BOLZANO AND VILLACH EQUALIZE

VSV SUCCEEDS IN DERBY AND EQUALIZES THE SERIES
The EC Grand Immo VSV managed to equalize the series in the Carinthian derby in the "best-of-seven" quarterfinals of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. After the „Eagles“ lost on Friday clearly with 1:5, the hosts started on Sunday much more focused in the game. Between the posts of Villach Alexander Schmidt made his playoff debut as starter. First Scott Kosmachuk (VSV) was unstoppable and made it 1:0 in the second minute. Less than three minutes later, the „Eagles“ scored again. Jason Caron set up Sahir Gill, who, like Kosmachuk earlier, was able to celebrate his first ICE playoff goal. But the KAC had the right answer: A double strike by Steven Strong and Lukas Haudum brought the 2:2 equalizer after just under ten minutes. But again it were the hosts who were able to go ahead. Jamie Fraser made it 3:2 after the first 20 minutes. The „Eagles“ were also more successful in the middle period. Martin Ulmer, who was the only VSV player to score in the first game, restored the two-goal advantage. A little more than a minute before the second intermission, Thomas Hundertpfund scored for Klagenfurt. However, Villach remained the more dangerous team in the final period. Jason Caron - in powerplay - and Jamie Fraser - via Empty-Netter - made the final score of 6:3. For the Villach team, this was the second derby win of the current season.



BOZEN ARRIVED IN THE QUARTERFINAL SERIES
The HCB Südtirol Alperia showed a reaction to the bad start with the 1:2 defeat - and equalized with a clear 7:2 away win at the iClinic Bratislava Capitals in the "best-of-7" series. Five goals within eight and a half minutes in the middle period brought the decision and the turnaround: As in the first duel, Bratislava won the first period thanks to a goal by Maxime Fortier (19./PP1). But then the offense of the "Foxes" rolled: Anthony Bardaro (24.) equalized. Findlay, Insam, Catenacci and Plastino added to the lead and in the 32nd minute the visitors from South Tyrol were 5:1 ahead thanks to a perfect exploitation of their chances. Mitch Hults (36.) reduced the deficit before Bardaro scored a brace and set a new record - never before since the league was founded a team has scored more than five goals in a playoff period. The South Tyroleans prevailed with 7:2 and therefore equalized the series.



VIENNA CONFIRMS OPENING WIN
The spusu Vienna Capitals won also the second game in the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series against Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The two-time champions won with 3:2 away from home. As on Friday in Vienna, the two teams showed an intense game - which saw the first goal late in the opening period: Quick counterattack via Benjamin Nissner, who passed to Ty Loney at the right face-off circle (20.) and he scored eleven seconds before the first intermission. For Loney it was already the third playoff goal 20/21. In the middle period, the - for long periods equal - home team equalized through Janos Hari (29.). But the Viennese answered immediately: Darren Archibald (30./PP1) scored from the left face-off circle into the far corner in the power play. And then the Caps struck again shortly before the siren - this time with 17 seconds left on the clock: Benjamin Nissner (40./PP1) scored from the slot. Fehérvár did not let up in the final period: Bence Stipsicz (45./PP1) hammered the puck into the net from distance to get one back. Then the Hungarians were clearly better, but finally failed due to an good Vienna defense and Bernhard Starkbaum (92%).



DORNBIRN PUTS SALZBURG UNDER PRESSURE
The Dornbirn Bulldogs won the second game of the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series against the favored EC Red Bull Salzburg. While only two goals were scored in the first meeting, nine were scored on Sunday. The hosts from the „Ländle“ had a lightning start: A little more than a minute after the face-off, Saku Salmela put his team in front with 1:0. Kevin Macierzynski and Henrik Nilsson increased the lead to 3:0 by the eighth minute. Salzburg went empty-handed for the fourth consecutive period in this quarterfinal series as well. From the second period on, Jesper Eliasson replaced J.P. Lamoureux in the goal of Salzburg. But he received a goal shortly after his substitution. Then Salzburg was able to score for the first time in the 2021 postseason. In the final period Alexander Rauchenwald brought the Red Bulls back into the game with the 2:4. However, the Bulldogs acted much more efficiently on this evening and eventually prevailed with 6:3. Even in total two goals of Mario Huber could not prevent the defeat of the Salzburger side. This is the second time since 2014 that the Dornbirn Bulldogs have led a quarterfinal series against the EC Red Bull Salzburg with 2:0. At that time, however, the Vorarlberger team lost in the end with 2:4.



BET-AT-HOME ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE | QUARTERFINAL 2 | SUNDAY MARCH 14th 2021:

HYDRO FEHÉRVÁR AV19 - SPUSU VIENNA CAPITALS 2:3 (0:1, 1:2, 1:0)
Referees: OFNER, PIRAGIC, Gatol, Hribar
Standings in the “best-of-7”-Quarterfinal series: 0:2
Goals AVS: Hari (29.), Stipsicz (45./PP1)
Goals VIC: Loney (20.), Archibald (30./PP1), Nissner (40./PP1)

EC GRAND IMMO VSV - EC-KAC 6:3 (3:2, 1:1, 2:0)
Referees: SIEGEL, ZRNIC, Riecken, Seewald
Standings in the “best-of-7”-Quarterfinal series: 1:1
Goals VSV: Kosmachuk (2.), Gill (5.), Fraser (13., 60./EN), Ulmer (29.), Caron (52./PP1)
Goals KAC: Strong (7.), Haudum (10.), Hundertpfund (39./PP1)

DORNBIRN BULLDOGS - EC RED BULL SALZBURG 6:3 (3:0,1:1,2:2)
Referees: FICHTNER, K. NIKOLIC, Kontschieder, Nothegger
Standings in the “best-of-7”-Quarterfinal series: 1:0
Goals DEC: Salmela (2.), Mackenzie (7.), Nilsson (8., 57.), Woger (24./PP1), Luciani (50.),
Goal RBS: Huber M. (28./PP1, 59./sh1), Rauchenwald (49./pp1),

ICLINIC BRATISLAVA CAPITALS - HCB SÜDTIROL ALPERIA 2:7 (1:0,1:6,0:1)
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Konc, Zgonc
SStandings in the “best-of-7”-Quarterfinal series: 1:1
Goal BRC: Fortier (19./PP1), Hults (36.)
Goals HCB: Bardaro (24., 38.), Findlay (25.), Insam (27.), Catenacci (32./PP1), Plastino (32., 42.)