Release from 09.03.2024

KAC and Salzburg secure match pucks | First win for Villach

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Regular season champion EC-KAC and defending champions EC Red Bull Salzburg extended their series lead to 3:1, while the HCB Südtirol Alperia also leads against the EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV with 3:1. However, the "Eagles" from Villach were able to avoid an early end to the season with a 6:1 victory. Pustertal drew 2:2 with Fehérvár on Friday and there were no empty seats in the arenas in Bruneck, Villach, Feldkirch and Linz on Friday and Saturday, meaning that all games in a round were completely sold out for the first time this season.

PULS 24 will broadcast the match between Salzburg and Linz live on Monday from 19:05. The game starts at 19:30.

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Lucas Thaler with the fastest ever playoff goal
The EC Red Bull Salzburg narrowly won 3:2 at Steinbach Black Wings Linz to make it 3:1 in the “best-of-7 series”, giving the Red Bulls their first chance to clinch a spot in the semifinals at home on Monday. PULS 24 will broadcast game five live on Monday from 19:05. Lucas Thaler put the visitors ahead after just eight seconds on Saturday. The 22-year-old center took advantage of a mistake by BWL goalkeeper Rasmus Tirronen. It was the fastest goal in playoff history. Linz were unimpressed, however, and equalized in the second minute of the game through Emilio Romig. Just five minutes later, Chay Genoway put the Red Bulls back in front in the powerplay. The visitors went into the first break with a 2:1 lead. It also took just eight seconds in the second period before Graham Knott equalized for Linz. It was the first playoff goal for the Black Wings' top scorer. However, the game was only tied for a few minutes again, as Drake Rymsha scored in the 27th minute of the game to make it 3:2. It was the Red Bulls second powerplay goal of the evening. No further goals were added to the scoreboard after that. Linz had a few more chances to score, especially in the final minutes of the game.

KAC wins again in Feldkirch
The EC-KAC also has a 3:1 series lead against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. The regular season champions won 3:1 in a for the first time in the history of the Pioneers sold-out Vorarlberghalle. Thomas Hundertpfund made it 1:0 in the seventh minute while shorthanded, but the home side equalized just four minutes later, also shorthanded, to make it 1:1. The third goal of the evening finally was scored in the powerplay. This time the assist came from Hundertpfund and Matt Fraser scored to make it 2:1. 18 minutes had been played at this point. In the second period it was also a game at eye level, but without any further goals. Johannes Bischofberger finally made it 3:1 in the 42nd minute. The KAC then played out the game skillfully, and the Pioneers had hardly any chances to score again. Klagenfurt will therefore have their first chance to secure their place in the semifinals in front of their home crowd on Monday.

Villach with the first win
The EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV started game four against the HCB Südtirol Alperia with their backs to the wall. The visitors have won all their games so far and therefore had their first chance to advance to the semifinals on Saturday. In the sold-out Stadthalle Villach, however, the home side were motivated from the beginning to avoid the end of the season. In the end, it was a clear 6:1 victory for the "Eagles". John Hughes put the Carinthians ahead in the tenth minute with a spectacular finish. It was also Villach's first lead in the current series. However, Bolzano replied promptly. Just 14 seconds after the 0:1, Brad McClure scored the equalizer. However, Villach took the lead again in the first period, this time with a remarkable shorthanded goal from Kevin Hancock. The Carinthians added two more goals in the middle period, including Hughes' second of the evening. Blaz Tomazevic also scored his first goal of the game. The 26-year-old Slovenian scored twice more in the final period, his first hat-trick in the Eagles' kit. They were also Tomazevic's first goals since November 26. On Monday, Bolzano will have their next chance to advance to the semifinals in front of their home crowd.

WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE | 09.03.2024 | QUARTERFINAL 4:
STEINBACH BLACK WINGS LINZ – EC RED BULL SALZBURG 2:3 (1:2, 1:1, 0:0)
REFEREES: OFNER, ZRNIC, BÄRNTHALER, KONC. | SPECTATORS: 4.863
STANDINGS IN THE “BEST-OF-7” SERIES: 1:3
Goals BWL: 1:1 Romig E. (2.), 2:2 Knott G. (21.)
Goals RBS: 0:1 Thaler L. (1.), 1:2 Genoway C. (7./PP1), 2:3 Rymsha D. (27./PP1)

BEMER PIONEERS VORARLBERG – EC-KAC 1:3 (1:2, 0:0, 0:1)
REFEREES: NIKOLIC M., PIRAGIC, NOTHEGGER, ZGONC. | SPECTATORS: 3.890
STANDINGS IN THE “BEST-OF-7” SERIES: 1:3
Goals PIV: 1:1 Oden J. (11./SH1)
Goals KAC: 0:1 Hundertpfund T. (7./SH1), 1:2 Fraser M. (18./PP1), 1:3 Bischofberger J. (42.)

EC IDM WÄRMEPUMPEN VSV – HCB SÜDTIROL ALPERIA 6:1 (2:1, 2:0, 2:0)
REFEREES: FICHTNER, STERNAT, GATOL-SCHAFRANEK, RIECKEN. | SPECTATORS: 3.465
STANDINGS IN THE “BEST-OF-7” SERIES: 1:3
Goals VSV: 1:0 Hughes J. (10.), 2:1 Hancock K. (16./SH1), 3:1 Hughes J. (29.), 4:1 Tomazevic B. (34.), 5:1 Tomazevic B. (56.), 6:1 Tomazevic B. (57.)
Goals HCB: 1:1 McClure B. (10.)