Release from 28.03.2021

Jesenice wins quarterfinal opener against Gherdeina

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HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice made it one-nil in the "best-of-five" quarterfinal series against the HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. However, the opening victory of the Slovenians was a hard-fought one, as the guests from South Tyrol were an equal opponent until the very end. Only one second before the end of the game Zan Jezovsek could finally decide the game in favor of the hosts with an empty-net goal. Game two follows on Tuesday in Gherdeina.

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The favorite from Jesenice started better in quarterfinal one of the "best-of-5" series against the HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. However, it took until the 14th minute of the game before Ziga Urukalo scored the 1:0 lead after Mirko Dumic's assist. All in all, the first period ended with 12:10 shots on goal in favor of the second-placed team after the regular season.

In the second the Slovenians set the tone again. But Val Gardena goalkeeper Jacob Smith was able to save numerous chances of JES. After a total of 35 minutes of play, the Italian conceded a second goal. After a great assist from Patrik Rajsar, Maks Percic scored alone in front of the goal. The visitors then gained more control of the game. First Matt Wilkins missed a great chance in a powerplay, but only a short time later the third-placed league scorer shot with a sensational volley goal (35.). It was the 30-years-old Canadian's 23rd goal of the season.

The final period began with a power play for Jesenice. In this no goal was scored.Overall, it was the guests who got off to the better start in the final period, but without Zan Us in the goal of Jesenice could save all shots. In the final minutes, the guests tried everything again and they had numerous scoring opportunities. However, the tenth-placed team after the regular season was unable to equalize and Zan Jezovsek scored an empty-net goal just one second before the end of the game to decide the game in favor of the home side. Game two in the best-of-five quarterfinal series will follow on Tuesday in Gherdeina.



Alps Hockey League:

HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 3:1 (1:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, LESNIAK, Arlic, Snoj.
Goals JES: 1:0 Urukalo Z. (14. Dumic M.), 2:0 Percic M. (32. Rajsar P. – Sersen G.)
Goal GHE: 2:1 Wilkins M. (35. Sullmann Pilser M. – McGowan B.), 3:1 Z. Jezovsek (60./EN Rajsar P.)