Release from 27.02.2018
On Tuesday Liwest Black Wings Linz beat EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:2 at home to take over at the top of the table at least until Wednesday when the Vienna Capitals face Klagenfurt. In Qualification Round HC Orli Znojmo and HC Bolzano got big wins while Villach has no more chance to reach the playoffs.
Znojmo keep playoff hopes alive
After a slow start, the game kicked off midway through the first period when Znojmo stroke twice within 62 seconds. First it was Tomas Guman converting Novak´s pass on a 2-on-1 breakaway for the game opener. Shortly afterwards, Marek Spacek capitalized on hesitant defending to increase the lead for the Czech side. Villach´s Antonitsch missed a breakaway early in the second period and was left to rue the missed chance when Adam Raska deflected Spacek´s pass past Herzog to make it 3-0. Villach had the opportunity to get back into the game thanks to two 5-on-3 powerplays, but could not convert any of them. Halasz in Znojmo net stopped all shots going his way and eventually, Cody Corbett fired in a wristshot shortly before the second intermission and increased Znojmo´s lead to four. And the final period did not bring any significant change to how the game progressed. Marek Spacek scored his second of the game with a powerplay marker from close range and Erik Nemec finished the proceedings with a breakaway goal.
Black Wings go top of the standings
In a fast-paced first period Salzburg's Raphael Herburger opened the scoring after eight minutes with a well-placed shot. Just a few minutes later Corey Locke tied it at one and early in the second Linz turned the game around: former Red Bulls palyer Andreas Kristler passed to Rick Schofield (24') who put his team ahead on power play. In further consequence the visitors took some penalties but Linz could not take advantage. Late in the period Salzburg's power play unit was successful, though, when Ryan Duncan scored from sharp angle. Locke lit the lamp in the third after 45 minutes and it also was the period's lone goal. The Black Wings beat their rivals 3:2 and went top of the standings.
Medvescak climbs to 4th place with home win against Innsbruck
The guests came out hard but failed to score on their first chances. When Fabio Schramm missed another good opportunity halfway through the first, it was like a wakening call for the bears. Now they took over command and Tero Koskiranta fired it into Rene Swette's net for the opening period's lone goal. Early in the second Andrew Clark tied the game but then the sharks could not use their momentum again. With their first chance for a while, Jozef Balej restored the lead on power play and then top scorer Tyler Morley doubled the score. Despite pulling one back by Andrew Yogan early in the third, Innsbruck could not earn points this evening. Garreth Noonan (47', pp) made it a two-goal game again and Mike Aviani finished the scoring with another power play marker.
Bolzano goes ahead with blowout win
It was all Bolzano in the opening minutes of their home game against Graz and Mike Halmo made the breakthrough after three minutes. The guests tried their luck on breakaways but HCB goalie Tuokkola stood tall. While being one man down, Bolzano extended the lead by Chris DeSousa (14'). After the restart the game slowed down but the hosts continued to score. Mike Angelidis added a third on a rebound and after the halfway point of the game Andrew Clark scored the preliminary decision. In the third period Daniel Woger netted the consolation goal for Graz but it did not get thrilling anymore as Sointu, Smith and DeSousa lit the lamp for a 7:1 Bolzano home win. The foxes climbed to second place but could be overtaken by Fehervar again tomorrow.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 8th Pick Round:
Tue, 27.02.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 5:2 (1:0, 2:1, 2:1)
Referees: KINCSES, M. NIKOLIC, Nagy, Schauer; 3.899 spectators
Goals Zagreb: Koskiranta (20.), Balej (33./pp), Morley (39.), Noonan (47./pp), Aviani (48./pp)
Goals Innsbruck: Clark (21.), Yogan (44./Penalty)
Tue, 27.2.2018: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:2 (1:1, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: GRUBER, STERNAT, Ettlmayr, Nothegger; 4.865 spectators
Goals Linz: Locke (12., 45.), Schofield (24./pp)
Goals Salzburg: Herburger (8.), Duncan (36./pp)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 8th Qualification Round:
Tue, 27.02.2018: HC Orli Znojmo vs. EC VSV 6:0 (2:0, 2:0, 6:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Kaspar, Zgonc; 1.507 spectators
Goals Znojmo: Guman (9.), Spacek (10., 42./PP), Raska (24.), Corbett (39.), Nemec (52.)
Tue, 27.02.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (2:0 – 2:0 – 3:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, K. NIKOLIC, Pardatscher, Sparer; 2.880 spectators
Goals HCB: 03:41 Mike Halmo (1:0) – 13:16 SH1 Chris DeSousa (2:0) – 23:13 Mike Angelidis (3:0) – 31:18 Austin Smith (4:0) – 47:25 Matias Sointu (5:1) – 54:01 Austin Smith (6:1) – 55:21 PP1 Chris DeSousa (7:1)
Goal G99: 41:47 Daniel Woger (4:1)