Release from 21.02.2020
On Friday leader EC Red Bull Salzburg lost to HC Bolzano for their first defeat in Pick Round. New EC-KAC goalie Jhonas Enroth had a winning debut against Graz. While the leading duo of Qualification Round - Linz and Villach - got wins, Innsbruck kept their playoff hopes alive.
HC Bolzano extended their winning-streak to five when beating Salzburg 3:1 on Friday night. After Michael Schiechl scored the lone goal in the first period, Marco Insam scored the equalizer in the second. A power play goal from Hargrove led Bolzano to winning ways, Jamie Arniel made the game safe with an empty netter. The foxes, who are just two points behind the leader, came much closer for the second CHL ticket. In the second Pick Round game of the day Klagenfurt earned a 5:2 road win in Graz. New arrival Jhonas Enroth received the first goal against after just four minutes but the visitors turned the game until the end of the first. With Obersteiner and Koch both scoring a brace, the reigning champions ended their losing streak.
In Qualification Round Liwest Black Wings Linz took over at top. Despite trailing twice against Dornbirn, the Upper Austrians earned a well-deserved 5:3 home win with Hunter Fejes and Brian Lebler both scoring two goals. Villach came back from a one-goal deficit against Znojmo in the third with Pöyhönen forcing overtime. The extra session was a mere 26 seconds when Chris Collins found the back of the net for a 2:1 home win. Despite dropping to second place, the Carinthians made a big step towards playoffs. In addition, Innsbruck kept their hopes for postseason alive as they drew level on points with third-placed Znojmo. The Tirolese beat Fehervar 5:2 on home ice.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 7th Pick Round:
Fri, 21.02.2020, 19:15: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC 2:5 (1:2, 0:1, 1:2)
Referees: GRUBER, STERNAT, Nagy, Soos; 3.838 spectators
Goals Graz: 1:0 Hillding (4.), 2:3 Dodero (47.)
Goals Klagenfurt: 1:1 Hundertpfund (16.), 1:2 Obersteiner (18.), 1:3 Koch (29./PP), 2:4 Obersteiner (51./PP), 2:5 Koch (54.)
Fri, 21.02.2020, 19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:1 (0:1, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, STOLC, Basso, Pardatscher; 3.380 spectators
Goals Bolzano: Insam (31.), Hargrove (53./PP), Arniel (60./EN)
Goal Salzburg: Schiechl (13.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 7th Qualification Round:
Fri, 21.02.2020, 19:15: HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie“ – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 5:2 (1:0, 3:1, 1:1)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SCHUTZ, Schauer, Tschrepitsch; 2.000 spectators
Goals Innsbruck: Herbert (17., 29.), Lammers (34./pp), Zajc (39.), Broda (47./pp)
Goals Fehervar: Sarauer (30.), Erdely (41./pp).
Fri, 21.02.2020, 19:15: EC Panaceo VSV – HC Orli Znojmo 2:1 n.V. (0:0, 0:1, 1:0, 1:0)
Referees: PEARCE (CAN), ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Seewald 2.826 spectators
Goals Villach: Pöyhönen (44./PP), Collins (61.)
Goal Znojmo: Svoboda (34.)
Fri, 21.02.2020, 19:15: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – Dornbirn Bulldogs 5:3 (1:2, 2:0, 2:1)
Referees: OFNER, SMETANA, Bedynek, Gatol; 4.810 spectators
Goals Linz: 1:1 Lebler (16.), 2:2 Fejes (21.), 3:2 Schofield (38.), 4:2 Lebler (45.), 5:2 Fejes (48./SH)
Goals Dornbirn: 0:1 Antonitsch (8.), 1:2 Antonitsch (16.), 5:3 Macierzynski (60.);