Release from 21.01.2022

Innsbruck ends Salzburg's point-streak

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On Friday, HC TIWAG Innsbruck celebrated a 3:1 home victory over league leader EC Red Bull Salzburg, who had previously gained at least one point 18 times in a row. The other three games of the day were not decided in regulation time. While HC Pustertal won the South Tyrolean derby after a brilliant comeback, HK SZ Olimpija and Steinbach Black Wings Linz won after penalty shootouts.

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In the third match-up of the season between HC TIWAG Innsbruck and EC Red Bull Salzburg, the visitors got off to the better start. After captain Thomas Raffl missed the best chance, the home side became stronger by the minute. In the twelfth minute, former Salzburg player Nico Feldner finally scored from close range for the hosts. The second period of the high-intensity game was even, but again the home side took their chance and went up 2:0 in the 35th minute through Ben Betker while shorthanded. Peter Schneider had the answer only half a minute later and scored from distance with a hammer shot into Thomas McCollum's goal. With the narrow Innsbruck lead they went into the final period, in which the Tyroleans were once again rewarded for their efforts: Daniel Leavens (47th) scored from half distance right into the cross corner. The Red Bulls tried hard to pull one back in the intense final minutes but could not overcome the hosts' defence and failed to register any points for the first time in 19 games. HCI improved to tenth place with their second win in a row.



Pustertal again derby winner
After three wins in a row, HCB Südtirol Alperia also wanted to "set the derby record straight", as league newcomer Pustertal won two of three duels so far this season. After a goalless first period, in which both goalkeepers distinguished themselves, the Foxes also took the lead in the middle period. After a quick counterattack, Brett Findlay finished successfully in the 28th minute, it was the first derby goal of the 29-year-old Canadian. And six minutes later, Domenico Alberga even increased the lead to 2:0. This advantage lasted until well into the third period, only in the 56th minute Shane Hanna scored for the guests on power play. Only a short time later Reece Willcox evened the score and in overtime defender Emil Kristensen secured the next prestigious win for the Wolves.

Linz and Ljubljana win in shootout
The game HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana against the spusu Vienna Capitals, who missed some players, was a clash between two rivals in the standings. After both teams had missed one powerplay each, Wade Murphy put the home side in front in the 19th minute with a PP goal. Matt Prapavessis equalised in the 26th minute, but shortly afterwards Guillaume Leclerc beat Vienna goalie Bernhard Starkbaum between the pads to give the Slovenians the lead again. A mishap in the Caps defence even led to 3:1, but then Prapavessis scored again. With his first goal in the Olimpija jersey Bastien Maia (48th) restored the two-goal lead. But Vienna did not give in and equalised through Matt Bradley and Prapavessis' third goal. After a goalless overtime Murphy secured the extra point for the hosts with the only converted penalty.

Steinbach Black Wings Linz, on the other hand, were able to crown their comeback with a shootout win. The last team in the table fell behind to the Dornbirn Bulldogs already in the fifth minute through Simeon Schwinger. The home side went 2:0 up in the second through Colton Beck, but Linz managed a late comeback thanks to Colin Smith. First the 28-year-old reduced the deficit, then he gave the assist for Will Pelletier's equaliser. And finally Smith scored in the penalty shootout for the road win.

bet-at-home ICE Hockey League, 21.01.2022:
Dornbirn Bulldogs - Steinbach Black Wings Linz 2:3 SO (1:0, 1:0, 0:2)
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC K., Pardatscher, Sparer
Goals Dornbirn: Schwinger (5.), Beck (28.)
Goals Linz: Smith (56., 65./dec. penalty), Pelletier (59.)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:1 (1:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., OFNER, Nothegger, Wimmler
Goals Innsbruck: Feldner (12.), Betker (35./SH), Leavens (47.)
Goal Salzburg: Schneider (36.)

HCB Südtirol Alperia - HC Pustertal 2:3 OT (0:0, 2:0, 0:2)
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Miklic, Seewald
Goals Bolzano: Findlay (28.), Alberga (34.)
Goals Pustertal: Hanna (56.), Willcox (58.), Kristensen (62.)

HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana - spusu Vienna Capitals 5:4 SO (1:0, 2:1, 1:3)
Referees: PIRAGIC, RENCZ, Muzsik, Zgonc
Goals Ljubljana: Murphy (19., 65./dec penalty), Leclerc (27.), Koblar (39.), Maia (48.)
Goals Vienna: Prapavessis (26., 45., 50.), Bradley (49.)