Bozen, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg and Wien had reasons to celebrate

In a very even first period, the home team got two early powerplay opportunities, but failed to convert. Salzburg was the more dangerous team early on, Brouillette hitting a bar from tight angle and Winkler being denied by goalie Marek Schwarz. However, when Raffl and Stajnoch were both assigned minor penalties Znojmo converted the 2-man advantage thanks to Erik Nemec and his rebound.Tomas Plihal could extend Znojmo´s lead early in the second period, hitting a post on a breakaway. Salzburg then converted their first powerplay of the game thanks to Thomas Raffl and his shot into the top corner from the slot. Home side regained the lead three minutes later when Plihal eventually celebrated his first goal of the season, converting Yellow Horn´s pass on a powerplay. Nemec had a good chance to extend his side´s lead on a quick breakaway, but fired over the net and on a counterattack, Julien Brouillette equalized. Eagles regained their lead midway through the third period thanks to Radek Cip and his shot between Starkbaum´s pads. But Salzburg had Brouillete and he managed to get on the scoresheet again, this time also from the slot to make it 3:3. The game went into overtime and Red Bull snatched the second point on a quick counter attacking play converted by Brent Harris.

 

EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz had a great start into the persectur-clash, the Upper Austrains scored three goals in the first 199 seconds! Corey Locke, Rick Schofield and Brian Lebler were successful. Klagenfurts Head Coach Steve Walker reacted and changed his goalie: David Madlener replaced Tomas Duba. The „Red Jackets“ were shocked after their bad start and the Upper Austrians the dominating team in the first ten minutes. EC-KAC then got a Power Play and quickly took advantage: After a shot from Kevin Kapstad, Thomas Hundertpfund scored from the rebound (14.). Now the Carinthians got an extra boost and got more and more dangerous. The guests took the momentum into period 2. In minute 28 Marco Richter finally made the second goal for EC-KAC, he scored from a short distance. The Black Wings now also took some penalties, but Klagenfurt couldn‘t take advantage from the Power Plays. The best chance to equalize had Manuel Ganahl, but his shot missed the net barely. In the last period both teams had their opportunities, especially in Power Play they threathened several times. Finally two minutes before the end Joel Broda decided the game, he beat goalie David Madlener with a shot from the distance – 4:2.

 

Samson Mahbod opened the game at Vienna with a shot on the crossbar. This was a quick wake-up call for the Vienna Capitals. The Champion answered with pressure and threatened with early chances from Peter Schneider (4.), Taylor Vause after a quick combination (7.) or Rafael Rotter (8.). Also the Bears had their chances and tested goalie JP Lamoureux. A goal from Niki Hartl was not allowed by the referees, because of high sticking (13.). Poulin then also stopped Vause and Tessier from scoring and so the result remaind 0:0 after 20 minutes. The Caps started period 2 on a  Power Play, but Rafael Rotter and Riley Holzapfel missed good chances. Vienna had the game under control, but suddenly Medvescak had the big chance to take the lead: Tero Koskiranta was free infront of JP Lamoureux, but the Caps-goalie was not to beat. On the other side Vienna scored: Rotter was successful from the slot. The Leader continued to make pressure, Andreas Nödl (27.), Schneider (28.) and Tessier (30.) failed to extend the lead. But the next goal was just a question of time: In minute 34 Rotter scored in a Power Play and the score was 2:0. In period 3 Vienna defended their lead easily. The Champion could have scored even more goals, but Poulin was not to beat anymore from Hartl or Jerry Pollastrone. Goalie JP Lamoureux is unbeaten for already 188 minutes now.

 

HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ started with confidence into their home-game against the Moser Medical Graz99ers after two wins in a row. The Sharks had the upper hand of the game and also more chances. The 99ers became dangerous especially in two Power Plays, but Patrik Nechvatal was not to beat. Innsbruck took the lead late in the first period. After chances from Andrew Clark, Mitch Wahl and Morten Poulsen, Andrew Yogan finally defected a shot from Jeremie Blain. The Tyroleans took the momentum into the second period. In a Power Play Tyler Spurgeon extended the lead – 2:0. But the Styrians had a quick answer, Oliver Setzinger scored the 1:2 from a counter-attack. The Sharks stayed unimpressed and were the better team on the ice: At halftime Benedikt Schennach scored from the face-off - 3:1. Innsbruck was the chief on the ice now, but suddenly Carlsson made the 2:3 with a copert shot. Early in the third period Yogan, Sedivy and Wahl missed to decide the game. The Tyroleans then also took some penalties, which ended in a 5-on-3-situation for the Graz99ers. The 99ers missed this great chance. Returning from the penalty box, Tyler Spurgeon started a solo. He was stopped with a foul and scored the 4:2 from the following Penaltyshot (49.) .The  99ers had no answer anymore, Ondrej Sedivy even made the 5:2 into the empty net.

 

HCB Südtirol Alperia had a good start into their home-game against EC VSV: After a shot from Halmo, Chris DeSousa scored from the rebound. The Foxes tried to extend their lead quickly, but Villach answered in a Power Play: Rob Flick send the puck into the net (12.). Then the game was more equal played, Petan missed the net and on the other side Beach could not score after a quick counter-attack. The Italians started period 2 on a Power Play, but Oleksuk missed two good scoring-chances. In minute 22 Villach suddenly had a 3-on-0-situation, but could not beat goalie Pekka Tuokkola. The game went up and down now, but the score stayed unchanged. In period 3 both teams took care on their defense first. Tuokkola stopped a shot from Flick with his helmet. Both teams also couldn‘t score from two Power Plays anymore and so the game went into an Overtime, where DeSousa scored the Game Winner for Bozen.

 

Fri, 08.12.2017: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC VSV 2:1/OT (1:1 – 0:0 – 0:0 – 1:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, K. NIKOLIC; spectator: 2.700
Goals HCB: Chris DeSousa (5., 64.)
Goal VSV: Robert Flick (12./pp).

Fri, 08.12.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" – Moser Medical Graz99ers 5:2 (1:0,2:2, 2:0)
Referees: GRUBER, SCHUTZ, spectators: 2.200
Goals HCI: Yogan (20.), Spurgeon (22./pp, 49./Penalty), Schennach (30.), Sedivy (58./en).
Goals G99: Setzinger (26.), Carlsson (37.).

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, round 15:
Fri, 08.12.2017: Vienna Capitals – KHL Medvescak Zagreb 2:0 (0:0, 2:0, 0:0)
Referees: HOFFARD, LEMELIN; spectators: 4.310
Goals VIC: Rafael Rotter (26., 34. Min., PP1)

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, round 26:
Fri, 08.12.2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – EC-KAC 4:2 (3:1,0:1,1:0)
Referees: KELLNER, M. NIKOLIC; spectators: 4.865
Goals Linz: Locke (2.), Schofield (4.), Lebler (4.), Broda (59.)
Goals Klagenfurt: Hundertpfund (14./pp), Richter (28.)

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, round 26:
Fri, 08.12.2017: HC Orli Znojmo – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:4/0T (1:0,1:2,1:1,0:1)
Referees: KONC, SIEGEL; spectators: 2404
Goals ZNO: Nemec (18./pp2), Plihal (30./pp), Cip (50.)
Goals RBS: Raffl (27./pp), Brouillette (35., 54.), Harris (63.)