Pustertal storms to top of table

The opening game of the AHL season in Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice preseneted a match between two opponents of last year's semi final series in the playoffs. A young HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice team started the game very strong. The first real chance came through the Finnish import, Markus Piispanen but Italian national goalkeeper Frederic Cloutier denied it. Seconds later, Žan Jezovšek fired a wrist shot that passed Cloutier for a 1:0 home lead in the 4th minute. In the first ten minutes of the second period Steelers increased their lead. Miha Brus tipped in the pass from Luka Kalan in the 25th minute. Two minutes later Kalan converted on the power play for a 3:0 lead. The experienced away team came back swiftly. Jose Antonio Magnabosco scored a beautiful goal on a backhand for 3:1 in the 32nd minute. Two minutes before the second period ended Marco Rosa added the second goal for Asiago. Asiago scored the equalizing goal through the AHL's top scorer, Anthony Nigro in the 53rd minute. Cloutier denied Jezovšek for a win in the dying seconds of the regulation. In the extra period Jesenice played with a man advantage, but the Italians made a beautiful tick-tack-toe play on a break away with Anthony Nigro scoring the game winning goal in the 62nd minute.

 

Good start of the team of Val Pusteria who won on the road for 5:1 against the Falcons. The Falcons, a very young and energetic team, played at par for most of the first time against the Val Pusteria. Then the formation of the Wolves marked a shot from the distance with Elias Thum (12th), but was actually a home player who put the goal on the net. Before the end of the period guests doubled with Eric Johansson after a Falcons mistake in defense. During the second period the Val Pusteria added two more goals. The Fassa took too many penalties. The Val Pusteria took advantage of it. The yellow team formation marked a powerplay goals with Nick Bruneteau and then in double powerplay with Max Oberrauch. During the third period Gianluca March (former Fassa player) scored 5: 0. The Falcons played until the end and after 55 minutes they scored the only goal of the match. The young Soel Constatin realized his first goal of career. 

 

The Gherdeina passed the opponents on the road at the end of a balanced game. The derby between Egna and Gherdeina is without goals in the first period. There was a good rhythm and some more occasions for the visitors team. The most important it was from Jan McDonald's escape, which alone didn’t exceed a ready Daniel Morandell in the net. During the second period arrived also the goals. After 33 minutes the visitors took the lead with Gabriel Vinatzer. Florian Wieser replied after just 57 seconds with a handsome powerplay shot. Derek Eastman took advantage again the “Furies” thanks to a lucky shot. During the third period the game was very balanced. The Wild Goose found the powerplay draw with Alex Sullmann after a nice action by Kamil Brabanec. But Benjamin Kostner's latest goal was for the victory after the defenders of Egna dind’t clean the difensive zone (55th).

 

Cortina won at home against Klagenfurt II but the austrian team was very combative. Cortina started very well as they made a goal with Riley Brace after 2 minutes of play. But it is the only flash of a first period without emotions and in which the teams failed to take the rhythm. During the second half the game was transformed. Klagenfurt took courage as Philipp Kreuzer marked the draw in the opening of the 2th period in powerplay. The Red Jackets also passed in the middle of the game with Daniel Obersteiner. At this point it came the reaction of Cortina that in two minutes overturned the result. Neil Manning scored with a power goal under the crossbar. The home team now gained confidence and founds the new advantage with Michael Zanatta. Then Diego Iori (rebound) and Zach Torquato allowed to Cortina to close the second period on the lead (5:2). During the third period, Klagenfurt II tried to re-open a very nervous time, but Cortina won without further hesitation.