Release from 31.03.2018
Linz tie series at two
Game 4 was, like the last ones, an open exchange of blows right from the beginning. After Salzburg goalie Starkbaum made a save on Fabio Hofer, the Red Bulls took the lead after six minutes. Michael Schiechl rounded the goal and got a shot goalwards but goalie Ouzas put it out of the moorings. With consideration of the net in its normal position the puck went in and the refs made a "good goal" call after video review. The Black Wings were not shocked, though, and Rick Schofield tied it halfway through the first on power play. Now the hosts were rolling and Shane O'Brien fired it home to turn the game around. Soon later Dan DaSilva added a third and Salzburg coach Greg Poss immediately took a time out. In the middle frame both sides focus on their defense with the 4.865 fans seeing just a few chances. Patrick Spannring was out of luck when hitting the post and the period ended goalless. Early in the third Salzburg's Rob Schremp struck metalwork, now the Red Bulls took over command but could not make it a one-goal game again. Quite the contrary happened when Andreas Kristler put his team 4:1 ahead with ten minutes to go. Only 22 seconds later Julien Brouilette pulled one back but it was not enough this evening. After pulling their goalie for another skater, DaSilva rounded off the scoring for a 5:2 final result - it was the fourth successive home win in the series.
3rd successive win for Bolzano
While Bolzano was at full strength, the Caps missed Holzapfel and Rotter. The 7.200 fans at Palaonda saw fast-paced opening minutes with Pollastrone and Nödl getting some shots goalwards but Bolzano netminder Tuokkola was on top of things. Halfway through the first the visitors and after soon after killing it, another Caps player had to go to the sin bin. This time the hosts took advantage when Tomassoni's was deflected into the own net by a Caps player. While the Viennese could not beat Tuokkola on some attempts the foxes doubled the lead late in the period during another man advantage as Sointu lit the lamp after a great solo attempt. Thze second period was a mere 17 seconds old when Angelidis deflected Tomassoni's shot for a 3:0 home lead. In further consequence the Caps became better but could not beat Tuokkola for long. At the halfway point of the game it was Tessier, who broke the spell on a rebound. At this point Bolzano only had five defenders as Marchetti and Glira were out with injuries. Three minutes later it was a one-goal game again as a Pollastrone pass was deflected and landed in the back of the HCB net. However, with 25 seconds to go in the third Carlisle restored the two-goal lead with a blue liner. In the final period it was a steady battle between Tuokkola and the Caps. Bolzano's goalie made tremendous stops to keep the lead. With two minutes to go the visitors pulled their goalie and Anton Bernard rounded off the scoring with an empty netter for a 3:1 HCB series lead.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, Semifinals 4:
Sat, 31.3.2018: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – EC Red Bull Salzburg 5:2 (3:1, 0:0, 2:1)
Referees: LEMELIN, K. NIKOLIC, Pardatscher, Seewald; 4.865 spectators
Goals Linz: Schofield (10./pp), O'Brien (13.), DaSilva (14., 60), Piche (50./pp)
Goals Salzburg: Schiechl (6.), Brouilette (50.)
Score in the "best of seven" series, BWL - RBS: 2:2
Sat, 31.03.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. Vienna Capitals 5:2 (2:0 – 2:2 – 1:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Schauer, Zgonc, 7.200 spectators
Goals HCB: 12:09 PP1 Matt Tomassoni (1:0) – 19:27 PP1 Matias Sointu (2:0) – 20:17 PP1 Mike Angelidis (3:0) – 39:35 Chris Carlisle (4:2) - 59:42 EN Anton Bernard (5:2)
Goals VIC: 29:44 Kelsey Tessier (3:1) – 32:58 Jerry Pollastrone (3:2)
Score in the "best of seven" series, VIC-HCB 1:3