Release from 04.03.2018
Vienna Capitals have won the Pick Round, EC Red Bull Salzburg has successfully qualified for the Champions Hockey League 2018/19 and HCB Südtirol Alperia grabbed the last Playoff ticket on Sunday. On Friday will start the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Playoffs.
Vienna Capitals beat and picked Innsbruck
Patrick Peter netted an early lead for the Vienna Capitals with the first chance of the game. The Sharks stayed unimpressed and responded with a good opportunity from Tyler Spurgeon. The goals were scored on the other side: Jerry Pollastrone (after a big mistake in the HCI-defense) and Peter Schneider (with a rebound) added first period goals to give the Champion a 3:0 lead heading into the first intermission. The Sharks could not produce much offense. Patrick Nechvatal filled in for Rene Swette in the Sharks net in period 2. The Vienna Capitals continued to have the upper hand of the game. Pollastrone made it 4:0 from a counter, while the Tyroleans had just few chances. The Caps controlled the game now. The Sharks showed character in the last period and could score their first goals from Mitch Wahl in a Power Play. The Caps stayed inimpressed. Pollastrone made it 5:1. The two teams will face each other in the Quarterfinals as well.
Fehervar AV19 won their last game of the season in Graz
Fehervar AV19 had the better start into the game in Graz. Olivier Latendresse got the Devils on the scoreboard first (5.). The Hungarians were applying pressure on the Sytrians, but without success even in some Power Plays. The 99ers adjusted better to the game after the restart. Fehervar AV19 played too defensively and this was punished by the Styrians: Daniel Oberkofler netted the puck into the upper corner. The guests responded with more offense in the last period. Janos Hari grapped the lead for his team again. Fehervar AV19 won in Graz 2:1 and settled on place 9. The Styrians finished the season on the last place.
Red Bulls have successfully qualified for the Champions Hockey League
Nick St. Pierre gave Klagenfurt an early lead in Salzburg after just 51 seconds. The game was fast played and both teams had chances. Peter Hochkofler just hit the post. Moments later, Alexander Rauchenwald tied the game after a great pass from Captain Thomas Raffl. Salzburg took the momentum into period 2. Alexander Pallestrang turned the game with a deflected shot. Klagenfurt stayed unmpressed and responded quickly: Andrew Kozek netted the 2:2 from a counter. Afterwards, the Red Jackets had few good chances, but they could not take advantage of Salzburgs defensive mistakes. The Red Bulls were the chief on the ice in the third period: The hosts had several chances to decide the game. Hughes and Brouillette hit the post. Salzburg won the game in Shoot Out: Mueller and Herburger netted goals for Salzburg. The Red Bulls have successfully qualified as the second Erste Bank Eishockey Liga club for the Champions Hockey League 2018/19. Salzburg will face Dornbirn in the EBELPlayoffs, Klagenfurt will meet Bozen.
Bulldogs are ready for the Playoffs
Villach was already out of the Playoff race. The Eagles arrived with just 18 players in Dornbirn. Brodie Reid opened the scoring in minute 8. The guests played well too, goalie Thomas Stroj had to stop some pucks as well. The Bulldogs applied pressure on the guests in period 2 and they quickly added two goals: Brian Connelly made it 2:0 with a shot from the blue line (25.) and just three minutes later Matt Fraser scored the 3:0 into the open net after a shot from Mike Caruso. The west-Austrians continued to search their luck in the offense: Ziga Pance came close to score the 4:0, but he just hit the post. Dustin Sylvester (40.) and Daniel Ban (42.) gave their team a 5:0-lead. The guests did not give up and were rewarded with a goal from Maxa. Dornbirn won 5:1 and will face EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Quarterfinale. For Villach this season has ended in Dornbirn.
Medvescak won Playoff-test in Linz
EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz dominated the game, but KHL Medvescak Zagreb scored the goals: Michael Boivin netted the 1:0 from a sharp angel. Mikko Lehtonen made it 2:0 with a skilled goal from the slot. The Bears missed to extend their lead in a 5-on-3-Power Play. The Black Wings applied pressure on the guests in period 2 as well, but goalie Kevin Carr allowed no goal. Boivin netted the 3:0 from a counter. The Austrians could not score from a 5-on-3 Power Play as well. But then, Corey Locke was free in the slot and got the Upper Austrians on the scoreboard - 1:3. Jonathan D’Aversa scored the 2:3 with a big shot after a pass from Corey Locke (45.). Medvescak was forced to play defensively. Kevin Carr allowed no goal anymore and so the Bears won in Linz 3:2. The two teams will face each other in the quarterfinals again.
Bozen grabbed the last Playoff ticket
There were early chances in the game. Cip, Zajc with a deflectioon and Spacek gave HC Orli Znojmo a 3:0-lead in Bozen after period 1. The Foxes responded with three goals from Monardo from a sharp angel, Frank and Egger (slapshot) after applying much pressure on the guests. Znojmo had just three chances from Zajic, Csamango and Cip in priod 2, which were stopped by Tuokkola. There was no goal in period 3. That meaned, Bozen has successfully qualified as the eight and last team for the Playoffs. Mike Halmo was the only goal-scorer in the Shoot Out and fixed the win for the Italians. While Znojmo settled on place 10, Bozen will face EC-KAC in the Quarterfinals.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Qualification Round:
Su, 04.03.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia – HC Orli Znojmo 4:3/SO (0:3,3:0,0:0,0:0,1:0)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, TRILAR; spectators: 4.350
Goals: 14:05 Radek Cip (0:1) – 18:46 Josef Zajic (0:2) – 19:10 Marek Spacek (0:3) – 27:34 Dominic Monardo (1:3) – 34:04 Daniel Frank (2:3) – 39:19 Alexander Egger (3:3) – 65:00 PS Mike Halmo (4:3)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Pick Round:
Sun, 4.3.2018: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – KHL Medvescak Zagreb 2:3 (0:2, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: KELLNER, TRNIC; spectators: 4.865
Goals Linz: Hofer (40.), D'Aversa (45.)
Goals Zagreb: Boivin (3., 34.), Lehtonen (13.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Pick Round:
Sun, 04.03.2018: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC-KAC 3:2 n.P. (1:1,1:1,0:0,0:0,1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER/SMETANA, 2.800 spectators;
Goals RBS: Rauchenwald (10.), Pallestrang (24.), Herburger (65./entsch. Pen.)
Goals KAC: St. Pierre (1.), Kozek (28.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Qualification Round:
Sun, 04.03.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs – EC VSV 5:1 (1:0, 3:0, 1:1)
Referees: OFNER, STOLC; 2.140 spectators
Goals DEC: 1:0 Reid (8.), 2:0 Connelly (25.), 3:0 Fraser (28.), 4:0 Sylvester (40.), 5:0 Ban (42.)
Goal VSV: 5:1 Maxa (49.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Qualification Round:
Sun, 04.03.2018: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. Fehervar AV19 1:2 (0:1,1:0,0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT; spectators: 1.357
Goal G99: Oberkofler (39.)
Goal AVS: Latendresse (5.), Hari (48.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Pick Round:
Sun, 04.03.2018: Vienna Capitals – HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" 5:1 (3:0,1:0,1:1)
Referees: LEMELIN, K. NIKOLIC; spectators: 4.200
Goals VIC: Peter (1.), Pollastrone (11., 25., 55./pp), Schneider (13.)
Goal HCI: Wahl (42./pp).