Release from 09.03.2020
The Liwest Black Wings Linz and the HCB Südtirol Alperia conquered four match pucks after victories in the third quarter final. The EC-KAC as well as the HC Orli Znojmo started a race to catch up, but still could not make up for it in their series. Both the EC Red Bull Salzburg and the spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated home victories and took a 2:1 lead in the "Best-Of-Seven" quarterfinal series.
Red Bulls take series lead with Lamoureux shutout
After two away victories at the beginning of the series, EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated a 4-0 victory against EC Panaceo VSV on Sunday in front of their home crowd. Neither team was able to capitalize on two powerplays each. Although the guests survived the Salzburgers' initial pressure, the Red Bulls took the lead in the 19th minute: Florian Baltram deflected a Viveiros shot decisively. In the game's fifth power play, Salzburg extended it to 2-0, VSV goalkeeper Brandon Maxwell could only bounce a Kolarik shot and Mario Huber scored on the rebound - the forward's first goal after 16 games without scoring. The Carinthians were denied a follow-up goal shortly afterwards, a Schmidt shot only hit the post. VIllach forced their attacking efforts in the final period, but failed again and again. Peter Hochkofler made the final decision in the 58th minute and Michael Schiechl added an Empty Netter. With the 37th shutout of JP Lamoureux in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, the hosts took the lead in the "best-of-seven" series for the first time.
Black Wings capture four Match-Pucks
The Liwest Black Wings Linz also won the third quarterfinal game and captured no less than four "match pucks" on their way to the semifinals. The EC KAC survived the initial phase playing shorthanded then put a lot of pressure on the defense of the Linz and Jeff Glass. Andrew Kozek missed another big chance for the KAC in the five against five. In immediate return, the Linz team acted more efficiently, as they did throughout the series. Jhonas Enroth, who got the advantage over David Madlener in the third quarterfinal, could still fend off a shot from Raphael Wolf. But Rick Schofield stood perfectly and put the Linz team in the lead. So far the Linz team has scored the first goal in all quarter-final matches. The Black Wings remained the more efficient team in the first period. While Glass kept the box clean, Marco Brucker had the advantage and scored 2-0. The Klagenfurt team pressed for the lead, but still struggled with scoring efficiency. The Linz team remained the more successful team in the second section. Brian Lebler was in the majority to 3:0 - for the Black Wings striker this was already the 16th scorer point in the last ten games. But this time KAC had the right answer. Andrew Kozek brought his team back into the game in the middle of the third period by scoring the 1:3. The team from Klagenfurt could take the momentum into the final section. Once again Kozek reacted fastest in front of the Linz goal and scored the follow-up goal. However, the final offensive of the Carinthians remained unrewarded. The Black Wings' goalkeeper distinguished himself several times and gave the Linz team a 3-0 lead in the series. The KAC remains without victory in home games against Linz this season and is now in the series under pressure.
Caps turn game in Graz for the series lead
The spusu Vienna Capitals captured the 2:1 series lead with a strong finish in the third quarter. The Moser Medical Graz99ers gave up a 1-0 lead in the final period and finally had to accept a 2:3 defeat in the second away game. The hosts started the match powerful but couldn’t overcome Christopher Nihlstorp. Also two powerplays remained unused by the hosts. The 99ers found their way into the game better in the second period and also acted more successfully than the Caps. Daniel Oberkofler brought the 99ers into the lead after assist by Joakim Hillding. The Viennese had a great chance to equalize per penaltyshot a little later - but Nihlstorp remained the winner in a direct duel against Riley Holzapfel. In the final period the puck landed twice within a few minutes in the goal of the Graz team - but both times the goal was not given already on the ice. In the third attempt it worked out for Caps: Marc-Andre Dorion scored the 1-1 in power-play. The spusu Vienna Capitals' defender took it one step further and scored his first double of the season for the lead of the Caps. Spurred on by the quick lead, Ty Loney added a goal. The 99ers started a final offensive and shortened seconds before the end in the person of Lukas Kainz. However, the Styrians didn’t have time anymore to force the overtime. At the score of 2:1 from the Viennese point of view, the series switches back to Graz next Tuesday.
Bolzano earns another win against Znojmo
Due to the current developments in connection with the corona virus COVID19, the home rights in the series between HCB Südtirol Alperia and HC Orli Znojmo were changed and the third quarter final match was again played in the Czech Republic. As on Friday, the Bolzano team got a good start, with Colton Hargrove taking the lead after just four minutes. After a nice single action he beat Znojmo goalie Teemu Lassila at the short corner. Hargrove was also involved in the second goal, providing the assist for Domenico Alberga, who shot in from close range. The hosts continued to look for their luck in the offensive and in the 19th minute they forgot Daniel Catenacci, who completed a breakaway to score, 3-0. After the restart Anthony Luciani got Znojmo o nthe scoreboard. Although the Czechs were now the match-determining team, Alberga restored the three-goal lead before the end of the second. In the final period, it looked for a long time as if the visitors would kill the clock succesfully. But in the closing minutes, Znojmo bounced back with a double strike within 41 seconds - Doherty and Miklis brought the tension back. But that was all it took, and Bolzano won their seventh duel of the season and secured a 3-0 lead in the series.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 3rd quarterfinals:
EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC Panaceo VSV 4:0 (1:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, SMETANA, Gatol, Seewald; 3.025 spectators
Zwischenstand in der „Best-Of-Seven“-Viertelfinalserie 2:1
Goals Salzburg: Baltram (19.), M. Huber (30.pp), Hochkofler (58.), Schiechl (59./en)
Score in the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series 2:1
EC-KAC – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz 2:3 (0:2, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc, 4.719 spectators
Zwischenstand in der „Best-Of-Seven“-Viertelfinalserie 0:3
Goals KAC: Kozek (38, 41./pp1)
Goals BWL: Schofield (10.), Brucker (13./pp1), Lebler (34./pp2)
Score in the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series 0:3
spusu Vienna Capitals – Moser Medical Graz99ers 3:2 (0:0, 0:1, 3:1)
Referees: OFNER, PEARCE, Kaspar, Nothegger, 5.350 spectators
Zwischenstand in der „Best-Of-Seven“-Viertelfinalserie 2:1
Goals VIC: Dorion (46./pp1, 50.), Loney (51.)
Goals G99: Oberkofler (22./pp1), Kainz (60.)
Score in the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series 2:1
HC Orli Znojmo - HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:4 (0:3, 1:1, 2:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Nagy, Soos; 1.900 spectators
Goals Znojmo: Luciani (25.), Doherty (57.), Miklis (58.)
Goals Bozen: Hargrove (5.), Alberga (15., 39.), Catenacci (19.)
Score in the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series 0:3