Release from 14.01.2020
© (c) HCB/Vanna Antonello
With four gamedays left in phase one of the regular season in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, the race for the remaining three tickets in the pick round became more thrilling, as the chasing pack booked wins on Tuesday. After victories of the Moser Medical Graz99ers (#7), the HCB Südtirol Alperia (#4), the EC Panaceo VSV (#8) and Hydro Fehérvár AV19’ 300th win in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, the teams ranked third to eight are only separated by six points. The Hungarian side will finish after 40 games on ninth spot and will start qualification round with two bonus points.
Bozen back in top-5 after Sylvestre’s brace
The HCB Südtirol Alperia reentered the top-5 after a 3:2 home-win against EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz, which remains in the top group. With new head coach Greg Ireland celebrating his first win in Palaonda, Bolzano has a two-point advantage to sixth-ranked Znojmo. Sebastien Sylvestre came out big for the “foxes”, as he opened the scoring on a breakaway in the first and secured the three points with a deflection about nine minutes left, after Linz twice tied the game.
Graz remains hot, defeats leader
With the fourth straight win the seventh-ranked Moser Medical Graz99ers tied with sixth-placed Znojmo in standings and narrowed the gap to the top-5 to one point, as they won 3:2 at leader EC Red Bull Salzburg, which lost for the first time this season against the Styrian. After a non-goal opening frame Zintis Zusevics (32.) scored four-on-four to bring Graz up. After Janos Hari (52.) tied it on powerplay, the guests stroke back immediately and within 1,5 minutes, as Oliver Setzinger (53.) and Matt Garbowsky (54.) scored. Garbowsky managed to get Graz’ 99th goal of the season. With one minute left Chad Kolarik pulled one back, but Cristopher Nihlstorp, who had 34 saves overall, was not overcome again.
VSV celebrates season sweep over Dornbirn
The EC Panaceo VSV underpinned its candidature for the top-5, cruising past the Dornbirn Bulldogs 6:1 to get the fourth consecutive home-win and to narrow the gap to the pick round to three points. Thereby, the Carinthians won the fourth season-meeting with the bulldogs too. Two goals on powerplay late in the first got the “eagles” on winning ways. After Keaton Ellerby pulled one back on the buzzer of the first, the home-team got off a great start into the second frame, continued and celebrated a clear win in the end.
300th win in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga gives Fehérvár nineth place
After a 3:2 home-win against EC-KAC, which was Hydro Fehérvár AV19’ 300th win in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, the Hungarian side will finish the first phase of the regular season on ninth place with one game left, heading into the qualification round with two bonus points. The reigning champion suffered a setback in the race to the top-5 but remains third after the third consecutive loss against Fehérvár. The home-team grabbed a 2:0 lead after the first, with Scott Timmins (3.) and Andrew Yogan (14.), who converted a one timer on powerplay. Manuel Ganahl (30.) and Andrew Kozek (34.) tied it for the guest in the middle frame, but Andrew Sarauer (50.) gave the Hungarians another lead, as he scored on a 3-on-1 breakaway the game-winner.
Tue, 14.01.2020, 19.15 Uhr: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – EC-KAC 3:2 (2:0, 0:2, 1:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Gatol, Hribar.| Spectators: 2.500
Goals AVS: Timmins (3.), Yogan (14./PP1), Sarauer (50.)
Goals KAC: Ganahl (30.), Kozek (34./PP1)
Tue, 14.01.2020, 19.15 Uhr: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz99ers 2:3 (0:0, 0:1, 2:2)
Referees: Liam SEWELL (GBR), STOLC, Nothegger, Tschrepitsch. | Spectators: 2.325
Goal RBS: Hari (52./PP1), Kolarik (59./PP1)
Goal G99: Zusevics (32.), Setzinger (53.), Garbowsky (54./PP1)
Tue, 14.01.2020, 19.15 Uhr: EC Panaceo VSV – Dornbirn Bulldogs 6:1 (2:1, 2:0, 2:0)
Referees: STERNAT, TRILAR, Nedeljkovic, Rezek. | Spectators: 2.255
Goals VSV: Reid (18./PP1), Bjorkstrand (19./PP1), Lahoda (22.), Collins (35./SH), Karlsson (42.), Brunner (46.)
Goal DEC: Ellerby (20.)
Tue, 14.01.2020, 19.45 Uhr: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz 3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, NIKOLIC K., Pardatscher, Schauer. | Spectators: 2.630
Goals HCB: Sylvestre (10., 51.), Hargrove (30.)
Goals BWL: Wolf (24.), Roach (34./PP1)
Fotocredit: (c) Vanna Antonello