Only Klagenfurt ties the series

Both teams started very active, but neither could get the edge in the opening period. Both teams put in a solid effort and some dangerous shots on goal, but none broke the score. Medvescak broke the score on a powerplay in the 27th minute when Sondre Olden did most of the job on the board and found Tyler Morley forgotten in the slot who, facing Mike Ouzas to the back, put a nifty backhander in the upper left shelf. A minute later the Bears doubled the lead after a rebound from Puzic's shot was picked up by Marko Poyhonen and shot into the empty net. In the 31st minute the home team was up 3:0 - Mike Aviani set one up for Anton Ranov who didn't miss the opportunity to bring the crowd into a delirium. Shortly after an elbowing call on Garrett Noonan Linz cuts the lead through Sebastien Piche who put a wrister from the blue behind Kevin Carr's back. In the 34th minute Linz is back in it as Brian Lebler scores to bring the game to a one goal difference, still on the powerplay, since 2+2 was assessed to Noonan. The score at the intermission was 3:2 in favor of the Bears. Less than a minute into the third period Medvescak restored a two-goal lead as Sondre Olden deflected Tomas Kudelka's wrister from the blueline. Nik Simsic then restored a three-goal lead when he picked up a rebound right in the slot in the 46th minute. The 6:2 mark was set in the 47th minute after Sondre Olden intercepted the puck in the attacking zone and dropped it for Tyler Morley for his second goal of the night. A penalty galore ensued and at one point as many as three Black Wings' players were in the penalty box. The result remained unchanged and the Bears took the 2-0 lead in the series.

 

The 4.000 fans at Messestadion saw a big playoff fight with both goalies having some good stops early. After a goalless first, John Hughes opened the scoring at the halfway point of the game with a solo attempt. In the third period the hosts came close to tie the game but Bernhard Starkbaum kept a clean sheet. At the other end DEC goalie Rasmus Rinne made one mistake when a harmless shot by Matthew Generous (56') found its way to the back of the net. Despite pulling their goalie, the hosts did not get on the scoreboard and suffered the second defeat in the series. 

 

Innsbruck came out hard and had the better of the play early. The Caps opened the scoring, though, when Brandon Buck poked the puck over the line halfway through the first. However, the hosts fought back turned the game around with two power play goals. After Mitch Wahl went top-shelf, Andrew Yogan put his side ahead. Early in the middle frame the Caps also struck in power play with Riley Holzapfel tying the game. For the rest of the period the sharks had more chances but could not convert. In the third both sides missed it to decide the game in regulation and the game went - like the second quarterfinal match last year- into overtime. The Caps once again held the upper hand with Rafael Rotter getting the game winner after 71 minutes for the Viennese's 14th successive palyoff win. 

  

After losing the first at home, Kalgenfurt was highly-motivated and had the better of the play early. After David Fischer only hit the post, HCB goalie Pekka Tuokkola made a big save on Manuel Ganahl. With four minutes to go in the first, the visitors made the breakthrough when Stefano Marchetti deflected the puck into the own net. Bolzano tied it still in the first, though. Anton Bernard rounded the goal and equalized with a great backhand. After the restart Klagenfurt put early pressure on the home team but could not score on two pp occassions. At the halfway point of the game Thomas Hundertpfund restored their lead on a rebound and it became even better for the visitors as Fischer added a third from sharp angle. Bolzano missed the chance to pull one back early in the third as KAC goalie David Madlener had some good stops. With two minutes to go the hosts pulled their goalie for an extra skater and Angelidis made it a one-goal game. Bolzano had another chance in the final seconds but lost the home game 2:3.

 

Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Pardatscher, Sparer; 5.342 spectators

Goals MZA: Morley (27./pp, 47.), Poyhonen (28.), Ranov (31.), Olden (41.), Simsic (46.)

Goals EHL: Piche (33./pp), Lebler (34./pp)

Score in the „best-of-seven“ series: 2:0

 

Referees: GRUBER, PIRAGIC, Seewald, Verworner, 4.000 spectators

Goals RBS: 0:1 Hughes (29.), 0:2 Generous (56.)

Score in the „best-of-seven“ series: 0:2

 

Referees: LEMELIN, STERNAT, Kontschieder, Nemeth; 2.800 spectators

Goals HCI: Wahl (16./pp), Yogan (17./pp) 

Goals VIC: Buck (12.), Holzapfel (21./pp), Rotter (72.)

Score in the „best-of-seven“ series: 0:2

 

Referees: SMETANA, ZRNIC, Kaspar, Zgonc; 5.300 spectators

Goals HCB: 18:37 Anton Bernard (1:1) – 58:39 Mike Angelidis (2:3)

Goals KAC: 16:00 M.Ganahl (0:1) –29:08 Thomas Hundertpfund (1:2) – 35:06 David Fischer (1:3) 

Score in the „best-of-seven“ series: 1:1

Photo: HCB/Vanna Antonello