Release from 16.03.2018
After winning 15 playoff games in a row, the streak of Vienna Capitals ended in Innsbruck on Friday. While Dornbirn Bulldogs also remained alive, Liwest Black Wings Linz and HC Bolzano tied their series at two.
Innsbruck ends Vienna's winning streak
Innsbruck came out hard and wasted some early chances. After eight minutes Andrew Yogan opened the scoring and soon later Benedikt Schennach doubled the lead on power play. After missing some more opportunities, the Caps bounced back when Brandon Buck's deflection found its way to the net with 30 seconds to go. After the restart Innsbruck goalie Patrik Nechvatal had some good stops and then Fabio Schramm restored the two-goal lead at the other end. After Rafael Rotter pulled one back (good goal after video review) once again, it was Sacha Guimond who rounded off the second period scoring for a 4:2 home lead. Kelsey Tessier's breakaway goal was not enough and Vienna's 15-playoff game winning-streak ended in Innsbruck.
Dornbirn stays alive
Both sides started defensively-minded with Thomas Raffl missing Salzburg's best chance after a solo attempt. In the middle frame Dornbirn had the better of the play but Martin Grabher Meier, Jamie Arniel Matt Fraser (post) and Raphael Wolf (post) failed to score. Dustin Sylvester broke the spell after 27 minutes and after the halfway point of the game Kevin Macierzynski added a second. With another second-period goal Jerome Leduc extended Dornbirn's lead to 3:0. The game was not over as Salzburg bounced back in the third. Alexander Cijan got his team on the scoreboard with a shorthanded marker and Peter Hochkofler made it a one-goal game. The Red Bulls came close to tie the game but when the puck crossed the line next time, the refs made a "no goal" call after video review. In further consequence the Bulldogs killed the clock for their first win in the series.
Linz wins another goal fest
Despite Zagreb pressing in the opening minutes, Linz scored first when Fabio Hofer lit the lamp. Just one minute later Joel Broda doubled the lead but Medvescak tied it within a minute thanks to goals by Sondre Olden and Mike Aviani. The hosts did not panic and Dan DaSilva restored their lead on a rebound for a 3:2 lead after 20 minutes. After the restart Linz goalie Mike Ouzas had two big saves and while Zagreb had all the momentum, Linz scored again by Rick Schofield.It was the only goal in the second. In the third Linz made the game safe with four more goals. After the 7th goal against Zagreb netmidner Carr was replaced by backup Rosandic. The Upper Austrians did the same with Florian Janny conceding two goals against for a 8:4 final score - the series is tied at two.
Bolzano ties series after overtime
Klagenfurt was the better side in the first but could not score. After a goalless first, both teams met at eye level in the second. While HCB goalie Pekka Tuokkola performed very well, Miceli and Halmo missed golden chances for the hosts. With four minutes to go in the period, Austin Smith opened the scoring with deflecting a Smith shot. Early in the third Kozek tied the game after a mistake in the Bolzano defense. Soon later Kozek only struck metalwork and Bischofberger could not beat Tuokkola. Then, Bolzano pressed for another lead and Gartner finally made it. In a final push Klagenfurt pulled their goalie and tied it with 31 seconds to go thanks to Manuel Ganahl. For the second successive time a game between these teams went into overtime and it took Bolzano four minutes to win the game. Travis Oleksuk held the upper hand against KAC goalie Madlener to tie the series.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, Quarterfinals 4:
Fri, 16.03.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia (8) vs. EC-KAC (4) 3:2 OT (0:0 – 1:0 – 1:2 – 1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, M. NIKOLIC, Schauer, Sparer; 4.570 Zuschauer
Goals HCB: 35:12 Austin Smith (1:0) – 54:35 Robin Gartner (2:1) – 64:06 Travis Oleksuk (3:2)
Goals KAC: 41:08 Andrew Kozek (1:1) –59:29 Manuel Ganahl (2:2)
Score in the "best of seven" quarterfinal series, KAC – HCB: 2:2
Fri, 16.3.2018: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – KHL Medvescak Zagreb 8:4 (3:2, 1:0, 4:2)
Referees: BALUSKA, SMETANA; Zuseher: 4.865
Goals Linz: Hofer (2., 46.), Broda (3./pp), DaSilva (13.), Schofield (32.), Gaffal (48.), D'Aversa (49./pp2), Lebler (52./pp)
Goals Zagreb: Olden (11.), Aviani (12.), Netik (57.), Tikkanen (59.)
Score in the "best of seven" quarterfinal series, BWL - MZA: 2:2
Fri, 16.03.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs (7) vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (2) 3:2 (0:0, 3:0, 0:2)
Referees: KINCSES, LEMELIN, Nemeth, Soos; 3.454 Zuschauer
Goals DEC: 1:0 Sylvester (28.), 2:0 Macierzynski (32.), 3:0 Leduc (37.)
Goals RBS: 3:1 Cijan (47./sh1), 3:2 Hochkofler (53.)
Score in the "best of seven" quarterfinal series, RBS – DEC: 3:1
Fri, 16.03.2018: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (6) vs. Vienna Capitals (1) 4:3 (2:1, 2:1, 0:1)
Referees: GRUBER, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Verworner; 2.800 Zuschauer
Goals Innsbruck: Yogan (8.), Schennach (13./pp), Schramm (22.), Guimond (40./pp)
Goals Wien: Buck (20.), Rotter (35.), Tessier (46.)
Score in the "best of seven" quarterfinal series, VIC – HCI: 3:1.