Cortina celebrated upset

Tue, 12.03.2019: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice vs. Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan 3:0 (0:0, 0:0, 3:0)
Referees: DURCHNER, OFNER, Miklic, Reisinger. Spectators: 877

HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice made the first step for entering the quarterfinals in Alps Hockey League, after celebrating a 3:0 home win against the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan. With its fifth consecutive win the Slovenian side remains unbeaten against the South Tyrolean at home. Within the few minutes they sussed each other out. Both teams managed to be great on the defensive-end in the first and did not allow that much. The second frame remained goalless too with the hosts having the better of the play, after Rodman and Kalan both hit the crossbar. But Gianluca Vallini had some great saves in the middle frame. Soon later, Jesenice increased its pressure in the last and finally got rewarded with the lead. Miha Brus got his colors on the scoreboard about nine minutes to go. Luka Kalan doubled up for the hosts later and rounded off the score with an empty-netter. Matthew Climie got a shutout. 

Goals JES: Brus (52./Tomazevic), Kalan (57., 60.EN/Gagnon-Paradies) 

Tue, 12.03.2019: EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 6:3 (1:2, 2:1, 3:0)
Referees: BENVEGNU, FICHTNER, Legat, Piras. Spectators: 792

League’s third best scorer Marc-Olivier Vallerand gave the EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau a perfect start into the pre-playoffs. The Austrian side turned an interim 1:3 deficit in a 6:3 home win and took the lead in the best-of-three series. The South Tyrolean underdog played a pluckily opening frame, taking the lead twice. Around halfway through the second Gabriel Vinatzer got the road team on the scoreboard again, making the lead more comfortable. Soon later, Lustenau realized the seriousness of the situation and became better. Vallerand tied the game for the hosts with two goals within 2,5 minutes and got a hat-trick. In the final frame the Austrian side remained putting pressure on their opponent and got the preliminary decision with Philip Putnik scoring on powerplay and Max Wilfan scoring the 5:3. Putnik rounded off the score with an empty-netter in the end and crowned his performance with a brace and five points in total.

Goals EHC: Vallerand (6./Putnik-Kreuter, 36./Putnik, 38./Putnik-Auer), Putnik (46.PP1/Wilfan-Winzig, 59.EN/Vallerand-Corbeil), Wilfan (50./Auer-Winzig)
Goals GHE: Vinatzer A. (4./Demetz-Roupec), Demetz (19./Vinatzer A.-Willeit), Vinatzer G. (32. Nocker-Demetz)

Tue, 12.03.2019: VEU Feldkirch vs. Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro 2:4 (1:1, 1:1, 0:2)
Referees: GAMPER, MOSCHEN, De Zordo, Martin. Spectators: 849

S.G. Cortina Hafro opened the pre-playoffs with an upset, after snatching up game one of the best-of-three series against the VEU Feldkirch. Riccardo Lacedelli’s powerplay goal nine minutes to go secured Cortinas 4:2 victory. On Thursday Cortina has the chance to qualify for quarterfinals in front of the home crowd. The home team got off a better start in a tough battle with both teams getting penalized early. Dylan Stanley used Feldkirch’s second powerplay for the 1:0-lead, but Noah Zardini Lacedelli tied the game about two minutes later. A mistake of VEU netminder Alex Caffi gave the guests back the lead at the beginning of the second. Christian Jennes struck back for the hosts again, who created more chances until the end of the game. But Feldkirch remained goalless. Cortina was more effective with Riccardo Lacedelli potting the game winner 8,5 minutes to go. Francesco Adami rounded off the score with an empty-netter.

Goals VEU: Stanley (7.PP1/Puschnik-Soudek), Jennes (32./Pilgram)
Goals COR: Zardini Lacedelli (9./Adami-DeZanna), Barnabo (22.), Lacedelli R. (52.PP1/DeZanna), Adami (60.EN/Trecapelli-Lacedelli R.)

Tue, 12.03.2019: Rittner Buam vs. EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 6:0 (3:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: A. LAZZERI, RUETZ, M. Cristeli, Rinker. Spectators: 285

Start in the best way the adventure of Rittner Buam at the pre-playoffs. Collalbo's team won 6:0 against Kitzbühel as they left no chance for the Austrian team in the first game of the series. The beginning was all in favor of the home team that scored with Simon Kostner at the first real opportunity (6.). Then in the last 5 minutes of the first period, the Rittner Buam doubled with the young Adam Giacomuzzi. After just 54 seconds Henrik Eriksson, former player of the Austrian team, allowed Renon to close the first period on a more than comforting 3:0. In the middle period, the home team controlled and achieved the 4:0 with Stefan Quinz with a shot under the crossbar. In the third period the Renon's domination continued with the goals of Eisath (at the beginning) and Simon Kostner (at the end) for the final 6:0. Thomas Tragust earned the second consecutive shutout and the seventh of the season.

Goals RIT: 1:0 Simon Kostner (06:36/J.Eriksson-T.Spinell); 2:0 Adam Giacomuzzi (14:33/Luza); 3:0 Johan Henrik Eriksson (15:27/T.Spinell-S.Kostner); 4:0 Stefan Quinz (34:32); 5:0 Alexander Eisath (42:37/Lutz-Vigl); 6:0 Simon Kostner (58:00/PP1/J.Eriksson-Lutz);

Fotocredit: Carola Semino