Bolzano with shootout win in Klagenfurt

In an evenly-matched and low-scoring top match between the EC-KAC and HCB Südtirol Alperia, the visitors came out on top by a very narrow 1:0 after shootout. Matt Bradley was the only player to convert his penalty. It was only the third game this season in which no goal was scored in regulation time. In the end, Sam Harvey was delighted with his second shutout in a row. The South Tyroleans had already beaten Salzburg 2-0 at home on Wednesday. This defeat ended an impressive home streak for the KAC: It was their first home defeat since November 15, after nine home games without losing a point. Bolzano thus overtook Klagenfurt in the table. With 76 points, the new runners-up are now one point ahead of the KAC.

Schneider hat-trick in Salzburg's win in Villach
Peter Schneider shone in EC Red Bull Salzburg's 5:3 away win against EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. The 33-year-old scored a brace within just eight seconds in the first period. He also made it 5:2 with an empty-net goal. It was the forward's first hat-trick since October 15, 2023. The fourth-placed team added two more goals in the second period. However, the home side almost got back into the game in the final minutes. First, Kevin Hancock reduced the deficit to 1:4 in the 51st minute and Maximilian Rebernig even made it 2:4 with four minutes remaining. But then came Peter Schneider, who made everything clear with his third goal. The final goal was scored by Guus van Nees in the last minute of the game. It was Villach's fourth defeat in the last five games and their first loss of the season against Salzburg in their third encounter. The “Eagles” remain seventh in the table, two points behind sixth-placed Linz, who were not in action on Friday.

Fehérvár turns game around in the final period
Leader Hydro Fehérvár AV19 narrowly won 3:2 at home against the Pioneers Vorarlberg. The visitors from Vorarlberg were still leading 2:1 after 40 minutes. However, the Hungarians turned up the heat in the final period: Cameron Gaunce scored first to equalize in the 52nd minute and Trevor Cheek scored the winning goal in the 58th minute. Fehérvár thus celebrated their fourth home win in a row. The Hungarians are now two points ahead of their closest rivals Bolzano in the table. For the Pioneers, the first away defeat after four away wins in a row was particularly bitter. As Vienna picked up three points at the same time, the Vorarlberg team is now ten points behind the Capitals. The Pioneers visit the Austrian capital tomorrow (Saturday) and are therefore under pressure.

Next big win for Vienna against Innsbruck
The spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated a clear 8:2 home win against HC TIWAG Innsbruck and thus collected important points in the battle for the pre-playoffs. In the first meeting with the Tyroleans at the STEFFL Arena, the Capitals even won 10-0. This Friday, the Viennese were already 3:0 ahead after 20 minutes. They scored the remaining five goals in the second period. Leon Wallner and Willie Raskob each scored a brace. It was the ninth defeat in the last ten games for Innsbruck, who slipped to the bottom of the table.

Asiago end losing streak
After 16 defeats in a row, Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey were finally able to celebrate a win again. The new twelfth-placed team in the table came away with a surprisingly clear 5:1 win against HC Pustertal. Asiago were already 3:0 ahead after 15 minutes. Pustertal, which suffered its second defeat in a row, scored the only goal in the 31st minute. However, the South Tyroleans remain in ninth place in the table. Matteo Gennaro scored the last two goals of the game (39., 47.).

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Friday, 17.01.2025:
spusu Vienna Capitals – HC TIWAG Innsbruck 8:2 (3:0, 5:1, 0:1)
Referees: NAGY, SIEGEL, Gatol-Schafranek, Wimmler. | Spectators: 4.860
Goals VIC: 1:0 Theirich M. (8.), 2:0 Wallner L. (9.), 3:0 Raskob W. (20.), 4:0 Gregoire J. (21.), 5:0 Wallner L. (24.), 6:0 Cramarossa J. (25./PP1), 7:0 Raskob W. (27.), 8:1 Donohue S. (40./PP1)
Goals HCI: 7:1 Mader T. (33.), 8:2 Grasso P. (47.)

EC-KAC – HCB Südtirol Alperia 0:1/SO (0:0, 0:0, 0:0, 0:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Bedynek, Riecken. | Spectators: 4.253
Goal HCB: 0:1/So Bradley M. (65./PS)

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:5 (0:2, 0:2, 3:1)
Referees: GROZNIK, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Zgonc. | Spectators: 3.455
Goals VSV: 1:4 Hancock C. (51./PP1), 2:4 Rebernig M. (57.), 3:5 van Nes G. (60.)
Goals RBS: 0:1 Schneider P. (14.), 0:2 Schneider P. (15.), 0:3 Auer L. (23.), 0:4 Krening P. (38.), 2:5 Schneider P. (59./EN)

Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – Pioneers Vorarlberg 3:2 (0:1, 1:1, 2:0)
Referees: OFNER, SEEWALD E., Muzsik, Vaczi. | Spectators: 3.542
Goals AVS: 1:1 Hari J. (34.), 2:2 Gaunce C. (52./PP1), 3:2 Cheek T. (58.)
Goals PIV: 0:1 Keefer D. (7./PP1), 1:2 Woger D. (35.)

Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HC Pustertal 5:1 (3:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: SCHAUER, STERNAT, Pardatscher, Rigoni. | Spectators: 1.719
Goals ASH: 1:0 Turnbull C. (9.), 2:0 Cairns M. (13.), 3:0 Kaspick T. (15.), 4:1 Gennaro M. (39.), 5:1 Gennaro M. (47.)
Goal HCP: 3:1 Coulter T. (31.)