Release from 16.02.2020
© (c) GEPA pictures / Mathias Mandl
The EC Red Bull Salzburg and the HCB Südtirol Alperia underlined their top-2 position in the Pick Round, as the leader remains unbeaten in den intermediate round after a 3:2 home win against EC-KAC to pin down home advantage in the quarterfinals and the South Tyrolean outperformed on powerplay at Moser Medical Graz99ers.
In the Qualification Round 42 saves of Brandon Maxwell gave the EC Panaceo VSV a 4:1 road win at EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz to make a huge step closer to the playoffs, while Hydro Fehérvár AV19 pitchforked itself to third place after a 9:1 blowout against Dornbirn and three points of league’s top-scorer Anthony Luciani gave the HC Orli Znojmo the first win in the intermediate round.
Salzburg finishes first leg of Pick Round unbeaten
After a 3:2 home win against EC-KAC the EC Red Bull Salzburg finished the first leg of the Pick Round in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga unbeaten to remain first in standings. Further, the winner of phase one of the regular season pinned down home advantage in the quarterfinals. Without their top-scorer Thomas Hundertpfund in the line-up the “Rotjacken” suffered the third straight defeat, losing for the fifth consecutive time on the road. “Blueliners” of Layne Viveiros (10.) and Derek Joslin (16.) got Salzburg up 2:0 after the first. As the second remained goalless, Patrick Harand netted twice to get Klagenfurt back into the game. Finally, Chad Kolarik hit the game winner with five minutes left on powerplay.
Powerplay clicks for Bolzano to secure second place
With a huge performance on powerplay the HCB Südtirol Alperia took a 4:1 road win at Moser Medical Graz99ers to win the third game straight in the Pick Round, securing second spot in standings, although starting without bonus points. Graz suffered the third defeat in the fourth game of intermediate round, despite having the lead after the first, as Joakim Hillding (12.) scored. Graz enervated itself because of too many penalties in the second and Bolzano turned it around: first Brett Flemming scored 5-on-4, later Stefano Giliati (32.) took the lead for the “foxes” in a double powerplay. Another goal on PP of Flemming got the preliminary decision in the last.
Brandon Maxwell shines in VSV victory
With Brandon Maxwell saving 42 overall the EC Panaceo VSV cheered a 4:1 win against EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz in Qualification Round’s top-clash. After the third win under neo head coach Rob Daum, who recorded his 240th win as a coach in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga to become the most successful trainer in leagues history, the “eagles” are close to reach the playoffs. After a non-goal opening frame, the 15th season goal of Martin Ulmer tied it for the guests, which took the lead with ten minutes left thanks to Nico Brunner, in a phase Linz was dominating. With Maxwell performing in the last minutes, Mark Cundari scored two more on empty net to round off the score.
Blowout gives Fehérvár third place
Thanks to a 9:1 blowout win against the Dornbirn Bulldogs, Hydro Fehévár AV19 retook third spot in standings. It was Hungarian side’s biggest win ever against the bottom-placed team, which trails six points to playoffs with five games left. Csanad Erdely opened the scoring for the home side after 22 seconds – they dominated for whole 60 minutes, as seven players scored, two having a brace. Dornbirn’s lone goal was scored by Stefan Häußle.
Anthony Luciani gives Znojmo first win in Qualification Round
A three-point night of Anthony Luciani gave the HC Orli Znojmo the first win in the intermediate round to stay in touch to third and fourth ranked teams, trailing only by one point in standings. With his first goal since January 17th, league’s top-scorer Luciani got his colors on the scoreboard first. A quick respond of Joel Broda on powerplay, was answered by Tomas Svoboda (10.). With another assist Luciani initiated the 3:1 of Parker Bowles. Finally, Dominik Groh – he saved 38 – gave the guests a huge impact in the last to secure a road win.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 5. Pick Round:
So., 16.02.2020, 16:00 Uhr: EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC-KAC 3:2 (2:0, 0:0, 1:2)
Referees: BULOVEC, GRUBER, Bedynek, Zgonc. | Zuschauer: 3.033
Goals RBS: Viveiros (10.), Joslin (16./PP1), Kolarik (55./PP1)
Goals KAC: Harand (44.,49.)
So, 16.02.2020, 16:00 Uhr: Moser Medical Graz99ers - HCB Südtirol Alperia 1:4 (1:0, 0:2, 2:0)
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Hribar. | Zuschauer: 2.678
Goal G99: Hillding (12.)
Goals HCB: Flemming (25./PP1, 47./PP1), Giliati (32./PP2), Wiercioch (57./EN)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 5. Qualification Round:
So, 16.02.2020, 17:30 Uhr: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz - EC Panaceo VSV 1:4 (0:0, 1:1, 0:3)
Referees: NIKOLIC K., PIRAGIC, Rezek, Seewald. | Zuschauer: 4.865
Goal BWL: Brucker (23.)
Goals VSV: Ulmer (32.), Brunner (50.), Cundari (59./PP1 und EN, 60./EN)
So, 16.02.2020, 17:30 Uhr: Hydro Fehervar AV 19 - Dornbirn Bulldogs 9:1 (4:0, 4:1, 1:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PEARCE, Gatol, Soos. | Zuschauer: 2.500
Goals AVS: Erdely (1., 14./SH1), Timmins (8.), Kuralt (12., 23.), Yogan (34./PP1), Mihaly (36.), Campbell (39./PP1), Girard (51./PP1)
Goal DEC: Häußle (29.)
So, 16.02.2020, 17:30 Uhr: HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - HC Orli Znojmo 2:4 (1:2, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, SMETANA, Martin, Nothegger. | Zuschauer: 2.000
Goals HCI: Broda (7./PP1), Lammers (39.)
Goals ZNO: Luciani (5.), Svoboda (10.), Bowles (35./PP1), Boruta (60.EN)