Release from 20.02.2022
On Sunday, Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and HCB Südtirol Alperia celebrated important victories in the fight for direct quarterfinal qualification. With a home win over Graz, HC TIWAG Innsbruck also preserved their chances for the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League pre-playoffs. While these three games were decided with only one goal difference, HC Tesla Orli Znojmo earned a landslide victory in Ljubljana.
The top match of the day between Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and EC Red Bull Salzburg quickly lived up to expectations, with the teams exchanging high-class blows. After a strong start by the home side, Thomas Raffl gave the improving Red Bulls the lead after a short solo run (16th). The Hungarians answered in the 19th minute with a power play goal by Timothy Campbell. In the second period, the even game continued with high tempo and changing chances on both sides. Benjamin Nissner (22nd) gave Salzburg the lead again, Braeden Shaw equalised again in the powerplay (25th). Further top chances on both sides were thwarted by the strong goalkeepers Rasmus Tirronen and Salzburg's JP Lamoureux. In the final period, the game was played with open sights, duels now dominated the highly exciting action with the momentum continuing to change. A power play of the home side in the 57th minute should decide the game, Anze Kuralt deflected a distance shot unstoppable (58th). In the turbulent final phase, JP Lamoureux saved a penalty by Andrew Sarauer (60th), but the Red Bulls still lost for the first time this season against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 with 2:3.
In the fight for a direct quarter-final qualification, HCB Südtirol Alperia also celebrated an important success against EC-KAC. The team from Bolzano took the lead already in the third minute through Marco Insam, shortly afterwards Domenico Alberga even doubled it with a shorthanded marker. Sebastian Dahm was caught cold on his comeback after his participation in the Olympics with Denmark. Offensively, things did not go any better for the Carinthians - as in the previous games. After 35 minutes, the KAC's longest offensive drought in league history was even reached, at this point the 187:36 minutes from October 2013 had been exceeded. In the final period, Matt Fraser broke the scoring spell and evened the score with two goals within a short time. But Bolzano had the longer breath: 91 seconds before the end of regulation Angelo Miceli converted his own rebound for a 3:2 home victory. It was the fourth defeat in a row for the reigning champions.
Znojmo celebrates big win at Tivoli
HC Tesla Orli Znojmo gave HK SZ Olimpija a lesson away from home. Not only did Ljubljana go empty-handed for the first time in their fourth encounter of the season, the Slovenians also suffered a heavy 8:0 defeat. Jakub Köver opened the scoring in the ninth minute, then it went on in quick succession: By the 15th minute, the visitors were already leading 4:0. The Czechs left no doubt about the away victory, and eight different players were on the scoresheet. After the 10:2 victory over Bolzano at the end of November, it was the second highest win of the season for the Czechs, who can now hope for the top 6 again.
Innsbruck gets victory against Graz
HC TIWAG Innsbruck got back into the fight for the pre-playoffs with a 2:1 home win over the Moser Medical Graz99ers. In the first power play of the game, the hosts took the lead through Joel Messner, the defenceman converted an ideal Leavens assist. Two seconds before the first period break, the Tyroleans scored their second goal in a curious way: Graz goalie Christian Engstrand missed a shot by Lukas Bär from the neutral zone. After Innsbruck missed a good chance for the third goal in the middle period, Graz took more and more command. In the 27th minute, Mike Zalewski got the guests on the scoreboard during a power play. Led by a strong goalie Tom McCollum, the home side defended the narrow lead. In the final phase, the Styrians pressed for an equaliser, but the Sharks managed to hold on for the win.
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League, Sunday, 20.02.2021:
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:2 (1:1, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, SIEGEL, Jedlicka, Konc
Goals Fehervar: Campbell (19.), Shaw (25.), Kuralt (58.)
Goals Salzburg: Raffl (16.), Nissner (22.)
HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Moser Medical Graz99ers 2:1 (2:0, 0:1, 0:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, NIKOLIC K., Martin, Seewald
Goals Innsbruck: Messner (10./PP), Bär (20.)
Goal Graz: Zalewski (27./PP)
HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC-KAC 3:2 (2:0, 0:0, 1:2)
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Basso, Hribar
Goals Bolzano: Insam (3.), Alberga (7./SH), Miceli (59.)
Goals Klagenfurt: Fraser (52./PP, 55.)
HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana – HC Tesla Orli Znojmo 0:8 (0:4, 0:2, 0:2)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., TRILAR, Hribar, Zgonc
Goals Znojmo: Köver (9.), Immo (12.), Ahl (14.), Sedlak (15.), Prokes (30.), Culkin (38.), Luciani (44.), Kvasnica (52.)