnabosco brought the result of 6:1. Kitzbühel will face the Rittner Buam in the pre-playoffs.

 

Goal KEC: 1:0 Lenes (27./pp1 Lidström-Ebner), 

Goals ASH: 1:1 Naclerio (28. Magnabosco-Bina), 1:2 Dal sasso (33. Olivero-Miglioranzi), 1:3 Rosa (36./pp1 Bardaro-Pietroniro), 1:4 Pietroniro (48. Magnabosco-Pietroniro), 1:5 Conci (51./pp1 Tessari-Bina), 1:6 Magnabosco (57. Pietroniro-Naclerio)

Referees: PODLESNIK, VIRTA, Bedynek, Piras

The Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan only won after shutout against the EC Bregenzerwald and were therefore joined in the standings by Jesenice. In this way the Broncos lost the advantage of the rink in the next pre-playoffs in favour of the Slovenian team. With the only absence of Tommy Kruselburger, the Sterzing faced the EC Bregenzerwald already eliminated and at his last match of the season. The home team controlled the game but the ECB often hit in the counterattack as they found the first goal with Christian Haidinger. But the Broncos' pressure led to a draw with Paolo Bustreo with a wrist’s shot. The ECB was always dangerous with a crossbar. In the second half, the home team didn’t find any winning ideas, while at the end there was the new Austrian advantage with a Virtanen's shot in the traffic and validated only after the videoreplay. Jure Sotlar put the result back on par but the Broncos are forced to win in regular time if they want to maintain the eighth position. The pressure was all on the side of the Italian team that continued to turn in circles. The minutes passed and the Sterzing tried the final assault but suffered the empty net goal of Jarvinen. The draw at the end of McNally and Bustreo's winning penalty only served for the statistics. The home team will start the pre-playoffs away. ECB closed in 14th place. 

Goals WSV: 1:1 Paolo Bustreo (11:54/D.Bernard-Maffia); 2:2 Jure Sotlar (43:54/Oberdorfer-Nardi); 3:3 Brandon McNally (59:52); 4:3 Paolo Bustreo (65/SO);

Goals ECB: 0:1 Christian Haidinger (04:48/D.Ban-Waldhauser); 1:2 Mikko Virtanen (39:41/Waldhauser-Fechtig); 2:3 Aleksi Jarvinen (58:15/Haidinger-C.Ban);

Referees: MOSCHEN, STRASSER, Mantovani, Martin

The Cortina always played in a reworked formation with the absences of Moser, Di Diomete, Ayotte, Trecapelli, Alessandro Zanatta and during the first half it must also do without Michael Zanatta. The first bars of the game are very balanced. After an error in the home defence, there was a penalty in favour of Jesenice who took the lead with Luka Basic. But it was in the second period that the Slovenian team earned the three points. After Pance's goal, the visiting team scored two goals in rapid sequence, just halfway through the game, with Tavzelj and Urban Sodja. From now on, the Red Steelers knew no more obstacles as they scored three more goals before the end of the match. Absolute protagonist Eric Pance, author of a hat-trick. Shutout for Matthew Climie. Jesenice will start the pre-playoffs with the home advantage against Wipptal Broncos. The Cortina will meet the Feldkirch. 

Goals JES: 0:1 Luka Basic (07:48/PS); 0:2 Eric Pance (PP1/25:04/Cimzar-Tavzelj); 0:3 Andrej Tavzelj (30:05/PP1/Basic-Cimzar); 0:4 Urban Sodja (30:49/PP1/J.Sodja-Glavic); 0:5 Jaka Sodja (34:50/Svetina-U.Sodja); 0:6 Eric Pance (41:39/SH1/Svetina); 0:7 Eric Pance (51:40/PP1/Gagnon-Brus);

Rittner Buam (5) -EC 'Die Adler' Stadtwerke Kitzbühel (12) 

EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau (6) -HC Gherdeina valgardena.it (11)

VEU Feldkirch (7) -S.G. Cortina Hafro (10)

HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (8) -Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan (9)

 

Fotocredit: David S. Wassagruba