Graz takes the lead in the Qualification Round

Dramatic finish in Salzburg's road win against Vienna
EC Red Bull Salzburg won their bet-at-home ICE Hockey League away game against the spusu Vienna Capitals after an incredibly dramatic finish with 4:3 after penalty shootout. Marco Richter (14th) and David McIntyre (18th) provided the only goals in the first two periods. In a highly exciting game of eye-to-eye, the Red Bulls took the lead through new arrival Stefan Espeland in the 45th minute and held that advantage into the final minutes - before the game was tied at 3-3 with three goals in the last 70 seconds. Nine seconds before the end, Benjamin Nissner forced an overtime. Austin Ortega finally gained the second extra point in the penalty shootout for the Red Bulls, who celebrated their second win in a row.



Halmo hat-trick paves way for Bolzano victory
With three goals, Mike Halmo paved the way for HCB Südtirol Alperia, who were with cooperation players Stefan Quinz and Diego Glück due to the many absences in the offensive, to win 4:3 against Hydro Fehérvár AV19. Already in the sixth minute, the 29-year-old opened the scoring. But before the first break Colton Hargrove equalised against his former club. Csanad Erdely then equalised Halmo's lead (21st /PP) again, but in the 27th minute Bolzano's number 91 scored his first hat-trick in the league. A little later Luca Frigo netted for the first two-goal lead for the home side. In the final period, the Hungarians gave the league leaders a hard fight, but Janos Hari's goal was all they could manage. With their sixth home win in a row, the South Tyroleans extended their lead to three points. The Hungarians, on the other hand, were defeated for the third time in a row and are now in last place of the Pick Round.

Innsbruck back in the play-off fight
HC TIWAG Innsbruck keep their play-off chances alive. In a heated game towards the end, the Tyroleans won 5:2 against the Steinbach Black Wings 1992. In the first, goals were scored on both sides only in the powerplay. First the Sharks took a 1:0 lead through Christof Kromp with a two man advantage, a little later Brian Lebler scored for the Linz team. The only goal in the middle period was also scored on PP, with top scorer Daniel Ciampini aiming for the short corner to give the Tyroleans the lead once again. In the final period, the home side benefited from a serious defensive mistake by Linz, who virtually served Kevin Tansey the puck. And the Sharks even added to the lead a little later through Christian Jennes. After Dennis Yan's 2:4, the visitors had some hope again, but Christof Kromp closed the deal with his second goal - after a nice solo, again in the powerplay. With this win, the Tyroleans came closer again in the fight for the remaining three play-off tickets.

Efficient Graz side wins in Villach
The Moser Medical Graz99ers also won their third game in Villach and take the lead in the Qualification Round until tomorrow. In an even first period, the visitors took the lead through Ken Ograjensek when they were shorthanded. Renars Krastenbergs equalised 36 seconds before the first intermission, but Villach could not carry this momentum into the second period. Travis Oleksuk put Graz back in front with their first powerplay goal in the Qualification Round and the visitors continued to be efficient. After a capital mistake Anton Mylläri made it 1:3 and with his second goal of the evening Ograjensek increased the lead to 1:4. In the last 20 minutes the guests didn't let up much and had a good goalie between the posts with Felix Nussbacher. In the final minute, Villach's Jordan Caron only managed to pull one back for the final result.



bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | Pick Round:
Tue, 23.02.2021: spusu Vienna Capitals – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:4 SO (1:1, 0:0, 2:2, 0:0, 0:1)
Referees: FICHTNER, HRONSKY, Kis-Kiraly, Riecken.
Goals Wien: Richter (14.), Wall (59.), Nissner (60.)
Goals Salzburg: McIntyre (18.), Espeland (45.), Raffl (60.), Ortega (65./entsch. Penalty)

Tue, 23.02.2021: HCB Südtirol Alperia – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 4:3 (1:1, 3:1, 0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Martin, Pardatscher.
Goals Bolzano: Halmo (6., 21./PP, 27.), Frigo (31.)
Goals Fehérvár: Hargrove (16.), Erdely (25.), Hari 46.)

bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | Qualification Round:
Tue, 23.02.2021: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie – Steinbach Black Wings 1992 5:2 (1:1, 1:0, 3:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, OFNER, Seewald, Sparer.
Goals Innsbruck: Kromp (17./PP2, 58./PP), Ciampini (31.), Tansey (46.), Jennes (50.)
Goals Linz: Lebler (19./PP), Yan (51.)

Tue, 23.02.2021: EC GRAND Immo VSV – Moser Medical Graz99ers 2:4 (1:1, 0:3, 1:0)
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Kontschieder, Nothegger.
Goals Villach: Krastenbergs (20.), Caron (60.)
Goals Graz: Ograjensek (18./SH, 38.), Oleksuk (24./PP), Mylläri (33.)

Photo: VSV/Krammer