Release from 02.03.2021
The Dornbirn Bulldogs and the iClinic Bratislava Capitals booked their ticket for the playoffs in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League with road wins in the third last round of the Qualification Round. The Steinbach Black Wings 1992 kept their chance for the postseason thanks to a perfect start and three goals from Brian Lebler alive.
In the Pick Round, the EC-KAC celebrated a 3:2 road win at leader HCB Südtirol Alperia, with which the Carinthians fixed home advantage in the quarterfinals and extended their lead in the fight for the ticket to the Champions Hockey League. EC Red Bull Salzburg gave the spusu Vienna Capitals the second consecutive defeat.
Dornbirn Bulldogs clinches playoffs for the fourth time
The Dornbirn Bulldogs qualified for the playoffs in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League with a 5:3 road win at HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie. This was the fourth time the Vorarlberg side reached the postseason in their ninth year in the league. For the Tyroleans, there is no longer a chance for the playoff after the sixth intermediate round defeat. In a fast, entertaining game, the visitors from Vorarlberg started confidently through Saku Salmela (9.) and a brace from William Rapuzzi (21. and 27.). Innsbruck didn't give up, managed the equalizer in the 51. minute through a power play goal by Kevin Tansey. But the Bulldogs remained more composed in the final minutes and secured the win.
Bratislava reaches playoffs after comeback win
The iClinic Bratislava Capitals booked their ticket for the playoffs in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League on the third-last matchday of the Qualification Round too. The newcomer from Slovakia thus moved into the postseason right away in its premiere season - thanks to a 3:2 comeback win at Moser Medical Graz99ers. The Styrians got off a good start thanks to Lukas Kainz (4.) and Michael Latta (22.), allowing only 17 shots on goal by the visitors in the first two periods. But in the final period, the guests started a brilliant comeback: Mitch Hults (43./PP1) scored first, then Michal Mrazik (49.) equalized. The final turnaround was fixed by Maxime Fortier (56.), who took advantage of a turnover by Latta. Graz slipped to fifth place after its fifth defeat in the intermediate round.
Linz remains in the race for postseason
The Steinbach Black Wings 1992 are still in the race for the playoffs in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League after their 5:3 home win over EC GRAND Immo VSV. A strong opening frame with four goals and a hat trick from Brian Lebler, league's top scorer third in the running season, were crucial to the Upper Austrians' success. Lebler put Linz in the lead already after 31 seconds - after 13 minutes the Black Wings already led 3:0. Villach fought back partly, then came twelve minutes before the end to the connecting goal by Chris Collins (49.), which however Lebler answered with his third goal. The Upper Austrians are now fourth in the Qualification Round, two points behind a playoff spot.
KAC steps close to CHL spot
With a 3:2 road win at HCB Südtirol Alperia, which had already been determined as the winner of the Pick Round, the EC-KAC has once again come forward in the fight for the second place - and a ticket for the Champions Hockey League. Klagenfurt remain second after their fourth win of the season over the "Foxes" and fixed the home advantage in the quarterfinals too. Bolzano suffered another defeat after six home wins in a row at the Palaonda. Rok Ticar (11.) and Thomas Vallant (12.) turned the game in favor of the guests within 104 seconds. Dennis Robertson tied the game 26 seconds before the second intermission with a power play goal. The game-winner was scored by Matt Fraser (52./PP1).
Salzburg back on track
EC Red Bull Salzburg immediately got back on track in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League pick round - promptly answering Sunday's shutout loss with a 3:2 home win over the spusu Vienna Capitals. The comeback attempt of the Viennese was shot down by Salzburg, which has only one pick-round game left and is in third place. Vienna remains fifth after its second loss in a row. Jack Skille (3.), who returned to the lineup for Salzburg, which wore special Wings for Life World Run jerseys in this game, registered on the very first power play for the home team. Then in the second period, Thomas Raffl (27.) took off from the right faceoff circle, scoring his fifth goal of the pick round. Only 48 seconds later Alexander Rauchenwald increased the lead to 3:0 with his second powerplay goal of the evening. Vienna fought back with goals from Fabio Artner (54./PP1) and Ty Loney (59.), but did not manage the final turnaround.
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League| Pick Round | Tuesday, March 2nd:
EC Red Bull Salzburg – spusu Vienna Capitals 3:2 (1:0, 2:0, 0:2)
Referees: BERNEKER, SIEGEL, Kontschieder, Nothegger.
Goals RBS: Skille (3./PP1), Raffl (27.), Rauchenwald (27./PP1)
Goals VIC: Artner (54./PP1), Loney (59.)
HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC-KAC 2:3 (1:2, 1:0, 0:1)
Referees: RUETZ, TRILAR, Hribar, Pardatscher.
Goals HCB: Catenacci (2.), Robertson (40./PP1)
Goals KAC: Ticar (11.), Vallant (12.), Fraser (52./PP1)
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League| Qualification Round | Tuesday, March 2nd:
HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie – Dornbirn Bulldogs 3:5 (0:1, 2:3, 1:1)
Referees: OFNER, SMETANA, Gatol, Sparer.
Goals HCI: Lattner (29.), Girard (37.), Tansey (41./PP1)
Goals DEC: Salmela (9.), Rapuzzi (21., 27.), Woger (36.), Nilsson (60./EN)
Moser Medical Graz99ers – iClinic Bratislava Capitals 2:3 (1:0, 1:0, 0:3)
Referees: PIRAGIC, RENCZ, Vaczi, Zgonc.
Goals G99: Kainz (4.), Latta (22.)
Goals BRC: Hults (43./PP1), Mrazik (49.), Fortier (56.)
Steinbach Black Wings 1992 – EC GRAND Immo VSV 5:3 (4:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Bedynek, Seewald.
Goals BWI: Lebler (1., 12., 55./PP1), Meija (13.), Brucker (18.)
Goal VSV: Schmidt (16.), Gill (39./PP1), Collins (49.)