Release from 09.03.2023
Loaner shoots Kitzbühel to first playoff win
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel celebrated a 2-1 win over the Rittner Buam SkyAlps in their AHL playoff home debut, evening the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series. The main reason for the success was, of all things, a player who made his season debut for the Kitzbühler Adler: Elias Wallenta. The player on loan from EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV recorded a terrific debut, scoring a hat trick to send his team to Kitzbühel's first ever AHL playoff victory. But the fans had to wait a bit for goals at the playoff premiere in Kitzbühel. After a goalless starting third, the newcomer put the hosts in the lead. But Ritten answered promptly: Only 50 seconds after falling behind, Jakob Cardwell equalized. But still in the middle third Elias Wallenta struck another time, before the very same player ensured the decision with the emptynetter. The Eagles finally prevailed 4:1 and put the quarterfinal series at 1-1.
Lustenau takes clear revenge
After the bitter overtime loss at the start of the quarterfinal series, EHC Lustenau managed to take revenge and equalize the series in the second game of the "best-of-seven" series against S.G.Cortina Hafro. The Vorarlberg team thus continued their recent strong performances in front of their home crowd - they won five of the last six home games. For the first time in this stretch they were able to celebrate a shutout victory. Max Wilfan opened the scoring after only 51 seconds on Thursday night. Lustenau added another goal in the second period before Wilfan made it 3-0 in the 44th minute. In addition to Wilfan, goalkeeper Erik Hanses was also convincing, deflecting a total of 28 shots from Cortina and recording his fifth shutout of the season.
Jesenice fights its way to 2-0 series lead
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice also won the second game of the "best-of-seven" quarterfinal series against the Broncos. While Jesenice was able to pull off a fairly safe win in the home game a few days ago - the Slovenians led 4-0 at one point - the victory on Thursday night against the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan had to be hard fought. Until the final third, the two goalies were the center of attention and did not allow any goals. Then in the 46th minute Lovro Kumanovic could overcome WSV goalkeeper Jakob Robanser. The Broncos pressed for the equalizer in the final minutes, but were unable to do so despite an empty-net situation and a 6-on-4 power play. Jesenice managed to make it 2-0 in this phase with an empty netter, which also put them up 2-0 in the series.
Salzburg trembles to 2-0 series lead
After Unterland was still without a chance in its playoff debut on Monday, the AHL newcomer gave Red Bull Hockey Juniors a tough fight on Thursday night. Only in overtime the Red Bull Hockey Juniors prevailed and put the series at 2-0, but in the meantime it looked like a similar clear affair as a few days ago. Up until the 27th minute, the Juniors built a 3-0 lead before the Cavaliers answered with a brace. The visitors added to their tally in the middle period and took a 4-2 lead into what was supposed to be the final period. There, the Cavaliers fought their way into overtime. In overtime, Jakob Weber scored his second goal of the night to decide the game.
Alps Hockey League, Quarter Finals, Game 2:
EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - Rittner Buam SkyAlps 4:1 (0:0,2:1,2:0)
Referees: BULOVEC, LEHNER, Moidl, Puff
Stand in der „best-of-7-Viertelfinalserie RIT-KEC 1:1
Goals KEC: 1:0 KEC Wallenta E. (24:57 / Kapel R. ,Zolmanis S. / EQ), 2:1 KEC Wallenta E. (32:38 / Zolmanis S. ,Kapel R. / EQ), 3:1 KEC Wallenta E. (57:47 / Zolmanis S. / EQ), 4:1 KEC Hochfilzer H. (59:45 / Schmidt A. / EQ)
Goals RIT: 1:1 RIT Cardwell J. (25:47 / unassisted / EQ)
EHC Lustenau - S.G. Cortina Hafro 3:0 (1:0,1:0,1:0)
Referees: LAZZERI, SCHAUER, Fleischmann, Rinker
Stand in der „best-of-7-Viertelfinalserie SGC-EHC 1:1
Goals EHC: 1:0 EHC Wilfan M. (00:51 / Hayes R. ,D'Alvise C. / EQ), 2:0 EHC König D. (27:55 / Haberl L. ,Pöschmann P. / EQ), 3:0 EHC Wilfan M. (43:43 / D'Alvise C. ,Larsen M. / 5:3 PP)
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 0:2 (0:0,0:0,0:2)
Referees: BAJT, PINIE, Bergant, Cristeli
Stand in der „best-of-7-Viertelfinalserie JES-WSV 2:0
Goals JES: 0:1 JES Kumanovic L. (45:02 / Urukalo Z. / EQ), 0:2 JES Polcs R. (59:25 / Rep O. / SH)
Hockey Unterland Cavaliers - Red Bull Hockey Juniors 4:5 OT (0:2,2:2,2:0,0:1)
Referees: MOSCHEN, RUETZ, De Zordo, Eisl
Stand in der „best-of-7-Viertelfinalserie RBJ-HCU 2:0
Goals HCU: 1:3 HCU Pisetta T. (28:24 / unassisted / EQ), 2:3 HCU Haarala S. (33:05 / Wieser F. ,Nyman L. / PP), 3:4 HCU Wieser F. (45:33 / Haarala S. ,Nyman L. / PP), 4:4 HCU Remolato N. (52:04 / Girardi D. ,Egger A. / EQ)
Goals RBJ: 0:1 RBJ Auer L. (05:07 / Sumpf J. ,Krening P. / EQ), 0:2 RBJ Schreiner V. (16:47 / Fischer S. / EQ), 0:3 RBJ Heigl N. (26:50 / Maier O. ,Steffler D. / EQ), 2:4 RBJ Weber J. (37:46 / Heigl N. / EQ), 4:5 RBJ Weber J. (60:28 / Bader Q. ,Heigl N. / EQ)
Picture © Max Pattis