Linz and Innsbruck celebrate before the International Break

Klagenfurt came out hard in their home game against Innsbruck but Julian Talbot and David Fischer could not score on the first chances. The hosts had the better of the play in the opening period while the sharks could not generate anything dangerous, noteven in  a four-minute power play. Things changed in the second when Morten Poulsen used the first opportunity off a Schennach pass for an Innsbruck lead. While Jamie Lundmark missed a big chance to equalize, John Lammers went five-hole on KAc goalie Tomas Duba to double the lead on power play. Andrew Yogan's 3:0 in the 48th minute was the preliminary decision as Klagenfurt could not bounce back. Hunter Bishop rounded off the scoring for Innsbruck's first points in Pick Round. While the Tirolese clibed to fourth place, KAC suffered their 8th successive defeat.  

 

The game in Linz was four minutes old when Rafael Rotter opened the scoring. The fans saw a game at eye level with Linz tying it late in the first thanks to Sebastien Piche who beat Caps goalie Matthias Tschrepitsch with a blue liner. After only 44 seconds into the middle frame Riley Holzapfel restored Vienna's lead and soon later Rotter added his second of the night. Ina fast-paced game Joel Broda pulled one back at the halfway point of the game with Linz's new arrival Mark Naclerio getting his first EBEL point on the assist. Caps netminder Tschrepitsch had some good saves late in the period and early in the third Taylor Vause made it a two-goal game again. Now the hosts had aprompt answer with Jonathan D'Aversa halving the deficit. After 47 minutes the Upper Austrians tied the game for a second time when Andreas Kristler lit the lamp. The spectacle continued with Andreas Nödl scoring for Vienna and Corey Locke making it five a piece soon later. It looked like Mario Fischer scored the game winner (56') but with five seconds to go Dan DaSilve forced overtime. Despite the Caps palying four minutes shorthanded, the hosts could not score in the extra session. However, Brian Lebler became the hero in shootout when scoring twice for a 7:6 home win.

 

Referees: NIKOLIC, STOLC, Pardatscher, Sparer; 3.444 spectators

Goals HCI: Poulsen (21.), Lammers (29./pp), Yogan (48.), Bishop (56.)

 

Referees: K. NIKOLIC, PIRAGIC, Ettlmayr, Seewald; 4.865 spectators

Goals Linz: Piche (16.), Broda (30.), D'Aversa (42.), Kristler (48.), Locke (52.), DaSilva (60.)

Goals Capitals: Rotter (4., 24.), Holzapfel (21.), Vause (41.), Nödl (50.), Fischer (56.)