Linz turns around top 6 duel against Villach

Despite the absence of six forwards, the EC-KAC also turned its last home game in the regular season of the win2day ICE Hockey League into a hockey festival on Sunday afternoon: The Red Jackets defeated HK Olimpija Ljubljana 8:1 in the Heidi Horten Arena, which was sold out for the 14th time this season. Matt Fraser put the home side ahead in the very first minute. Three more goals in the final five minutes of the opening period - Fraser's deflection in the powerplay, Sablattnig with an one-timer into the corner of the net and debutant Klassek with a tip-in - gave the red and whites a comfortable lead at the first break. Ljubljana also got on the scoreboard immediately after the end of a long period with Klagenfurt short-handed when Bičevskis deflected a Gooch shot into the net. However, the Red Jackets then scored four more unanswered goals to break the 100-point barrier.

Red Bulls close in on second place
EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated a clear 4:0 win at home against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. In his 900th league game, captain Thomas Raffl gave the reigning champions an early lead on the powerplay. The Red Bulls showed a complete game in the crowded ice arena, which Atte Tolvanen crowned with his first shutout of the season. Drake Rymsha netted twice and Cameron Schilling scored his first goal in a Salzburg jersey. The reigning champions, who are in third place, moved to within two points of Fehervar.

VSV big losers in the race for the top 6
The importance of the game between the Black Wings and Villach quickly became apparent in the sold-out Linz AG Eisarena, as both teams initially concentrated on defence. After a goalless first period, the Carinthians took the lead in the 24th minute. The league's top scorer not only put his team ahead, he also scored his 100th goal for the eagles. After VSV netminder JP Lamoureux made a number of saves, the Upper Austrians' attacking efforts were rewarded in the final third. Logan Roe equalised in the 43rd minute and Shawn St-Amant even turned the game around six minutes before the end of regulation. Linz held on to their narrow 2:1 advantage and are now one place ahead of the Carinthians in fifth.

An exciting game developed between Innsbruck and Fehervar right from the start, with both teams creating scoring chances. At first, however, only the home side were able to celebrate: Gordie Green was quickest in the 18th minute to make it 1:0 after a mistake by Fehérvár goalie Roy, and just a minute later Kevin Roy deflected a Jakubitzka shot into the net to make it 2:0. The Hungarians broke the scoring drought when captain Janos Hari reduced the deficit in the 43rd minute. After Josh Atkinson equalised in the 55th minute, the game went into over time, where Nick Albano scored the winner. Innsbruck, who remain in seventh place, thus secured their first win of the season over Fehervar.

The fans in Bolzano saw eleven goals in a spectacular "Grande Classico" between HCB and Asiago. A Finoro hat-trick was not enough for the visitors, who were beaten 4:7. Bolzano went into the first break 3:2 in front and the home side pulled 5:2 ahead in the middle period after an extremely impressive goal by Mike Halmo. Asiago came close once more, but the runners-up made things clear in the final period. Fourth-placed Bolzano conceded at least four goals for the fifth time in a row, but celebrated an important success in the race for the top six.

HC Pustertal fulfilled their "compulsory task" against Graz, but struggled for a long time. Although the South Tyroleans took the lead through Rick Schofield, Renars Krastenbergs equalised in the middle period. Mikael Frycklund made it 2:1 in the 36th minute and the home side made things clear in the third period. Schofield scored to take a two-goal lead for the first time, Akeson (54th/PP2) and Mantinger (56th) finally made it 5:1, leaving the eighth-placed Wolves just two points behind the top six.

win2day ICE Hockey League | 18.02.2024:
EC Red Bull Salzburg - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg 4:0 (1:0, 3:0, 0:0)
Referees: BERNEKER, SEEWALD, Bärnthaler, Riecken.
Goals Salzburg: Raffl (5./PP), Rymsha (22., 40.), Schilling (36.)

EC-KAC - HK SZ Olimpija 8:1 (4:1, 2:1, 2:0)
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Muzsik, Vaczi.
Goals Klagenfurt: Fraser (1., 16./PP), Sablattnig (18.), Klassek (20.), Postma (30./PP), Bischofberger (32., 56.), Ganahl (57.)
Goal Olimpija: Bicevskis (25.)

Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 2:1 (0:0, 0.1, 2:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, NIKOLIC K., Bedynek, Hribar.
Goals Linz: Roe (43.), St-Amant (55.)
Goal Villach: Hughes (24.)

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3:2 OT (2:0, 0:0, 0:2)
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Fleischmann, Sparer.
Goals Innsbruck: Green (18.), Roy (19.), Albano (63.)
Goals Fehervar: Hari (43./SH), Atkinson (55.)

HCB Südtirol Alperia - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 7:4 (3:2, 2:2, 2:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Snoj, Zgonc.
Goals Bolzano: Mantenuto (4.), Gazley (14., 22.) Vandane (15.), Halmo (26.), McClure (54.), Frigo (59./EN)
Goals Asiago: Gennaro (9.), Finoro (14., 27., 33.)

HC Pustertal - Moser Medical Graz99ers 5:1 (1:0, 1:1, 3:0)
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC M., Mantovani, Pardatscher.
Goals Pustertal: Schofield (9., 47.), Frycklund (36.), Akeson (54./PP2), Mantinger (56.)
Goal Graz: Krastenbergs (27.)