Klagenfurt and Vienna went through to semis

In Quarterfinal number 4 at Innsbruck the UPC Vienna Capitals showed already in the beginning, that they are a strong Power Play team: Riley Holzapfel poked the puck in already in minute 5. After some minutes the Sharks fought back into the match. Finally in minute 18 Andrew Clark outplayed a Caps-defenseman and Austin Smith finished the diagonal-pass for the 1:1. The guests quickly answered with another Power Play goal from Holzapfel. After the re-start Innsbruck had the first good chance from Fabio Schramm, but the Youngster failed to score. The Capitals waited for their chance and scored then again in a Power Play (33.): Jamie Fraser was successful from the distance. In the last perod the Tyroleans tried to come back, but Vienna did not allowed much. In minute 54 Mario Huber deflected the puck after a shot from Philipp Lindner for the 2:3. This was also the final result and so Vienna went through to the semifinals.

 

Znojmo started the game with speed and determination and could open the scoring already in the first minute, but Bartos was denied by Duba from close range. KAC had chances of their own, first Manual Geier and then Ganahl who eventually scored, but his effort was waved off for intentional kicking motion. Early into the second period, Klagenfurt took the lead when Stefan Geier took advantage of McMonagle´s fall and beat Schwarz from tight angle. Znojmo found themselves down and had to respond which they eventually managed to do later in the period thanks to local youngster Marek Spacek. He was first denied by Duba in first chance, but scored with a quick snapshot through traffic just few seconds later. Home team took advantage of another shot through traffic midway through the third period, this time Sean McMonagle was the lucky scorer who fired into the net. But KAC had more to offer. Stefan Geier equalized with a lucky rebound seven minutes from time and the game went to overtime. Despite many chances and powerplays on both sides, it took 23 extra minutes to decide the winner. At that time, Thomas Koch deflected a quick pass from the right wing under the crossbar and sent KAC to semifinals.

 

After equal 20 minutes the Moser Medical Graz99ers took over the control of the game against the Champion from Salzburg in period 2. Finally at halftime the Styrians took the lead: Oliver Setzinger deflected the puck after a shot from Matt Pelech for the lead. And late in the period Evan Brophey even made the 2:0. In period 3 the Red Bulls tried to come back, but Matt Siddall finished a diagonalpass from Kurtis McLean after a counter for the 3:0. Then Brophey even made the 4:0 into the empty net. EC Red Bull Salzburg leads now in the Best-of-seven-Serie just with 3:1.

 

The first highlight was a fight between Vallerand and Moderer. Then Oleksuk made the 1:0 from a rebound. Out of nowhere Loik deflected the puck after a shot from Palin for the 1:1 (18.). Only one minute later Oleksuk was successful again from a rebound – 2:1. After the re-start the Austrians had more from the game. Already in minute 21 Dan DaSilva made the 2:2. At halftime Vallerand started a solo and scored the 3:2. Again the Black Wings were able to get the equalizer: The „Foxes“ didn‘t get the puck out of their defense, suddenly Oberkofler was free and scored the 3:3. The guests then had chances for a lead, but HCB-goalie Melichercik stopped DaSilva and Altmann from scoring. In period 3 Brodie Reid made another lead for Bozen. Then the Italians got the upper hand of the game, but Linz found an answer from Fabio Hofer. Both teams had their chances to decide the game now, but it needed 69 minutes, before Luca Frigo finished a pass from Reid for the game winner. Bozen is leading now after their third win in a row over Linz in the Best-of-seven-series with 3:1.

 

Nominated for the EISNER Auto YoungStar-Vote February 2017 are Christoph Duller (KAC), Dominic Haberl (DEC), Peter Hochkofler (RBS), Daniel Frank (HCB) and Zintis Nauris Zusevics (G99). The vote is online until Thursday, March 9th 2017 (24:00), and is done by fans (1/3), ServusTV-experts (1/3) and Nationalteam Coaches (1/3). >>EISNER Auto YoungStar Vote February

 

Sun, 05.03.2017: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz 5:4 (2:1 – 1:2 – 1:1 – 1:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR; spectators: 6087
Goals: 06:42 Travis Oleksuk (1:0) – 17:52 Curtis Loik (1:1) – 18:57 Travis Oleksuk (2:1) – 21:07 Dan DaSilva (2:2) – 29:45 Marc-Olivier Vallerand (3:2) – 30:45 Daniel Oberkofler (3:3) – 44:41 Brodie Reid (4:3) – 56:21 Fabio Hofer (4:4) – 68:22 OT Luca Frigo (5:4)
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, BWL - HCB: 1:3

Sun, 05.03.2017: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:0 (0:0,2:0,2:0)
Referees: GRUBER, K. NIKOLIC; spectators: 3.633
Goals G99: Setzinger (30.), Brophey (39, 58./EN), Siddall (57.),
Standing Best-of-seven-Series, RBS – G99: 3:1

Sun, 05.03.2017: HC Orli Znojmo – EC-KAC 2:3 OT (0:0,1:1,1:1,0:0,0:1)
Referees: NOTHEGGER, VERWORNER; spectators: 3.307
Goals ZNO: Spacek (34.), McMonagle (48./pp)
Goals  KAC: St. Geier (22., 53.), Koch (83.)
Final result Best-of-seven-Series, KAC - ZNO: 4:0

Sun, 05.03.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – UPC Vienna Capitals 2:3 (1:2, 0:1, 1:0)
Referees: SMETANA; ZRNIC; spectators: 2800
Goals HCI: Smith (18.), Huber (54.)
Goals, VIC: Holzapfel (5./pp, 19./pp), Fraser (33./pp)
Final result Best of seven Series, VIC – HCI: 4:0