Release from 23.03.2025

KAC takes series lead | First win for Bolzano against Salzburg

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The semi-finals of the win2day ICE Hockey League are 2:1 after three games in both series. While the EC-KAC took the series lead for the first time with a 5:2 home win against Steinbach Black Wings Linz, HCB Südtirol Alperia recorded their first win against defending champions EC Red Bull Salzburg. The South Tyroleans were already 0:2 down in Salzburg, but fought their way back and celebrated an overtime victory in the end. Adam Helewka scored the game-winner in the 69th minute.

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The EC-KAC set the course for victory early in semi-final three against the Steinbach Black Wings Linz. Thimo Nickl deflected a shot from Nick Petersen in the fifth minute to make it 1:0. Matt Fraser followed up just over two minutes later to make it 2:0. The visitors from Linz continued to struggle to create top-class chances, but at least stabilized in defence. It was not until the 36th minute that the KAC had their third overtime opportunity, which Daniel Obersteiner capitalized on to make it 3:0. Thomas Hundertpfund even increased the lead to 4:0 39 seconds before the second period break. After two close games at the start of the series, the third encounter was already decided after 40 minutes. The EC-KAC initially set the tone in the final period. Nick Petersen increased the lead to 5:0 in the 46th minute, but then some carelessness crept into the Klagenfurt defense. Linz took advantage of this and reduced the deficit to 2:5 with goals from Shawn St-Amant (50./PP1) and Julian Pusnik (53.). In the end the KAC celebrated its second win in a row and took a 2:1 lead in the series. Semi-final four will take place on Tuesday in Linz.

Bolzano turns semi-final three around and wins for the first time
HCB Südtirol Alperia celebrated its first success in the series against EC Red Bull Salzburg with a 3:2 away win after overtime. Salzburg also got off to the better start in the third semi-final. Benjamin Nissner gave the Red Bulls the lead in the ninth minute in the powerplay. As the game progressed, Bolzano also got into the game better. Shortly before the end of the period, Salzburg defender Tyler Lewington was sent to the penalty box for four minutes, but Bolzano was unable to capitalize on the power play - on the contrary: Shortly before the penalty expired, Peter Schneider profited from a mistake by HCB goalie Sam Harvey and increased the lead to 2:0. However, the visitors from South Tyrol were unimpressed. Captain Daniel Frank reduced the deficit to 1:2 in the 28th minute and Brad McClure tied the score at 2:2 just four minutes later. Both teams then created top-class chances, but the game was not decided in regulation time. For the first time in this series, the game went into overtime. Nine minutes had been played when Adam Helewka suddenly found himself completely free in front of RBS goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen. He skillfully curved around the Finn and slid the puck into the empty net. Red Bulls player Lucas Thaler had previously lost his helmet and had to leave the ice, giving Helewka an unexpected amount of space. Salzburg thus suffered their first defeat in their seventh play-off game. Bolzano now has the chance to even the series in front of a home crowd on Tuesday.

win2day ICE Hockey League, Semi-final 3
Sun, 23.03.2025:
EC Red Bull Salzburg – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:3/OT (1:0, 1:2, 0:0, 0:1)
Referees: HRONSKY, OFNER, Durmis, Konc | Spectators: 3.400
Standings in the “best-of-7” series 2:1
Goals RBS: 1:0 Nissner B. (9./PP1), 2:0 Schneider P. (24./SH1)
Goals HCB: 2:1 Frank D. (28.), 2:2 McClure B. (32.), 2:3/OT Helewka A. (69.)

EC-KAC – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 5:2 (2:0, 2:0, 1:2)
Referees: HUBER, K. NIKOLIC, Puff, Zgonc | Spectators: 4.406
Standings in the “best-of-7” series 2:1
Goals KAC: 1:0 Nickl T. (5.), 2:0 Fraser M. (8.), 3:0 Obersteiner D. (36./PP1), 4:0 Hundertpfund T. (40.), 5:0 Petersen N. (46.)
Goals BWL: 5:1 St-Amant S. (50./PP1). 5:2 Pusnik J. (53.)