Release from 02.04.2018
HC Bolzano made history in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga again. With their fourth successive win, the foxes dethroned Vienna Capitals and are the first ever No. 8 seeded team that makes it to finals. In the second semifinal EC Red Bull Salzburg got another home win beating Liwest Black Wings Linz in overtime.
Bolzano goes through to finals
The Caps came out hard and after missing some good chances, it was Ryan McKiernan who opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Soon later Matias Sointu only hit the post, though. The visitors became stronger in the middle frame and Dominic Monardo scored the early equalizer after a JP Lamoureux mistake. The Caps had the better of the play but Bolzano turned it around on the break when Luca Frgo lit the lamp from sharp angle. With missing Holzapfel and Rotter, Vienna missed some offensive punch but they tried hard to come back in the third. The guests always tried to hit their opponents on the break but Lamoureux made a good save on Sointu. The Caps could not score again in the last game of Serge Aubin and Craig Streu as Bolzano went through to finals.
Red Bulls retake series lead
Salzburg's Huber and Winkler failed to score early while Linz did better. Fabio Hofer (8') made the breakthrough on a great solo attempt and the Red Bulls looked a bit worried now. Late in the opening period they tied it, though, when Brant Harris netted after a defensive mistake by Shane O'Brien. After the restart Schofield's shot went wide and then later Linz had to play shorthanded. Despite being one man down, Jonathan D'Aversa fired it home to restore the lead. Joy was short-lived, though, as Ryan Duncan equalized soon later. Things changed when John Hughes found the back of the net for a first Salzburg lead but DaSilva tied it at three on power play. In further consequence the visitors missed some man advantages and the score remained tied. In the third no more goals were scored with both missing one golden chance. In overtime Corey Locke received a deciding penalty with Rob Schremp scoring the game winner off a great pass from Peter Mueller.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, semifinals 5:
Mon, 02.04.2018: Vienna Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia 1:2 (1:0, 0:2, 0:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Hribar, Nemeth; 5.150 spectators
Goal Capitals: McKiernan (17.)
Goals Bozen: Monardo (23.), Frigo (34.)
Final score in the "best of seven" series, VIC-HCB: 1:4
Mon, 02.04.2018: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz 4:3 OT (1:1,2:2,0:0,1:0)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC/STOLC, 3.400 spectators
Goals RBS: Harris (16.), Duncan (26.), Hughes (30.), Schremp (77./pp)
Goals EHL: Hofer (8.), D’Aversa (25./sh), DaSilva (35.)
Score in the "best of seven" series, RBS – EHL: 3:2