Release from 19.11.2023

Linz new leaders | KAC celebrates next blowout victory

Short text 338 CharactersPlain text

The Steinbach Black Wings Linz took the lead in the win2day ICE Hockey League on Sunday with a win over Vienna. The EC-KAC celebrated its second blowout victory within three days - this time the Klagenfurt team gave champions Salzburg no chance. HC Pustertal also managed an important home win against Villach in the race for the top six.

Press release 3379 CharactersPlain text

In the duel between Linz and Vienna, two Austrian head coaches met for the first time in more than 20 years. Phil Lukas' team got off to the better start, taking the lead in the 12th minute: Logan Roe beat neo-Caps goalie Adam Ohre on his debut. The visitors from Vienna became more dangerous in the middle period and took command at times. After a mistake in the Black Wings defence, Rok Ticar (26) equalised to make it 1:1, meaning the Slovenian has now scored in eight of the last nine games. The score remained that way until the 47th minute, when Gerd Kragl restored the lead for the hosts: Just over a year after tearing his cruciate ligament, the defenceman scored his third league goal - a particularly important one. The Upper Austrians then capitalised on the momentum and secured a 4:1 home win with goals from Pusnik and St-Amant. With this victory, Linz even took over the lead in the table.

KAC gives champions Salzburg no chance
EC Red Bull Salzburg were the last team to return from the International Break. The champions not only missed out on a return to the top of the table, the Salzburg side also suffered a heavy 8:1 defeat in Klagenfurt. The Red Jackets took command in the opening period and went into the first break with a 3:0 lead after goals from Petersen, Witting and Vallant. Although the Red Bulls briefly gained hope with a Murphy PP2 goal in the second, Mursak restored the three-goal lead. Matt Fraser (46) added another one for the hosts in the final period, but the Red Jackets were far from done and added three more goals with Paul Postma (53), Raphael Herburger (53) and Nikolaus Kraus (54). Just two days after the 7:1 win in Szekesfehervar, the KAC celebrated their next blowout victory with an 8:1 win over the reigning champions.

Pustertal return to winning ways
Fourth-placed Klagenfurt overtook local rivals Villach, who lost narrowly in Bruneck. VSV took the lead in Pustertal through a Tomazevic goal, but Jason Akeson equalised on power play. The scenario was repeated in the middle period: after Wall netted for the visitors this time, Akeson again made it 2:2. Pustertal had more of the play and went ahead for the first time in the third period through Rick Schofield, who provided the assists for the first two goals. Benjamin Lanzinger managed to equalise in the meantime, but Matthias Mantinger scored just four minutes before the end to secure a 4:3 home win. While Bruneck returned to winning ways and picked up important points in the race for the top six, VSV were beaten for the third time in a row.

win2day ICE Hockey League | 19.11.2023:
EC-KAC - EC Red Bull Salzburg 8:1 (3:0, 1:1, 4:0)
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Jedlicka, Konc
Goals Klagenfurt: Petersen (5.), Witting (17.), Vallant (19.), Mursak (35.), Fraser (46.), Postma (53.), Herburger (53.), Kraus (54.)
Goal Salzburg: Murphy (31./PP2)

Steinbach Black Wings Linz - spusu Vienna Capitals 4:1 (1:0, 0:1, 3:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Bärnthler, Riecken
Goals Linz: Roe (12.), Kragl (47.), Pusnik (52.), St-Amant (54.)
Goal Vienna: Ticar (26.)

HC Pustertal - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 4:3 (1:1, 1:1, 2:1)
Referees: MOSCHEN, STERNAT, Puff, Snoj
Goals Pustertal: Akeson (14./PP, 39.), Schofield (44.), Mantinger (56.)
Goals Villach: Tomazevic (4.), Wall (37.), B. Lanzinger (48.)