Release from 24.03.2022
On Thursday, three "best-of-five" quarterfinal series of the Alps Hockey League went into a deciding game. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice, EHC Lustenau and the Rittner Buam each won at home and secured their place in the semifinals - meaning that the top four teams after the regular season advanced.
Semifinals ("best-of-five), 26.3. - 5.4.:
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey (1) - EHC Lustenau (4)
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice (2) - Rittner Buam (3)
EHC Lustenau - EK Die Zeller Eisbären 3:1 (1:0,2:0,0:1)
Spurred on by the home crowd, Lustenau set the first accents and took the lead through Remy Giftopoulos in the eighth minute. Despite further chances for Lustenau, the lead remained close at the break. Also at the beginning of the second period, the hosts had more of the game. With Robin Wüstner and David Slivnik giving the assists, Lucas Haberl scored in the 24th minute to make it 2:0. Now the team from Zell got into the game better and had a few chances to score . But EHC goalie Erik Hanses kept a clean sheet. Shortly before the end of the period, Chris D'Alvise scored the decisive goal. In the last period, the EHC controlled the game. The guests from Zell am See weakened themselves again and again with fouls, the consolation goal by Daniel Ban came too late. Lustenau will meet Asiago in the semifinals.
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 2:1 (0:0,1:1,1:0)
There were interesting signs before the fifth quarterfinal duel between Jesenice and Val Gardena. The favoured Slovenians won the first two duels, but the "Furie" promptly managed to equalise in the series. And although Jesenice initially had more of the game on Thursday and also an early 5-on-3 power play, it went into the first period break goalless. Of all things, the hosts scored in their first shorthanded situation, with Erik Svetina breaking the scoring spell in the 28th minute. But Gardena was on equal terms in the middle period and equalised in the 36th minute: After a McGowan pass, Ville Korhonen found the back of the net. In the third period, Jesenice clearly set the tone (15:4 shots on goal), but the game was tied at one for a long time. In their fourth power play, however, the Slovenians struck, again it was Svetina (59th) who made the semifinal entry perfect. In the next round the Zupancic team will meet Ritten.
Rittner Buam - S.G. Cortina Hafro 5:1 (1:0,1:1,3:0)
Both teams started very committed and already in the opening minutes they found some top-class chances. After a few seconds Osburn was stopped by De Filippo, while on the other side Johansson and Sanna shot goalwards at Jake Smith. In the eighth minute, the Rittners were able to celebrate when Manuel Öhler won the puck, went on a solo run and beat De Filippo, who had been outstanding throughout the series, between the pads. The middle period couldn't have started any better for Ritten, as Jari Sailio scored from close range after 41 seconds to make it 2:0. The goal was a wake-up call for the Ampezzans, as Machacka's team became much stronger and at times cut the hosts off in their third. Their efforts were rewarded in the 25th minute with a Kaskinen goal. Although Cortina pressed for the equaliser, the score remained 2:1 after 40 minutes. The last period also began with a Rittner highlight. De Filippo was unable to hold on to a Sailio shot and captain Simon Kostner scored on a rebound after 24 seconds to make it 3:1. In the final period Simon Kostner scored an empty netter to decide the game and with four seconds left Spinell added another goal to make it 5:1. For the first time in AHL history a best-of-five series was won after a 2:0 deficit. The Rittners will meet Jesenice in the semifinals on Saturday.
Alps Hockey League | 24.03.2022 | Quarterfinal 5:
EHC Lustenau - EK Die Zeller Eisbären 3:1 (1:0,2:0,0:1)
Referees: LAZZERI, RUETZ, Eisl, Fleischmann.
Goals 1:0 EHC Giftopoulos R. (07:43 / Häußle S. ,Puschnik K. / EQ), 2:0 EHC Haberl L. (23:23 / Slivnik D. ,Wüstner R. / EQ), 3:0 EHC D'Alvise C. (39:19 / Giftopoulos R. ,Häußle S. / PP), 3:1 EKZ Ban D. (59:20 / Rajala J. ,Schernthaner J. / SH)
Final score in the "best-of-five" series: 3:2
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 2:1 (0:0,1:1,1:0)
Referees: BAJT, HOLZER T., Kainberger, Wimmler.
Goals 1:0 JES Svetina E. (27:27 / Pance E. / SH), 1:1 GHE Korhonen V. (35:32 / MC GOWAN B. / EQ), 2:1 JES Svetina E. (58:48 / Sotlar J. ,Logar M. / PP)
Final score in the "best-of-five" series: 3:2
Rittner Buam - S.G. Cortina Hafro 5:1 (1:0,1:1,3:0)
Referees: REZEK, SCHAUER, Arlic, Puff.
Goals 1:0 RIT Öhler M. (07:28 / unassisted / EQ), 2:0 RIT Sailio J. (20:41 / Pechlaner P. ,Spinell M. / EQ), 2:1 SGC Kaskinen O. (24:57 / unassisted / EQ), 3:1 RIT Kostner S. (40:24 / Sailio J. ,Kostner J. / EQ), 4:1 RIT Kostner S. (57:12 / Osburn Z. / SH), 5:1 RIT Spinell M. (59:56 / Kostner S. ,Lutz A. / PP)
Final score in the "best-of-five" series: 3:2
Photo: Max Pattis