HCB Südtirol Alperia underpins top position

Bolzano wins against Klagenfurt
HCB Südtirol Alperia defended their lead in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League with a 4-3 home win over chasing EC-KAC and took a big step towards winning the first phase of regular season and qualifying for the Champions Hockey League. Bolzano now has a five-point lead over Klagenfurt ahead of the two remaining rounds, which was the first time in ten games that the team had failed to score any points on the road. The challenger and second in the table was ahead by two goals until the 35th minute of the game, before the "Foxes" took over: Dustin Gazley (38./PP1) scored his second goal with an onetimer and set up Brett Findlay's equalizer in the 45th minute. Dennis Robertson (52.) then hit the game-winner. The US-American Gazley scored two goals and two assists in the end. He managed a four-point game for the second time this season.

Rotter secures Vienna's first win of the season over Villach
With the game-winner 1:38 left Rafael Rotter secured the spusu Vienna Capitals’ first win of the season over EC GRAND Immo VSV. Villach lost for the third time in a row and remains tenth. With two rounds to go, the "Adler" no longer have a chance to reach eighth place and will enter the Qualification Round with a maximum of two bonus points. In a turbulent game, Vienna took a two-goal lead with a double strike from Benjamin Nissner (35.) and Patrick Antal (37.). But Renars Krastenbergs (54.), who also scored in his third game for Villach, and Martin Ulmer (58.) brought the home team back into the game before Rafael Rotter (59.) secured the victory for the Viennese late on with a deflection.

Dornbirn ends losing streak
The Dornbirn Bulldogs have celebrated another success after four defeats in a row. The team from Vorarlberg defeated Hydro Fehérvár AV19 4-3 after overtime and now have the best chances to start the Qualification Round of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League as top seed. With two rounds to go, Suikkanen's team has a five-point advantage over Graz and Bratislava. Dornbirn was already trailing 1-3 midway through the game, conceding two goals when shorthanded. But the Bulldogs bit back with two goals in the final two minutes of the middle period - and after a scoreless final period, got the extra point in overtime through Nikita Jevpalovs, who secured his brace.

Bratislava lands important win
The iClinic Bratislava Capitals celebrated an important 2-1 home win against the Moser Medical Graz99ers in the fight for the best spot starting the Qualification Round of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. With the third win in a row, the eighth-placed Slovakians drew level with the Styrians - and now also have a minimal advantage in the direct duel. The home win was heralded by Denis Hudec (9./PP1), who grabbed a rebound in the ninth minute and scored for the third consecutive time before Brock Higgs (29.) doubled halfway through the game against his former club. Olof Mylläri (40.) brought the Graz side back, but they failed in the end due to the excellent disposition of BRC goalie Jared Coreau, who had a save percentage of 97.1%.

Linz upsets Salzburg
The Steinbach Black Wings 1992 celebrated a surprising 4-2 road win at EC Red Bull Salzburg. The team at the bottom of the table took impressive revenge for the 0-6 defeat in their last meeting at the end of January and at the same time fended off their 30th defeat of the season. Brian Lebler (4. and 29./PP1) laid the foundation for the victory with his brace - and thus broke the 20-goal mark as the third player this season. After Florian Baltram (39./PP1) reduced the deficit, Linz also snatched the second power play, Stefan Gaffal (42.) restored the two-goal advantage. And the Linz team held on to it until the end, celebrating another success after three defeats in a row.

Bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | Dienstag, 2. Februar 2021:
iClinic Bratislava Capitals – Moser Medical Graz99ers 2:1 (1:0, 1:1, 0:0)
Referees: HRONSKY, SMETANA, Jedlicka, Konc.
Goals BRC: Hudec (9./PP1), Higgs (29.)
Goal G99: Mylläri (40.)

Dornbirn Bulldogs – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 4:3 OT (0:1, 3:2, 0:0, 1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, RUETZ, Sparer, Tschrepitsch.
Goals DEC: Rapuzzi (29./PP1), Jevpalovs (39., 64.), Schnetzer (40.)
Goals AVS: Erdely (20./PP1), Campbell (25./PP1), Hargrove (19.)

EC Red Bull Salzburg – Steinbach Black Wings 1992 2:4 (0:1, 1:1, 1:2)
Referees: GROZNIK, PIRAGIC, Nothegger, Seewald.
Goals RBS: Baltram (39./PP1), Jakubitzka (60.)
Goals BWI: Lebler (4., 29./PP1), Gaffal (42./PP1), Zusevics (59.EN)

EC GRAND Immo VSV – spusu Vienna Capitals 4:5 (1:2, 1:2, 2:1)
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc.
Goals VSV: Schmidt (9.), Kosmachuk (24./PP1), Krastenbergs (54.), Ulmer (58./PP1)
Goals VIC: Großlercher (12.), Wukovits (15.), Nissner (35.), Antal (37.), Rotter (59.)

HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC-KAC 4:3 (0:1, 2:2, 2:0)
Referees: OFNER, TRILAR, Basso, Pardatscher.
Goals HCB: Gazley (34., 38./PP1), Findlay (45.), Robertson (52.)
Goals KAC: Petersen (14.), Fraser (33./PP1), Haudum (35.)