Release from 07.03.2017

Four teams fight against the end of the season

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On Wednesday the third game day of quarterfinals in Sky Alps Hockey League takes place. HC Neumarkt Riwega as well as the Austrian teams EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau and FBI VEU Feldkirch are with the back to the wall in their away games. In addition, HC Pustertal Wolves needs a home win to extend the best-of-5 series against Cortina.

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HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 2 - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau 0
In the first two games of the series eight power play goals were scored. Last Saturday Jesenice scored one goal more with a man advantage, giving them a 4:3 away win and a 2:0 series lead. The steelers could go through at arena Podmežakla in front of their own fans now. However, the Austrians still have hopes as they earned an away win in master Round recently. Last INL campaign the lions got a sweep against the Slovenes who could take revanche on Wednesday. 
 
Rittner Buam 2 - HC Neumarkt Riwega 0
Neumarkt was the last team to qualify for palyoffs and now they are putting up a good fight in the quarters against the odds-on favourite from Klobenstein. The Buam lead the series 2:0 but the games were hard-fought, though. The Italian champion decided only one period per game to their favour with all other being tied. The Wild Geese have to stay out of the penalty box on Wednesday as they conceded five goals against while playing shorthanded. Ritten's captain Christian Borgatello often had his fingers in the pie, being the playoffs top scorer with six points (one goal and five assists). In addition, Alex Frei found the back of the net in every season meeting with Neumarkt, scoring five goals in total.
 
HC Pustertal Wolves 0 - S.G. Cortina Hafro 2
The first two games have been packed with drama. After Cortina won the quarterfinal opener in the third overtime, the next match was thrilling again. With half a minute to go Pustertal scored the equalizer but 20 seconds later Cortina took a 2:0 series lead. On Wednesday the wolves have a must-win game to stay alive. In 2012 Cortina earned three successive wins against Pustertal the last time but the visitors are highly confident. Riley Brace leads scoring charts in playoffs with three goals. There are suspensions on both sides:  The hosts will miss Maksims Sirokovs and Viktor Schweitzer while Cortina does not have top scorer Nicola Fontanive available.
 
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 2 - FBI VEU Feldkirch 0
Last Saturday Asiago took a 2:0 series lead with a road win in overtime and now they are just one victory away from semis. With their back to the wall Feldkirch now needs the first away win. The Austrians have lost all six matches against Asiago, though. The Italians demonstrated strength in depth in the previous two games with seven different players signing into scoring charts. They scored eight of nine goals at even strength, too. The VEU hopes to have a good start into the game as they had in the opening match with a 1:0 lead after 20 minutes.

Sky Alps Hockey League, 3rd quarterfinal
08.03.2017, 18:30: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau
Referees: LESNIAK, STERNAT, Angerer, Holzer
Score in the best-of-5 series: 2:0
 
08.03.2017, 20:00: Rittner Buam - HC Neumarkt Riwega
Referees: LAZZERI, WIDMANN, Bärnthaler, M. Cristeli
Score in the best-of-5 series: 2:0
 
08.03.2017, 20:30: HC Pustertal Wolves - S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: BULOVEC, MOSCHEN, Ch. Cristeli, Pagon
Score in the best-of-5 series: 0:2
 
08.03.2017, 20:30: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - FBI VEU Feldkirch
Referees: RUETZ, VIRTA, Giacomozzi, Rinker
Score in the best-of-5 series: 2:0