Release from 23.02.2025

Fehérvár and Pustertal Take the Lead in Pre-Playoffs

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Hydro Fehérvár AV19 secured a 2-1 win in a hard-fought anniversary clash – the two teams faced off for the 100th time – to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three pre-playoff series. Meanwhile, HC Pustertal claimed victory in the first “endless overtime” of the season on the road against Olimpija Ljubljana and could seal their spot in the quarterfinals on Tuesday in front of their home crowd.

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In the pre-playoff opener between Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and spusu Vienna Capitals, the two teams met for the 100th time since the league’s restructuring. Although two-thirds of previous encounters went Vienna’s way, Fehérvár entered the game as the favorite after a far more successful regular season. However, it was the visitors from Austria who opened the scoring: Zane Franklin lit the lamp in the eighth minute. While Fehérvár gained momentum as the period progressed, they were unable to beat goaltender Tyler Parks in the opening frame. In the second period, the Hungarians showed more composure, turning the game around with goals from Kristof Nemeth and Rasmus Kulmala, taking a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. The Capitals had a push in the final period but couldn’t force overtime, leaving them on the brink of elimination ahead of Tuesday’s return leg. Fehérvár can clinch their quarterfinal berth with a road win in two days.

A similarly intense pre-playoff battle unfolded between Olimpija Ljubljana and HC Pustertal, with the outcome decided in the season’s first “endless overtime.” The home side from Ljubljana applied early pressure and struck first in the third minute, as Rok Kapel found the back of the net off a slick setup from Nick Bonino. Pustertal dominated the second period but was initially unable to solve netminder Lukas Horak. In the 45th minute, Alex Petan finally broke through to level the game. In the marathon overtime – where play continues until a game-winner is scored – defender Daniel Glira fired home a blue-line rocket to seal the deal, handing HC Pustertal a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-three showdown.

win2day ICE Hockey League, Pre-Playoffs, Sun, 23.02.2025
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – spusu Vienna Capitals 2:1 (0:1, 2:0, 0:0)
Referees: Hronsky, Ofner, Durmis, Riecken
Goals VIC: Franklin (8’)
Goals AVS: Nemeth (27’), Kulmala (37’)

Olimpija Ljubljana – HC Pustertal 1:2 OT (1:0, 0:0, 0:1)
Referees: M. Nikolic, Sternat, Nothegger, Zgonc
Goals OLL: Kapel (3’)
Goals PUS: Petan (45’), Glira (65’)

Foto ©Tálai Valéria