Linz makes playoffs, Klagenfurt signs Andrew Kozek

A total of five goals were scored only in the first period in Zagreb as Medvescak welcomed the Bulls from Salzburg. After merely four minutes from the first puck drop the Bears were up 2:0 thanks to goals from Sondre Olden (1:01) and Samson Mahbod (3:41). Tyler Morley assisted on both goals and finished the game with 3 points (0+3). The Bulls picked themselves up quickly and before the end of the period turned the result in their favor: Brant Harris scored twice, while Mario Huber added a short-handed goal. All five goals were scored before the 13th minute ended. In the second period the game looked more like a chess match, both teams took matters more seriously and put more effort on the defensive end of the play. Bernhard Starkbaum (36 saves, 86.1%) stole one from Tero Koskiranta four minutes in when the Finn tried to trick the goalie from the left. Kevin Poulin (30 saves, 86.7%) on the other end made a glove save after a nifty solo effort from Mario Huber halfway through the period. At 36:40 Sondre Olden broke away with Samson Mahbod in the middle, but decided to try his luck and made the score even at three apiece. The third period took a delay of roughly twenty minutes after the glass was dislocated by the Salzburg bench. When the game continued John Hughes had his shot deflected wide by Poulin in the 44th minute, shortly after Ryan Duncan couldn't finish as his shot was blocked. At 44:10 Aviani's tip-in was deflected but Jozef Balej was able to get the home team in the driver's position again. Peter Hochkofler's deflected shot was the sign of what was going to happen when at 53:33 John Hughes levelled the score to 4:4. The game-winner was scored by Saso Rajsar at 56:59 and Medvescak kept three points in Zagreb in a game that could have gone both ways, a game worthy of playoffs.

 

The first chance of the game was served by Hári but Toivonen saved. Fehervar was the better team on ice in the following minutes, but Palin fouled so the guests attacked on the powerplay. Almost all shots were blocked by the home defense, other chances were saved by Carruth. Five on five the Austrians gained momentum but Natter had to sit in the penalty box. Fehervar threatened many times five on four but no goal was scored. Erdely missed his first breakaway but scored one minute later after Koger’s pass, putting his team in the lead. After a mistake in the neutral zone, Uotila passed to Erdély who did not miss his second breakaway. Before the end of the period, Áron Reisz scored his team’s third goal and Fehervar went with a three-goal-lead in the locker room well-deserved. The second period began balanced, and although the Erdély-Hári-Kóger line was dangerous in front of the net, there was no more goals. Kocsis, Gilbert and Luttinen all tried to score but Toivonen saved. After Uotila’s penalty, Graz attacked on the powerplay, without success. The guests started to dominate, they had the puck more for the second half of the period, yet they did not manage to get closer in goals to the home team.  The third period started with Latendresse’s penalty but the Hungarians did not let many chances to the guests. Graz pushed hard for the goal but Carruth saved all shots. Hári passed to Erdely, who could have scored a hattrick but Toivonen saved. Weihager was the next in the penalty box and Hannu Jarvenpaa’s team finally scored five on four, Koger put the puck in the upper right corner. Orgajensek and co. had chance after chance in the powerplay in the middle of the period, but the score remained 4-0. Playing full strength, the game was balanced again and 2 minutes before the buzzer, Graz managed to score, Ograjensek put a rebound in the net.

 

Before the game KAC announced the signing of 31 year-old Andrew Kozek. The Canadian forward has already spent 4 seasons in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga with Dornbirn (1) and Linz (3), scoring most league goals twice. The top game was a mere two and a half minutes old when Riley Holzapfel opened the scoring from close range. It was the only first-period goal. After the restart the Caps pressed for a second but late in the period Klagenfurt tiet it at one when David Fischer netted on power play. In the third the game became more physical and with ten minutes to go the hosts scored with a man advantage thanks to MacGregor Sharp. Klagenfurt could not use a 5 on 3 for 68 seconds and Taylor Vause made it safe with an empty netter.

 

It felt like Villach entering the game with only little self confidence and Chris DeSousa's first goal for the visitors did not make it better. Late in the opening period Miha Verlic tied it with a nice backhand but Halmo restored Bolzano's lead just a few moments later. Nothing really in changed in the middle frame and Halmo doubled the lead after 24 minutes with his second of the night. Then Monardo poked the puck over the line with Glira's goal for a 5:1 HCB lead, the game was decided after two periods. In the third there were no more highlights with Bolzano killing the clock for their third successive win.

 

The recent defeats have left their marks on Dornbirn who conceded the first goal against by Rick Schofield after eight minutes. It looked like Linz was shifting down a gear and they had to pay the bill when Brodie Reid scored the equalizer late in the first off a pass from Leduc and Timmins. It was an open exchange of blows in the second with Jonathan D'Aversa restoring the guest's lead before the midway point of the game. Just a few minutes later Jamie Arniel tied it again. After another DEC defensive mistake, Dan DaSilva made it 3:2 even before the second intermission. Linz came out hard for the third and Joel Broda extended the lead on power play. With Dornbirn pulling the goalie, Corey Locke rounded off the scoring.

 

After six minutes Jeremie Blain made the breakthrough but Znojmo's Novak had the answer - for the only time in this game. Soon later a brace by Andrew Clark gave Innsbruck a 3:1 lead. In the second the hosts added three more goals within three minutes: Blain, Lukas Bär with his first ever EBEL goal and Mitch Wahl made it 6:1. After the midway point of the game Hunter Bishop lit the lamp for a 7th time. Early in the third John Lammers scored the famous lacrosse-style goal for a 8:1 lead, it was this evening's highlight! David Bartos pulled one back for Znojmo but Andrew Clark finished off the scoring, celebrating a hat trick in their highest season win.