Caps book playoff ticket | KAC and Fehérvár increase pressure on leader

Rotter fires Caps into the playoffs
The starting situation before the match was clear. The spusu Vienna Capitals needed at least one point to secure an early spot in the 2021 playoffs. The Moser Medical Graz99ers made it very difficult for the Vienna Capitals. Already in the first period, the Grazers gained a 2:0 lead. The Viennese, however, bundled their strengths and were able to equalize in the middle period. The 2:2 was scored by Rafael Rotter, who played his first game since October 11, 2020. Neither team was able to score again in regulation time, so that the Viennese were already determined as the fourth playoff participant of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League before the start of overtime. In overtime, Ty Loney finally provided the "double happy ending" from the Viennese point of view. The Caps not only secured their 19th playoff qualification in the club's history, but also took revenge for the 4-1 defeat they suffered against the 99ers ten days ago. Graz newcomer Michael Latta was injured at the beginning of the second period and could not play anymore.

What a comeback!!! In the first game after his three-month break, Rafael Rotter scored for the overtime against the @graz99ers and thus for the playoffs 2021. The @viennacapitals finally prevailed with 3:2 after overtime.#UnitedByPassion #icehighlights pic.twitter.com/noaEc2qxgH

— bet-at-home ICE Hockey League (@betathomeICE) January 29, 2021

Bratislava succeeds in regular season sweep against VSV
The iClinic Bratislava Capitals completed their regular-season sweep (phase 1) against EC Grand Immo VSV. In the clash with Villach, the Slovaks celebrated their highest win in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League so far. For the Capitals it was already the fourth win in the past six ICE games. After a balanced first 40 minutes, Peter Draisaitl's team ignited the turbo and finally won 5:1. Newcomer Sergej Kostsityn scored his first goal in his first game. Dennis Hudec scored twice for the Slovaks. Already on Saturday, the iClinic Bratislava Capitals have the next important game in the fight for bonus points on the schedule: They will meet HC TIWAG Innsbruck, who are tied on points.

Shorthander puts Sharks on the road to victory over Linz
HC TIWAG Innsbruck celebrated a successful start into the away double. The Tyroleans prevailed 4:1 as guests at the bottom of the table Steinbach Black Wings 1992. For the Sharks, this was already the third win of the season against Linz, the fourth and last duel of the basic round (Phase 1) is still outstanding. Innsbruck recorded a brilliant start into the encounter. Within 43 seconds, the Sharks scored two goals while shorthanded. The Black Wings 1992 could still shorten the game in the person of Brian Lebler but could not find their way back into the match. The Tyroleans finally prevailed 4:1. Three of the four goals were scored by the Sharks when they were shorthanded. Already on Saturday the HC TIWAG Innsbruck Capitals will meet the iClinic Bratislava Capitals in the fight for important bonus points.

Best offense cracks Bolzano defense
Third-placed Hydro Fehérvár AV19 celebrated an impressive 7:4 victory over HCB Südtirol Alperia after an eleven-day break and thus reduced the gap in the standings to six points. In this duel, the best offense in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League met the best defense. The South Tyroleans conceded more than five goals for the first time this season. However, the Foxes still had the clearly better start, winning the first period 2:0. A brilliant middle period of Fehérvár provided the preliminary decision. The Hungarians scored six goals in just one period and set a new league record for the season. Antti Karhula's team finally prevailed 7:4 and caused the highest defeat of the South Tyroleans this season. For the first time in the current season, Bolzano lost by more than one goal difference.

KAC shortens gap to leader
The EC-KAC won 3:1 at EC Red Bull Salzburg and reduced the gap to the leader Bolzano to five points. In the fourth meeting of these two teams, the visiting team won for the first time. For the KAC, the recent run of success continues: in the last ten games, they were defeated only once. Klagenfurt also got off to the better start in the game, taking the lead in powerplay. The KAC found the right answer to Salzburg's equalizer in the middle third. The KAC finally won 3:1 and could celebrate the fifth victory in a row. EC Red Bull Salzburg suffered their second defeat in the last three games and thus could not take advantage of the break of the Dornbirn Bulldogs, who remain within striking distance with a seven-point deficit.

Sat, 30.01.2021 iClinic Bratislava Capitals – HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie 17:30
Referees: TRILAR, VIRTA, Hribar, Pardatscher >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

spusu Vienna Capitals - Moser Medical Graz99ers 3:2 O.T. (0:2,1:0,0:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Gatol, Riecken
Goals VIC: Fischer (21.), Rotter (35.), Loney (64.)
Goals G99: Cameranesi (4.), Broda (12./pp1),

EC GRAND Immo VSV - iClinic Bratislava Capitals 1:5 (1:1,0:0,0:4)
Referees: TRILAR, VIRTA, Hribar, Pardatscher
Goals VSV: Gill (14.)
Goals BRC: Hudec (13., 51.), Fortier (53.), Kostsitsyn (54.), Higgs (58.)

Steinbach Black Wings 1992 - HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie 1:4 (1:2,0:1,0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, REZEK, Bedynek, Bärnthaler
Goals BWI: Lebler (19./pp1),
Goals HCI: Ciampini (4./sh., 40./pp1), Christoffer (4./sh.), Lattner (58./sh1)

Hydro Fehervar AV 19 - HCB Südtirol Alperia 7:4 (0:2,6:1,1:1)
Referees: NAGY, RENCZ, Kis-Kiraly, Vaczi
Goals AVS: Lahti (23.), Bartalis (25., 36.), Kahkonen (26.), Kuralt (33.), Erdely (39./pp1), Hargrove (57./pp1)
Goals HCB: Catenacci (11.), Miceli (15./pp1), Gazley (28.), Halmo (53./pp1),

EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC-KAC 1:3 (0:1,1:1,0:1)
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Nothegger, Seewald
Goals RBS: Raffl (29.)
Goals KAC: Fraser (13./pp1), Geier (38./pp1), Haudum (59./en)