Cortina, Jesenice, Lustenau and Rittner Buam went through to the Playoffs

The two teams searched their luck in the offense. Eriksson gave the Rittner Buam a 1:0-lead in the first Power Play of the game in minute 10. The Tyroleans stayed unimpressed and turned the game with two goals by Havlik (13./pp) and Lidström (15.) within 99 seconds. The guests has a perfect start in period 2: Spinell netted the 2:2 after just 236 seconds. Then, the goalies Thomas Tragust (RIT) and Paul Mocher (KEC) were on fire: Each netminder stopped 13 shots in the remaining minutes of period 2. The last 20 minutes have started with a fast goal too: Rousek netted the 3:2 for the home-team after just 15 seconds. This was a „wake-up-call“ for the Italian Champion. The guests played a strong last period and have finally earned a clear 7:3-win thanks goals from Brighenti (43.), Pechlaner (51.), Tudin (52.), Sislannikovs (58./EN) and Eriksson (59./EN). Besides, the Rittner Buam went through to the Quarterfinals too.
Goals KEC: Havlik (13./pp – Lidström, Lenes), Lidström (15. – Lenes), Rousek (41. – Lenes)
Goals RIT: Eriksson (10./pp – T. Spinell, Kostner; 59./EN - Kostner), Spinell (24. – Luza, Tudin) Brighenti (43. – Brunner, Pechlaner), Pechlaner (51. – Quinz), Tudin (52. – Sislannikovs, M. Spinell), Sislannikovs (58./EN).

Thu, 15.03.2019: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan vs. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 0:3 (0:0,0:2,0:1)

best-of-three: 0:2
Referees: RUETZ, STRASSER; spectators: 563
With the same result as Game 1, Jesenice also won Game 2 on the road in Sterzing by 3:0 as they qualified for the quarter-finals. Tommy Kruselburger was the only absence in the home team. The first real dangerous action was by Paolo Bustreo but the goalkeeper of Jesenice, Matthew Climie, was very careful. The game was certainly balanced in the first 10 minutes of play. Then the Red Steelers put their experience and technique on the ice. Svetina and Gagnon built two good chances but the result for the first period was whiteout goals. In the second stage the game was very contracted with the two formations that played more in defense. A good play by Urban Sodja allowed to Gasper Sersen to score the first goal of the match. Jesenice was now the master of the rink as they put a lot of pressure. But from the 32nd minute there were several penalties and the game was broken with a lot of interruptions. After a mistake by the Broncos, Svetina served an important assist for Tadej Cimzar, who achieved 2:0 (37.). In the third half Jesenice controlled the return of the Wipptal Broncos who then tried several times to play with the extra attacker. But the Slovenian team was concentrated as they scored 3:0 again with Cimzar. Jesenice earned the third consecutive shutout for Matthew Climie's unbeaten for 204 minutes in a row. The Sterzing ended the season and will not play in the quarter-finals.   
Goals JES: Sersen (28. – Svetina, Korosec), Cimzar (38. – Svetina; 59. – Brus, Pem).

Thu, 15.03.2019: Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro vs. VEU Feldkirch 4:1 (1:0,2:0,1:1)

best-of-three: 2:0
Referees: MOSCHEN, OFNER; spectators: 430
The Cortina entered in the quarterfinals after finishing the regular season in tenth place. At the pre-playoffs Giorgio De Bettin's team eliminated the VEU Feldkirch, seventh at the end of the regular season, in the most surprising series of pre-playoffs. The Cortina cannot have Moser, Alessandro Zanatta and Sanna for this event. The home team controlled the game and it became dangerous with the Adami-Barnabò-De Zanna line but also the Austrian team had a couple of clear occasions prevented by Marco De Filippo. Mathieu Ayotte built a nice personal goal and he unlocked the result (6.). At the end of the period there was the return of the Austrians but there was no draw. In the second fraction the VEU had four minutes of powerplay but just at the best moment of the guests, Daniel Stumpf found a nice counterattack in numerical downforce and then he served Devin Diomete for the 2:0 of the Cortina. The Feldkirch also found a goal but was cancelled by the referees. Then, before the end of time, there was the 3:0 of Daniel Stumpf who was the absolute protagonist in this game. In the third half the game was very well fought. Kevin Puschnik made the first goal of the VEU but also remained the only one. In the final, the Cortina always scored empty net goal with Stumpf for the 4:1 final with which the Italian team eliminated the Austrian team.

Goals SGC: Ayotte (7.), Di Diomete (32./sh – Stumpf, Bruneteau), Stumpf (38. – Trecapelli, Alvera; 58./EN)
Goal VEU: Puschnik (52. – C. Draschkowitz, Mairitsch).

Thu, 15.03.2019: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau 1:2 (0:1,0:1,1:0)

best-of-three: 0:2
Referees: GAMPER, MORI; spectators: 690
The Lustenau returned to the quarter-finals after overcoming a very aggressive Gherdeina at Pranives. The home team cannot have Benjamin Kostner who was injured after an opponent's charge in the first game of the pre-playoffs. The game was immediately marked by many penalties. But before the middle of the period the protagonist was always Marc-Olivier Vallerand who unlocked the result only in front of the opponent's net. For the attacker it was the fourth goal in two matches of the pre-playoffs. In the end of time Sullmann and Long was not concrete in front of Corbeil. In the second half the game went up in tone. The Lustenau didn't advance in the result while the Gherdeina was not precise in front of the net. In the 37th minute Ivan Demetz didn't take advantage of a good opportunity while Chris D'Alvise achieved the 2:0. In the third half Gherdeina found the winning deflection of Colin Long who definitely reopened the game. Misa Pietila saved the result on a Vallerand incursion. There was the final attack of Gherdeina but it was Lustenau who won by 2:1 as they detached the ticket for the quarter-finals.
Goals GHE: Long (44. – Brugnoli, Viitanen)

Goals EHC: Vallerand (10. – M. Wilfan, König), D’Alvise (38. – Putnik).

Fotocredit: GEPA Pictures