Release from 04.04.2017

Caps take 3:0 series lead in high-scoring game

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Tuesday saw the most goals ever scored in an Erste Bank Eishockey Liga finals game with UPC Vienna Capitals beating EC-KAC 7:5 on home ice and taking a 3:0 lead in the "best of 7"-series. The Viennese also equaled Salzburg's record of eleven playoff wins.

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The game was a mere 65 seconds old when Caps captain Jonathan Ferland opened the scoring but Martin Schmunig tied it just three minutes later on power play with a deflection. Patrick Harand turned the game around just 32 seconds later and the game continued like that. MacGregor Sharp took advantage of Vienna's first pp when he went five-hole on KAC netminder David Madlener with a deflection. It remained an intense game with both doing mistakes defensively. After Klagenfurt could not get the puck out of their own end, Madlener saved the tied score. Soon later he was beaten for a third time, though. Taylor Vause stole the puck and passed to Rafael Rotter who put his side 3:2 up again with a well-placed shot. League MVP made it a two-goal lead for Vienna but the visitors had the last say in the opening period. With seven seconds to go Manuel Ganahl finished a solo attempt successfully. Klagenfurt started the middle frame with Tomas Duba in net. The new goalie was just three minutes in charge when Vause restored the two-goal lead. Jerry Pollastrone missed the next big chance and soon later JP Lamoureux had a big save at the other end. After Manuel Geier beat Vienna's goalie for a 5:4 score, the working day of Lamoureux was over, too. As two days ago in Klagenfurt David Kickert replaced him and the 23-year-old stood tall in the first few situations.   Things changed in 37th minute when Kevin Kapstad tied it at five with a blue liner on power play. This was also the score after 40 minutes - what a crazy game! Both teams still generated in the third but it took almost ten minutes until Collin Bowman lit the lamp again for Vienna. He made a nice finish in a 4 on 4 situation. With KAC back at full strength, Martin Schumnig missed the best chance for another equalizer. Then the guests killed a penalty to stay alive and became a power play on their own with four minutes to go and pulled their goalie for the first time. Martin Schumnig missed the best chance for the equalizer and Holzapfel made the game safe with an empty netter. The Caps have already on Friday in Klagenfurt the chance to get their second title in the clubs history.

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 3rd final game (best of seven):
Tue, 04.04.2017: UPC Vienna Capitals – EC KAC 7:5 (4:3, 1:2, 2:0)
Referees: LEMELIN, M. NIKOLIC; Zuseher: 7.022
Goals VIC: Ferland (2.), Sharp (9./pp), Rotter (15.), Holzapfel (16., 60/en)), Vause (24.), Bowman (49.)
Goals KAC: Schumnig (4./pp), Harand (5.), Ganahl (20.), M. Geier (27.), Kapstad (37./pp)
Score in the "best of 7" series, VIC – KAC: 3:0