Fourth „do or die“ game in the history of Alps Hockey League

With the 2: 2 equalizer in the „best-of-five“ semifinal series, Pustertal forced a crucial game five. After the Slovenians already led the series with 2-1, the Wolves managed to prevent a season end. Because of their equalizer, they forced a decisive game five. In this season‘s quarterfinals, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors and EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau have already played an all-decisive game in their „best-of-seven“ quarterfinal series.

This is only the fourth game in the history of Alps Hockey League, where two teams play a so called „do or die“ game. During the 2016/17 season, it was also Jesenice, which played a series over the full distance for the first time in the history of the league. However, in the semi-final with Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, Jesenice eventually lost 3-2 in the „best-of-five“ series. In the 2017/18 season it came to a decisive game seven during the final series. After Asiago took the lead three times, the Rittner Buam managed to always equalize it. In the crucial game seven, however, Asiago managed to win and celebrated the Alps Hockey League title.

In two out of three games, the home team managed to win the series. It remains exciting, therefore, whether Pustertal continues this trend, or Jesenice makes an all Slovenian final.

Alps Hockey League series with an all decisive game:
Semifinals 2017 (best-of-five): Asiago – Jesenice 3:2 (game 5: 4:2)
Finals 2018 (best-of-seven): Asiago – Ritten 4:3 (game 7: 7:5)
Quarterfinals 2019 (best-of-seven): Salzburg – Lustenau 3:4 (game 7: 2:3)

Photo: HCP / Foppa / Optic Rapid