Caps and Salzburg with first points in pick round

After losing the first game of the pick round, the UPC Vienna capitals started quick like a shot. After a bit more than two minutes the Capitals leaded already with 2:0. Macgregor Sharp and Sascha Bauer scored after breakthroughs. After a timeout of the sharks they started playing how they were is used to in regular season. First Austin Smith had a big double opportunity, then John Lammers missed another good chance. In the 9th minute the sharks finally succeeded. Hunter Bishop kept cool in powerplay and scored. Now the sharks took control over the game. Innsbruck were close to tie the game, but didn’t succeed.  In the second period the Capitals came back and the fans saw a game on an equal level. Moments before the end of the last period Ferland increased to 3:1. The sharks started with high pressure into the last period and Tyler Spurgeon made the game close again with a successful penalty shot. But instead of the tie the Caps decided the game in the 48th minute. It was the last goal of the game and the Vienna Capitals won with 4:2.

 

The HCB Südtirol Alperia had already kind of pressure after the first defeat against Linz. In the beginning of the game Bozen played two times in powerplay, but couldn’t create good opportunities. The first minutes were controlled by Salzburg and Rauchenwald scored the first goal. Then Bozen took control and pressured a lot and created many chances, but the only goal for the hosts was made by Metropolit, after nice preparation work of Daniel Frank. The foxes also had a false-start into the second period – already after two minutes Kristler scored after a mistake in defense of Bozen. The Italians increased pressure now. After a few missed chances, Brodie Reid succeeded with the tie. At the start of the final period Vallernd only hit the post and also the following chances didn’t find the way into the goal. After a check to the head Metropolit got a five + 20 minute penalty. During the five minute penalty Salzburg decided the game with two goals of Raffl and Kristler. The last goal of Hughes into the empty net was the add-on.

EC-KAC started strong into the game against EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz. The Red Jackets played mostly in the offense, but goalie Mike Ouzas was not to beat for long. Finally in minute 17 Jamie Lundmark got the puck on the blue line, skated two, three steps and scored. Early in period 2 the Red Jackets extended their lead: After a pass from Lundmark from behind the net Ganahl scored volley the 2:0. The 1:2 for the Upper Austrians from Hisey was a copy of the second goal of EC-KAC. Late in the second period the Black Wings could not take advantage from a Power Play. On the other side Philipp Kreuzer made them pay with the 3:1. Klagenfurt most of the time had the upper hand of the game and even added the 4:1 from Harand in period 3. EC-KAC so won also their second game in the Pick Round.

Kalvin Sagert was back in the lineup after his injury back in November as well as Thomas Beauregard. He served the first penalty of the game, and Villach threatened many times during the five on four, Wehrs shot from the blue line and Bacher was in front of Rajna but the Hungarian goalie saved. Playing full strength, he had to save Kromp’s shot while Manavian tested Herzog on the other side. In the middle of the period he had to save Koger’s chance then Johner fouled and Fehervar got their first powerplay. Only Sofron’s shot was dangerous five on four but Fehervar kept pushing five on five as well. Maylan passed to Sofron in the middle who didn’t miss. Fehervar dominated the game as Bodo and Erdely played together and passed to Sarauer who scored from the side. 53 seconds later Koger copied Sarauer’s goal and Fehervar got into a 3-0 lead. At the end of the period Verlic scored on powerplay after Sofron fouled just 3 seconds before the buzzer. 

The second period started with Rajna saves, Locke and Mühlstein threatened. In front of Herzog’s net Brance Orban and Sárpátki tried to score. 5 minutes into the period Verlic missed the net just by centimetres. Schiestel was the next in the penalty box, and Locke passed to Bacher but he hit the post and Rajna saved the rebound. Five on five Koger tried to put the puck in the net twice but Herzog saved. The game went on fast paced and more and more physically. In the middle of the period, Sarauer missed a big chance. Bacher hit Sárpátki and he had to sit out for 2 minutes. In this powerplay Szirányi shot from the blue line but Beauregard couldn’t score, he hit the post, too. Villach had to kill another penalty after Kromp hit Rajna in front of the net, but this powerplay didn’t last long for Fehervar as Koger fouled. Just as in the first period, Villach scored before the buzzer, Verlic deflected Urbas’ shot. Just one and a half minutes into the third period, Erdely Csanad scored, shooting the puck in the upper left corner. The “Eagles” tried to answer with a goal fast but the home defense worked well. In the middle of the period Bodo passed to Erdely, who dangled in front of the net and put the puck in the empty net next to Herzog. In the upcoming minutes, Fehervar was the better team, Reisz and Brance Orban were both close to scoring but the young goalie saved. The next powerplay was for Fehervar first Nageler, then Urbas fouled and Fehervar pushed for another goal. Although this didn’t happen five on three, Schiestel scored five on our. At the end, there was chance after chance for Erdély, Reisz and Brance Orban but the result remained 6:2. 

After an even start the eagles took the initiative. In the process, Gal Koren took two consecutive trips to the penalty box. Still there was no change in score as a fighting Olimpija defense and a solid Jeff Frazee blocked all the paths to the home net. Opening goal did come in the final minute of the period. To the delight of home fans it was Olimpija who got in front. From the distance Bostjan Groznik netted his only 3rd carrier goal in Erste Bank EIshockey Liga but already his 2nd of the Season. Early in the second period it was Olimpija's time for power play. But just like the visitors before the hosts failed to convert on two occasions. Czechs made them pay just before half time mark. Jan Lattner found Antonin Boruta who got the equalizer. Before the final intermission both teams had one more man advantage and some chances but Jeff Frazee and Marek Schwartz were at the top of their game. With that the score remained tied after 40 minutes. With an even score and three points so closely on the line none of the teams wanted to take too much risk heading into the final period- Slowly Znojmo got more offensive. That especially came to light when Olimpija made a line change mistake and picked up two minutes for too many players. But the dragons managed to hold on.Still in 56th minute the eagles managed to take the lead. It was Martin Posedesva who scored what proved to be a game winner in the end. Not wanting to give up without a fight Bojan Zajc tried everything but even without a goalie there was no bread for the dragons as Znojmo held on to a deserving one goal win.

 

Both teams looked on their defense in the beginning. The Moser Medical Graz99ers then took advantage from a Power Play to get the lead at Dornbirn: Curtis McLean scored into the upper corner. The Bulldogs had a quick answer:  Chris D’Alvise (12.) finished a perfect pass from Martin Grabher Meier – 1:1. It followed a fast and open game. The guests had another Power Play, but just hit the post. The West-Austrias answered with more pressure and also had more from the game now, but failed to be successful from their chances. The Styrians were dangerous especially in Power Play: In minute 34 Kyle Beach scored the 2:1 for his team in a Power Play and just 92 second later the forward even made the 3:1 for Graz. Dornbirn tried hard to answer, but the forwards missed several good scoring-chances. In minute 49 Livingston finally made the 2:3. The west-clubs pushed forward to equalize in the final minutes, but Graz brought the win home and celebrated their second win in the second game in the Qualification Round.
 

Referees: BERNECKER, NIKOLIC K., Seewald, Verworner

Goals HCI: Bishop (9./pp), Spurgeon (43.) 

Goals VIC: Sharp (2., 48./pp.), Bauer (3.), Ferland (40.).

 

Referees: Gamper,Nikolic, Pardatscher, Sparer Spectators: 3326  

Goals HCB: Metropolit (16.), Reid (35.), 

Goals RBS: Rauchenwald (5.), Kristler (23., 59./pp.), Raffl (47./pp), Hughes (59./en)  

 

Referees: STOLC, TRILAR, Kaspar, Rakovic; spectators: 3.460

Goals KAC: Lundmark (17.), Ganahl (22.), Kreuzer (36.), Harand (53.)

Goal EHL: Piche (30.)

 

 

Referees: SMETANA/SIEGEL; Zuseher: 2817

Tore AVS: Sofron (15.), Sarauer (17.), Koger (18.), Erdely (42., 51.), Schiestel  (56./pp)

Tore VSV: Verlic (10./pp, 40./pp)

 

Referees: BABIC/LEMELIN; Zuseher: 711

Tore OLL: Groznik (20.)

Tore ZNO: Boruta (30.), Biro (56.)

 

Referees: KELLNER/PIRAGIC; spectators: 1.820

Goals DEC: 1:1 D‘Alvise (12.), 2:3 Livingston (49.)

Goals G99: 0:1 McLean (7./pp1), 1:2 Beach (34./pp1) 1:3 Beach (35.)