Playoffs started with four home-wins!

Both teams were ready from the start: The guests from Bozen tried to make the Black Wings problems with an early Forecheck, but the Austrians stayed unimpressed and got a quick lead: Joel Broda made the 1:0 after a pass from Fabio Hofer from a sharp angel in minute 4. The Black Wings were then the more active team, but goalie Marcel Melichercik stopped them from scoring again. The Italians got dangerous in a Power Play, but Brodie Reid shot the rebound alone in front of goalie Mike Ouzas high over the net. In period 2 highlights were missing in the first ten minutes, then the Foxes could score the equalizer: After a counter Brodie Reid finished a pass from Clark Thompson Seymour. The Black Wings then took some penalties. The guests got dangerous in the Power Plays, but Mike Ouzas allowed no goal. Besides Alex Gellert just hit the post with a big shot (37.). In the last period both played solid in the defense and so there were less chances. In minute 55 Fabio Hofer could not beat Melichercik from a sharp angel and so the game went into an Overtime. Linz looked for a quick decision, but Dan DaSilva was stopped after a solo in the last moment. Also the Foxes tried their luck. Finally in minute 69 Brian Lebler scored after a pass from Brett McLean the Game Winner for the Steel Citizens from his own rebound.

 

EC-KAC and HC Orli Znojmo didn‘t take much risk in the beginning of the first Quarterfinal. The first good chance came in minute 7: Mark Hurtubise was free infront of the net, but he could not beat goalie Marek Schwarz. The first goal came then early after the re-start: There were many players infront of Marek Schwarz and Manuel Geier could poke the puck in. On the other side goalie Thomas Duba was ready. The game got faster now. Klagenfurt had more chances, Manuel Ganahl and Ziga Pance put the puck over the net. Two minutes before the end of the second period the Czechs were able to equalize: First the Czechs failed to score from a Power Play, but then Libor Sulak scored. After penalties for Tomas Plihal or Mitja Robar and Stefan Geier the „Red Eagles“ started the last period on a Power Play, but could not threaten. In minute 46 Klagenfurt got a Power Play and quickly Manuel Geier scored from the Slot. The guests from Znojmo answered with the 2:2 from David Bartos also in a Power Play. Then Plihal was successful with a shot from the blue line and gave Znojmo a 3:2-lead. The „Red Jackets“ did not give up: 33 seconds before the end Lundmark scored the 3:3 in a Power Play into the upper corner. The Overtime was 18 minutes, then Lundmark also made the Game Winner.

 

EC Red Bull Salzburg started with pressure into the Quarterfinal-opener against the Moser Medical Graz99ers. Already in minute 4 Andreas Kristler made the 1:0 from a short distance after some tries from the Red Bulls. Sebastian Dahm stopped then a big shot from Raymond (9.), while Starkbaum allowed no goal from Weihager after a counter. The Mozart Citizens were the chief on the ice in the next minutes, Hochkofler had another big chance. Then Latusa took a penalty, but a 99er-player could not control the puck and Thomas took perfect advantage of the solo, made the 2:0 8,7 seconds befor the end of period 1. After the restart Graz tried to get back into the game with a more aggressive play. A break from Setzinger stopped Starkbaum (30.). Also in period 3 Salzburgs goalie was not to beat from Pelech after a counter. On the other side Latusa finished a great pass from Flood for the final 3:0.

 

In the first ten minutes the UPC Vienna Capitals and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ concentrated on their defense, so chances were rare. In minue 13 the hosts took advantage from the first Powerplay thanks a goal from Ryan McKiernan. Then the Caps were the chief on the ice. Early after the re-start Riley Holzapfel scored the 2:0 from the Slot. On the other side a goal from Lubomir Stach was not allowed. Ferland, who scored with a placed shot into the upper corner after the Sharks failed to bring the puck out of their zone and then Fraser - again in a Power Play at halftime - extended the lead even to 4:0 after a strong second period. Early in period 3 Holzapfel was not to stop and finished his run for the final 5:0.
 
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 1. Quarterfinal (best of seven):
Sun, 26.02.2017: UPC Vienna Capitals – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 5:0 (1:0,3:0,1:0)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC; spectators: 4550
Goals VIC: McKiernan (12./pp), Holzapfel (22., 42.), Ferland (26.), Fraser (30./pp)
Best-of-Seven Serie: 1:0
Sun, 26.02.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz 99ers 3:0 (2:0,0:0,1:0)
Referees: SMETANA/ZRNIC; Spectators: 3.100
Goals RBS: Kristler (4.), Thomas (20. SH), Latusa (49.)
Best-of-seven-Serie: 1:0
Sun, 26.02.2017: EC-KAC – HC Orli Znojmo 4:3 OT (0:0/1:1/2:2/1:0)
Referees: GRUBER, NIKOLIC, Rakovic, Schauer; spectators: 4.167
Goals KAC: M. Geier (22.; 46./pp), Lundmark (60./pp; 78.)
Goals ZNO: Sulak (38.), Bartos (49.), Plihal (52.)
Best-of-seven-Serie: 1:0
Sun, 26.2.2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:1 (1:0,0:1,0:0,1:0)
Referees: LEMELIN, NOTHEGGER; spectators: 4865
Goals Linz: Broda (4.), Lebler (69.)
Goals Bozen: Reid (30.)
Best-of-seven-Serie: 1:0