Asiago, Cortina, Jesenice and Ritten won also Quarterfinal number two

The home team played this match with Michael Sullmann that was absent in Game 1 in Klobstein. The guests was in Neumarkt with the same team of Game 1. After just 22 seconds of the game was call the first penalty of the match: Ratislav Gaspar took 2 minutes for tripping. The first power play Rittner was already crucial: Dan Tudin made the first goal with a deflection in the front of the net. After this bad start, the home team played well as they could also found the tie. A post and then the crossbar stopped the forwards of the Wild Geese. But the Ritten was more concrete in attack zone: Alex Frei scored with a one-timer shot. Then the last four minutes of the first period were very intense. Jan Muzik made the first goals for hosts at the end of a fast action. Then the Renon scored the third goal after a puck lost on the blue line. But the home team replied with Florian Wieser that solved a scrum when missing 15 seconds at the end of period in situation of power play. During the second period the game was fought and balanced. Two powerplay each side didn’t change the result. One of the most important occasions was on the stick of Ondrej Nedved for the hosts in shorthanded but he didn’t succeed. In the third period Ritten controlled the goal advantage and then they used a double powerplay with Oscar Ahlström to score the 4th goal. The Neumarkt didn’t gave up as they played with a lot of intensity. When missing less two minutes to the end of the third time with an extra player on the ice (outside the goalkeeper Daniel Morandell) it was the 3th goal with Jan Muzik. Then in the final seconds the Neumarkt was close to balance but the Rittner Buam won 4:3. Now Renon took the lead in the quartefinal series for 2:0. Christian Borgatello and teammates, on Wednesday, if victorious, will close the challenge playoffs against Neumarkt.

 

After playing the longest game ever in Italy in first game of quarterfinals, it was the 2th challenge in the stadium Olimpico between SG Cortina Hafro and HC Val Pusteria Wolves. The host formation recovered defender Corey Pritz and Shayne Wiebe. This forward played a couple of changes in defense (in powerplay) and only in the first period. Wacey Rabbit and Makisims Sirokovs (suspension 4 days) was absent for the guests. The game immediately showed great balance as in Game 1, but always with the Cortina that played better than the Wolves. The Bruneck responded only with personal actions. Nicola Fontanive and Zach Torquato didn’t find the net for the home team. On the other side, Max Oberrauch scored the first goal of the evening in powerplay during the final minutes of the first period. During the second period the matter was quite different, with the Wolves that seemed to start more decisively but with a certain nervousness in organizing the offensive action. Then Cortina changed the rhythm of the play, going to score three times in a draw: Riley Brace and Andrea Moser (two goals) overturned completely the match in less of six minutes in the middle of the match. The team of coach Drew Omicioli dominated the situation by closing the second period with great intensity.
The game returned to be balanced in the third period, although the guests continued to work hard and to also use strong tactics to stop the initiatives of a Cortina. Patrick Bona hit the post in shorthanded. After several attempts, a lapse in defense of Cortina allowed the Pustertal to take the 2th goals thanks to Thomas Erlacher after 56 minutes of the game. The final part of the match was absolutely amazing. The guests tried to tie as they put another forward instead of Thomas Tragust. A couple of tricky engagement lead the Wolves in the area of Marco De Filippo as they got the 3:3 with Armin Hofer when missing only 35 seconds to the end of period.  When the fans thought to assiste another overtime, Nicola Fontanive scored the game winning goal n the last seconds of the match. Cortina won 4:3 e as they lead the series 2:0. The Pustertal team lost the game in final seconds after a real battle in Cortina.

 

In the second Quarterfinal at Lustenau HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice took advantage from the first Power Play of the game, Jaka Ankerst was successful (4.). The Lions stayed unimpressed and made much pressure. Finally Petr Vala finished a combination over Daniel Stefan and Stefan Wiedmaier for the 1:1. Then the Austrians took another penalty and the Slovenes scored again on a Power Play. After the re-start the „Red Steelers“ took some penalties. Now the „Vorarlberger“ had more from the game. When playing 5-on-3 Marco Zorec finally made the 2:2 . It followed an open game, but both goalies were not to beat anymore in period 2. Early in period 3 Jaka Ankerst took advantage from a mistake in the Lions defense and beat goalie Patrick Machreich for the third time. Lustenau answered quickly with the 3:3 from Philipp Winzig in a Power Play (47.). Both teams then had chances to decide the game. The better end had Jesenice: The Slovenes  decided the game with a Power Play goal from Marjan Manfreda in minute 56  and lead now in the best of five series with 2:0.

 

FBI VEU Feldkirch – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 3:4 n.V.

The guests from Asiago had the better start into the second Quarterfinal at Feldkirch, already after 116 seconds Davide Dal Sasso scored the lead. The game then went up and down (47:55-shots!). In minute eleven the Austrians could equalize thanks a goal from Daniel Fekete. But 57 seconds before the end of period 1 Federico Benetti could score the lead again for the Italians and after the re-start Anthony Nigro even extend the lead to 3:1. The Austrians did not give up and were able to equalize thanks goals from Martin Mairitsch and Diethard Winzig, who surprised goalie Frederic Cloutier with a shot from a sharp angel. So the game went into an Overtime, in which the Austrians threatened first from break-aways. Asiago‘s Headcoach Tom Barrasso took a Time Out. And just moments later Benetti scored the Game Winner for Asiago and also fixed the 2:0-lead in the series for his team in a Power Play in minute 65.

 

SKY Alps Hockey League, 2. Quarterfinal (best of five):
Sat, 04.03.2017: EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau – HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 3:4 (1:2,1:0,1:2)
Referees: GAMPER, RUETZ; spectators: 1.621
Goals EHC: Vala (9. – Stefan, Wiedmaier) Zorec (29./pp2 – Auer, Gricinskis), Winzig (47./pp – Wilfan, Wiedmaier)
Goals JES: Ankerst (4./pp – Pance, DiCasmirro; 45. - Rajsar), DiCasmirro (14./pp – Sotlar, Pance), Manfreda (56./pp – Jeklic, Berlisk)
Standing Best-of-5-Serie, JES – EHC: 2:0
Sat, 04.03.2017: FBI VEU Feldkirch – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 3:4 n.V. (1:2,1:1,1:0,0:1)
Referees: BULOVEC, PODLESNIK; spectators: 1.453
Goals VEU: Fekete (11. – Parks, Riener), Mairitsch (36. – Harand), D. Winzig (44./ - C. Draschkowitz)
Goals ASH: DalSasso (2. – Marchetti), Benetti (20. – M. Sullivan, Kolanos, 65. – Marchetti, Kolanos), Nigro
Standing Best of five Serie, ASH - VEU: 2:0
Sat, 04.03.2017: S. G. Cortina - HC Pustertal Wölfe 4:3 (0:1; 3:0; 1:2)
Referees: STERNAT, VIRTA, Giacomozzi, Krausz
Goals Cortina: 1:1 Brace (25./PP1/Torquato-De Biasio); 2:1 Moser (29./Caletti-N.Fontanive); 3:1 Moser (31./N.Fontanive-De Biasio); 4:3 N.Fontanive (59./Moser.-Torquato);
Goals HC Pustertal: 0:1 Oberrauch (18./PP1/Wiebe-Hofer); 3:2 Erlacher (56./Elliscasis-Oberrauch); 3:3 Hofer (59./EA/Oberrauch-Hofer);
Standing Best of five Serie: PUS  - SGC: 0:2
Sat, 04.03.2017: HC Neumarkt Riwega – Rittner Buam 3:4 (2:3; 0:0; 1:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, WIDMANN, Bärnthaler, Cristeli
Goals Neumarkt: 1:2 Muzik (16./M.Peiti-Nedved); 2:3 Wieser (19./PP1/Muzik-Willeit); 3:4 Muzik (58./EA/Willeit-Gaspar);
Goals Rittner Buam: 0:1 Tudin (1./PP1/Hofer-Ebner); 0:2 Frei (14./Sprukts); 1:3 Tudin (18./T.Spinell-Borgatello); 2:4 O. Ahlström (48./PP2/Borgatello-Frei);
Standing Best-of-five-Serie, RIT – HCN: 2:0

Picture: Max Pattis