Caps fixed Playoff already

Just 49 seconds into the game, Brian Lebler opened the scoring for Black Wings with a quick shot under the crossbar. Znojmo responded before the 3-minute mark, Erik Nemec netting from close range to tie the game. Linz created many opportunities and converted one at 7:46 through Marc-Andre Dorion and his shot into the far corner. The same player set up Dan DaSilva midway through the period to make the score already 1-3 and send Marek Schwarz out of his net to be replaced by Tomas Halasz. His clean sheet lasted only two minutes when Kevin Moderer forced the puck past the goal line from the goal crease. Just 31 seconds into the second period, Brian Lebler found the puck in front of the net on the powerplay and increased Linz´s lead to 5-1. Eagles pulled a couple of goals back on a double powerplay, netting twice in eight seconds (!) through Antonin Boruta´s shot from the left crease and Yellow Horn´s marker between the pads. However, Linz got a couple of powerplays of their own and Dan DaSilva logged his second of the night with a quick rebound. Znojmo pushed forward in the third period in an effort to grind out some points, but despite some powerplay opportunities and deflected shots, Mike Ouzas and his team prevailed to take home all three points.

 

The first shot of the game was made in the second minute, Latendresse passed to Gilbert but he missed the chance. After that, McKiernan hit the post, then the defense of the Hungarians blocked the shot from Lakos and Rotter could not put the rebound in the net. One minute later, Rotter found Vause open in front of the net and he did not miss. Right after the goal, Rajna had to save Fischer’s shot, then LoVecchio had to sit in the penalty box. In the Vienna powerplay the guests threatened from the blue line, but they scored playing full strength, Hackl shot from the blue line and the puck went in the net. Before the buzzer, Vidmar and Hári both missed. The second period started with McKiernan’s penalty, Luttinen and Hári threatened in the powerplay, then Lamoreux saved Palin and Gilbert’s chances. 5 minutes into the period, Vienna pushed hard and finally it was Tessier who scored. Fehervar missed another powerplay opportunity in the middle of the period, then Vienna attacked five on four, without success. The guests scored again right after Gilbert came back from the penalty box, Hartl got the puck in front of the net and passed to Vause who made the 4-0. The period ended with a Fehervar powerplay, and as the home team did not score, the game continued five on four for Fehervar in the last 20 minutes, too. Fehervar scored their first goal right at the beginning of the third period on the powerplay, Antonin Manavian’s blueliner went behind Lamoreux. Vienna played short handed after the goal again but Fehervar could not shorten the difference any more. Rajna had to save as well, this time Pollestrone threatened. The penalty box did not stay empty, Fischer fouled but in the middle of the powerplay, Koger was penalized as well. Vienna attacked for more than a minute on the powerplay and they did use the opportunity, McKiernan shot in the net. 8 minutes left in the game, Gilbert missed, then Daniel Szabo could not finish the shot with another goal. Fehervar pushed harder towards the end of the game, Stipsicz and Koger both had a big chance but Lamoreux saved. The third period ended with another Fehervar powerplay, but the score remained 1-5. The Vienna Capitals qualified as the first team for the Playoffs 2018.

 

The Dornbirn Bulldogs started good into the west-derby against HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: After a diagonal-pass from Jamie Arniel, Matt Fraser finished already in the first minute a counter-attack for the lead. The Vorarlberger were the chiefs on the ice then in period 1, but also Innsbruck threatened a few times: Ondrej Sedivy (solo) and Philipp Lindner, who just hit the post, came closest to equalize. In minute 20 the Vorarlberger extended their lead: Stefan Häußle deflected a shot from Sean McMonagle - 2:0. After the re-start the Dornbirn Bulldogs added the 3:0: Goalie Patrik Nechvatal stopped Fraser after a break-away, but the arriving HCI-defenseman Florian Pedevilla put the puck into the own net. Swette replaced Nechvatal. This was a wake-up call for the Tyroleans: Lindner (big shot/28.), Hunter Bishop (39.) and Mich Wahl (43.) equalized the game. Dornbirn had an answer and took the lead again. But Mitch Wahl (47./pp) and Hunter Bishop (53.) with a shot from the blue line gave Innsbruck the win in the end.

 

An early penalty against Tyler Morley made the Moser Medical Graz99ers strong. The 99ers found better into the game and after chances from Ograjensek, McLean and Weihager it was Clemens Unterweger, who beat Kevin Poulin with a placed shot. The Bears answered seconds after a Power Play: Jozef Balej was successful. Medvescak fans were still celebrating, when the 99ers took the lead again: Justin Buzzeo poked the puck in just 19 seconds later. In period 2 the Croatians turned the game around: Back from the penalty box Sondre Olden found Morley infront of the net and he scored the 2:2. And in minute 28 Samson Mahbod was free and made the 3:2. The last period started perfect for Graz: Already after 38 seconds Brock Higgs made the 3:3 from a rebound. Just a few moments later Zintis Nauris Zusevics finished a pass from  Higgs for the 4:3. The Mur Citizen were the chiefs on the ice now. Late in the game one goal by Graz (offside) and one goal by Medvescak were not allowed by the referees. So Medvescak‘s good series ended after four wins at Graz.

 

HCB Südtirol Alperia had the better start into the game. Finally in minute 9 Daniel Frank made the lead. Minute by minute the Red Bulls got more and more dangerous and finally the Austrians equalized with a shot from Layne Viveiros in minute 20. In period 2 the Foxes took advantage from a Power Play: Sointu scored with a big shot and Bozen had the lead again. The Austrians answered in a Power Play: After testing goalie Pekka Tuokkola some times, it was Bobby Raymond, who scored with a big Blueliner in minute 37 - 2:2. Also in period 3 the fans saw an intense game. Bernard‘s 3:2-lead was responded quickly by the Red Bulls: Hughes finished a pass from Raffl. The better end had Bozen: First Alex Petan missed a solo, but then Matt Tomassoni scored from the blue line into the upper corner. In the final minutes the Italians defended their lead.

 

EC VSV had a great start into the Carinthian derby: Nikolas Petrik scored from a rebound already after 21 seconds. EC-KAC answered with angry attacks and equalized with a goal from Philipp Kreuzer. Moments later Villach took the lead again: Niki Petrik scored from a short distance. After the re-start Klagenfurt started strong. There were chances on both sides, before Jamie Lundmark was free infront of the net and finished a pass from Stefan Geier (35.) - 2:2. Klagenfurt tried to take the lead in period 3. But the Eagles fought back and threatened with a shot from short distance from Miha Verlic in minute 47. Just moments later – Villach was on Power Play - Hickmott finished a diagonal-pass from Sarauer for the 3:2. Klagenfurt answered just 73 seconds later. The guests had the upper hand of the game now. But it needed a Shoot Out to find the winner. Here Thomas Koch scored twice and fixed the derby-win for Klagenfurt at Villach.

 

Wed, 03.01.2017: EC VSV – EC-KAC 3:4 n.P. (2:1,0:1,1:1,0:0,0:1)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, T. PIRAGIC, Nagy, Nothegger; spectators: 4.500 (sold out)
Goals VSV: N. Petrik (1., 14.), Hickmott (48. PP)
Goals KAC: Kreuzer (6.), Lundmark (35.), Bischofberger (49.), Koch (65./entscheidender Penalty)

Wed, 03.01.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:3 (1:1, 1:1, 2:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, TRILAR; spectators: 3.020
Goals HCB: Frank (9.), Sointu (29./PP), Bernard (45.), Tomassoni (57.).
Goals RBS. Viveiros (20.), Raymond (37./PP), Hughes (46.)

Wed, 03.01.2018: Moser Medical Graz99ers – KHL Medvescak Zagreb 4:3 (2:1,0:2,2:0)
Referees: GRUBER, KINCSES; spectators: 2.631
Goals G99: Unterweger (9.), Buzzeo (13.), Higgs (41.), Zusevics (45.)
Goals MZA: Balej (13.), Morley (22.), Mahbod (28.)

Wed, 03.01.2018: Fehervar AV19 – Vienna Capitals 1:5 (0:2,0:2,1:1)
Referees: BABIC, BULOVEC; spectators: 3.065
Goal AVS: Manavian (41./pp)
Goals VIC: Vause (12., 37.), Hackl (14.), Tessier (26.), McKiernan (48./pp)

Wed, 03.01.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 4:5 (2:0, 1:2, 1:3)
Referees: GAMPER, STOLC; 3.104 spectators
Goals DEC: 1:0 Fraser (1.), 2:0 Häußle (20.), 3:0 Fraser (27.), 4:3 Pance (45.).
Goals HCI: 3:1 Lindner (28.), 3:2 Bishop (39.), 3:3 Wahl (43.), 4:4 Wahl (47./pp1), 4:5 Bishop (53.)

Wed, 03.01.2018: HC Orli Znojmo – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz 3:6 (1:4,2:2,0:0)
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT; spectators: 2.895
Goals ZNO: Nemec (3.), Boruta (29./pp2), Yellow Horn (29./pp)
Goals BWL: Lebler (1., 21./pp, 36./pp), Dorion (8.), DaSilva (11.), Moderer (14./pp)