Release from 02.02.2025

KAC wins 359th Carinthian derby and secures playoff spot

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The EC-KAC earned a 3:2 shootout win in the 359th Carinthian derby and also secured a play-off spot. In the race for the top six, the Moser Medical Graz99ers and Steinbach Black Wings Linz recorded clear home victories. EC Red Bull Salzburg moved up to second place in the table with a win against Bolzano.

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Villach and Klagenfurt delivered an exciting 359th Carinthian derby. The fast-paced first period ended goalless, the fans in the sold-out Villach Stadthalle had to wait until the 36th minute for the first goal: then Chase Pearson buried the disc from close range in the power play. The assists went to Kevin Hancock and John Hughes, whose contract extensions were announced during the game. Philipp Lindner even made it 2:0 in the third period, but the KAC came back. Matt Fraser (51) and Nick Petersen (59) both scored in the powerplay and the game went into overtime. The visitors had already secured their play-off spot with the point and even took the extra point in the shootout. Jan Mursak was the only scorer to sink his penalty.

EC Red Bull Salzburg clearly won their home game against HCB Südtirol Alperia 6:2 and climbed back to second place in the table for the first time since October last year. The game began with a heated first period in which the hosts took the lead after just 58 seconds thanks to a well-placed finish from Mario Huber. Benjamin Nissner increased the lead with a powerplay goal in the 18th minute. Salzburg dominated the game in the second period and scored four times for the preliminary decision. In the final third, Bolzano could only reduce the deficit with two goals.

HC TIWAG Innsbruck took the lead against the Moser Medical Graz99ers with the first of three Rassell goals, but the Styrians turned the game in their favour within a few minutes. Lukas Haudum equalised with his first goal after his injury lay-off and scored a brace shortly afterwards. Nico Brunner, who was also on the scoresheet for a second time, made it 3:1 before the first period break. Innsbruck stayed within striking distance for a long time, but two goals in the space of 65 seconds in the final period finally decided the game. Fifth-placed Graz are now four points clear of seventh place.

Steinbach Black Wings Linz clearly defeated HC Pustertal 7:2, with Ken Ograjenšek scoring the only goal in the first period after ideal preliminary work by Knott. Captain Brian Lebler made it 2:0 just 63 seconds after the restart, and the home side even pulled 5:0 ahead by the 35th minute. That was the decider in front of over 4,000 fans. Six Black Wings players got on the scoresheet, only Ograjensek scored twice. Thanks to this success, the sixth-placed Upper Austrians now have a two-point lead over Villach.

win2day ICE Hockey League
02.02.2025:
EC Red Bull Salzburg - HCB Südtirol Alperia 6:2 (2:0, 4:0, 0:2)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., ZRNIC, Bedynek, Zgonc
Goals Salzburg: Huber (1.), Nissner (18./PP, 24.), Wukovits (23.), Hochkofler (30.), Bourke (35.)
Goals Bolzano: Finoro (50./PP), Seed (53.)

Moser Medical Graz99ers - HC TIWAG Innsbruck 7:3 (3:1, 1:1, 3:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SOOS, Muzsik, Vaczi
Goals Graz: Haudum (12., 18./PP), Brunner (19., 41.), Huber (31./PP), Hora (55./PP), Harnisch (56.)
Goals Innsbruck: Rassell (11./PP, 30./SH, 43.)

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - EC-KAC 2:3 SO (0:0, 1:0, 1:2)
Referees: HRONSKY, NIKOLI M., Durmis, Konc
Goals VSV: Pearson (37.), Lindner (44.)
Goals KAC: Fraser (51./PP), Petersen (59./PP), Mursak (65./deciding penalty)

Steinbach Black Wings Linz - HC Pustertal 7:2 (1:0, 4:1, 2:1)
Referees: GROZNIK, REZEK, Bärnthaler, Gatol-Schafranek
Goals Linz: Ograjensek (11., 52.), Lebler (22.), Knott (24.), Roe (28.), Feldner (35.), St-Amant (46./PP)
Goals Pustertal: Findlay (39.), Akeson (58.)