Persecutors gain ground in Qualification Rounds

Feldkirch’s start into the game was less-than-ideal: The helmet of netminder Alex Caffi broke after one of Ritten's first shots hit him and he had to continue the game with the one of backup Bernhard Bock. Early in the match the visitors showed their offesnive qualities, causing a lot of work for the defensive units of Feldkirch. The Vorarlberg side fought hard and became better with every passing minute. However, Victor Ahlström opened the scoring halfway through the first on power play with the only goal after 20 minutes. Just a few moments after the restart a shot by Tommaso Traversa found its way into the net and now the home side lost thread. Christian Borgatello added a third goal after 24 minutes and the guests made the preliminary decision after the midway point of the game: Import Janis Sprukts and Daniel Tudin extended Ritten's lead with another two second-period goals. The home team did not surrender and Martin Mairitsch got them on the scorebaord in the last period. Ritten answered promptly with Thomas Spinell's power play marker but Feldkirch had the last say: Dylan Stanley scored a beauty for a final 2:6 score.

 

After four successive defeats Lustenau was very nervous at the beginning and Jesenice converted their first power play: After a mistake in the defensive zone of the home team, Aleksandar Magovac took advantage and beat goalie Patrick Machreich for the first time. This goal against made the hosts even more insecure but halfway through the first they answered with a power play goal on their own when Marcel Witting deflected Daniel Stefan's shot. This gave Lustenau a boost and they took over command. Despite some good chances they were not able to score a second until the first intermission. The game continued this way after the restart with Lustenau generating a lot. It took just three minutes until Petr Vala lit the lamp to turn the game around. And it was again Vala who put his side 3:1 ahead after 34 minutes, finishing a nice combination with Stefan Wiedmaier and Philipp Winzig. The home team took this two-goal lead into the second intermission and played smart defensively in the third. Winzig added a fourth goal after a break and it looked like it was the decision. But with ten minutes to go former Lustenau player Martin Oraze pulled one back to raise hopes for the Slovenes. In a final push they pulled their goalie but were not able to brng back tension. On the contrary, EHC defender Dusan Devecka made the game safe with an empty netter for a 5:2 home win.

 

The two teams was in full force. During the first period, there was a good rhythm, but the two teams played in defense as they made few chances to score. During the first period two teams played also a powerplay but they didn’t score. In the closing minutes Armin Hofer hits the bar with a shot from the blue. During the second period the game took off. The HC Pustertal took the lead with Viktor Schweitzer on a rebound to the right of Frederic Cloutier (24’). The Asiago then grew as they had several chances to score.  Kris Kolanos made the tie with a wrist shot under the crossbar. In the final minutes of the period HC Pustertal changed the result.  Thomas Erlacher scored 2:1 after a deflection of Andrea Strazzabosco (defender of home team). During the third period the Asiago made the tie (2:2) with a shot of Andreas Lutz that bounced the board and then the puck came back to hit the goaltender of Wolves (Thomas Tragust). The Asiago put so much energy but again the yellow black team took again the lead. After a powerplay of home team, there was a fast action of Bruneck with breakthrough of Patrick Bona. Seconds later there was a still a goal for Wolves. Shayne Wiebe stolen the puck to a defender and then he scored the 4 goals for Bruneck. The HC Pustertal won the match  4:2 as they took the 2th place of the Master Round.

 

The Gherdeina, in full force, challenged Fassa in the “ladino” derby The Falcons have won last week game against Bregezerwald. The derby began with a flash and a great goal of Benjamin Kostner after 24 seconds from the opening whistle. The Falcons was surprized and they dind’t react, so the game was played one way by your hosts. Gabriel Vinatzer and Josef Straka each hit the crossbar. The home team make 16 shoots but they found only one goal. Too little. After the restart the game was more balanced than in the first period, but both teams are too nervous and failed to play a real game. Before the second break on both sides there were no chances to score worthy of being narrated. During the third time was the goal of the tie of the former Jari Monferone that he scored against his team where he played until December. But the Furies reacted: two minutes later Diego Iori scored the winning goal game. Iori was a player that spent nine seasons with Fassa. This goal will not be recovered. The Gherdeina took the second position in the standings of Qualification Round, to a point away from the leader of Cortina.

 

It was an intense and open game in Neumarkt as it was already a playoff competition. The hosts attacked from the start but couldn’t find the space to score. Even guests, minutes after minutes, tried to find the target but neither team didn’t score. The result didn’t change after a powerplay for both teams. Home goalie, Daniel Morandell, was very quick and ready. The first period ended without goals. During the central period Zell am See started well as they put pressure to the defense of the hosts. The first goal of the games was for the Polar Bears: Jan Kolar was the scorer in powerplay with a shot from distance a minute after the middle. The puck was deflected before entering in the net of the Wild Goose. The home team responded after a minute and always in powerplay. Ratislav Gaspar finalized a quick action that surprised the opposing team. The match remained very tight until the second stop. During the third period the Neumarkt proved to have a lot of grit and energy. Alex Sullmann scored the winning goal of the match. The defender played a puck in the offensive corner and then he went to the net of Zell am See as he managed to score. Polar Bears tried to improve the result, but they were unsuccessful. Wild Goose can think about the playoff again.
 

Sterzing were stronger than KAC since the begin of the match as they put a lot of pressure on the defense of KAC II. Broncos didn’t find the path of the goal for the good defense of the "Red Jackets." The first goal of the game arrived after 8 minutes of the game with a one-timer of Francis Verreault-Paul. This was also the only goal of the first period. Sterzing was not able to do other goals (also in a double powerplay) for the poor precision of forwards. During the second period the Broncos score again after four minutes in powerplay. Verreault-Paul won the face-off, David Roupec passed quickly to Zdenek Bahensky. The defender made a shot from the blue line that overcame Florian Vorauer. The home team increased the result. Verreault-Paul finalized after passing two opposing players. After the third goal, KAC II changed the goalie: Jakob Holzer entered in the crease. Klagenfurt was stronger than Sterzing in the final minutes of the period. Philip Wilhelmer hit the crossbar. When missing 31 seconds at the end of the period it was the first Austrian score. Philipp Cirtek made a powerplay goal. During the third period Sterzing controlled the game and then they scored the fourth goal with Patrick Mair. Broncos won the game 4:1 as they re-opened the race for the 1st place in the Qualification – Round B after the defeat of Zell am See.