Release from 05.03.2021
The Steinbach Black Wings 1992 remain in the tight race for the last playoff ticket in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League until Sunday with a 5:3 comeback win over the Dornbirn Bulldogs - and reduced the gap to rival EC GRAND Immo VSV, which recorded a 3:2 overtime win at home against the iClinic Bratislava Capitals, to one point. The Moser Medial Graz99ers, meanwhile, had to bury their chance of postseason participation, losing 3:4 in Innsbruck.
In the Pick Round, EC-KAC secured second place with a 5:4 overtime win in Vienna - and in addition to home advantage in a possible semifinal series, also managed to qualify for the Champions Hockey League. Third place went to EC Red Bull Salzburg, which dominated Hydro Fehérvár AV19 7:0 on the road.
Linz keeps chance for playoffs alive
With a 5:3 comeback win over the Dornbirn Bulldogs, the Steinbach Black Wings 1992 have shifted the decision for the last playoff ticket in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League until Sunday. Then Linz will fight in a long-distance duel against Villach, to which the Upper Austrians are only one point behind after their sixth intermediate round win. The Linz sde allowed themselves this chance with an unbelievable comeback: midway through the game they were down 1:3, threatening to fall even further behind in subsequent shorthanded occasions. But good penalty killing and a shorthander by Josh Roach (37./SH1) brought hope, the equalizer by Dragan Umicevic (47.) then confidence - and this then provided in person of Will Pelletier (58.) for the turnaround. Umicevic strengthened the home victory with an empty-netter. Thus, the last team after the first phase of the regular season has won all five home games of the Qualification Round.
Villach stays in pole position for playoffs
EC GRAND Immo VSV has lost one point to chaser Linz with a 3:2 overtime home win over the iClinic Bratislava Capitals - but remains in pole position in the fight for the last spot for the postseason. Currently third in the Qualification Round of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League, the "Adler" have a one-point lead - and the direct duel - over the Black Wings. After a goalless starting frame, Villach took the lead through goals from Jerry Pollastrone (22.) and Scott Kosmachuk (32./PP1), but the visitors from Slovakia rallied for a point, equalizing through Brock Higgs (37.) and Michal Mrazik (53.). Villach captain Jamie Fraser then provided the OT game-winner after just 51 seconds.
Graz loses to Innsbruck and has no chance for postseason any more
The Moser Medical Graz99ers missed their chance to stay in the race for the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League playoffs on the penultimate matchday of the Qualification Round. The Styrians lost at HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie with 3:4, lost their fourth game in a row. The "99ers" opened the final period with a 2:1 lead, and after a weak start and goals from Daniel Ciampini (42.) and Christof Kromp (48./PP1), they equalized again through Michael Latta (57.) - but Colton Saucerman (58.) scored again for the "Haie" just 43 seconds later and sealed the Styrians' end.
Klagenfurt pins down second place and qualifies for CHL
EC-KAC secured second place in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League Pick Round early with a 5:4 overtime win at the spusu Vienna Capitals. The Carinthians thus also have home advantage in a possible semifinal series - and qualified for the Champions Hockey League for the fourth time. On the way to the necessary two points, the "Rotjacken" had to tremble at the end: In the third last minute the Viennese equalized through Nikolaus Hartl (58./PP1) and Ty Loney (58.) within 39 seconds to 4:4. In the overtime, Nick Petersen, who had already recorded two assists in regulation, sealed the deal by scoring the game-winner after 36 seconds.
Salzburg fastens third place
EC Red Bull Salzburg will finish the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League Pick Round in third place and have home advantage in the quarterfinals (starting on Friday, March 12th). In their last game of the regular season - Salzburg is not playing on Sunday - the six-time champions celebrated a 7:0 away win over Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The "Bullen" were already in the lead after 89 seconds in Hungary, 65 seconds later it was already 2:0 from the visitors' point of view. Peter Hochkofler, who converted his own rebound, was responsible for doubling up. The native of Bolzano managed two more goals, with which the 26-year-old laced his first ICE hat trick. JP Lamoureux recorded his third shutout of the season with 22 saves.
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League| Pick Round | Friday, March 5th 2021:
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg 0:7 (0:3, 0:2, 0:2)
Referees: FICHTNER, ZRNIC, Hribar, Riecken.
Goals RBS: Skille (2.), Hochkofler (3., 43., 50./PP1), Ortega (16.), Heinrich (30./PP1), Schofield (32./PP1)
spusu Vienna Capitals - EC-KAC 4:5 OT (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 0:1)
Referees: HRONSKY, SOOS, Konc, Muzsik.
Goal VIC: Großlercher (13.), Artner (38./PP1), Hartl (58./PP1), Loney (58.)
Goals KAC: Gregorc (18.), Ticar (29./PP1), Kernberger (35.), Witting S. (45.), Petersen (61.)
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League| Qualification Round | Friday, March 5th 2021:
HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie - Moser Medical Graz99ers 4:3 (1:1, 0:1, 3:1)
Referees: BERNEKER, SIEGEL, Nothegger, Seewald.
Goals HCI: Gerlach (2.), Ciampini (42.), Kromp (48./PP1), Saucerman (58.)
Goals G99: Kainz (4.), Porsberger (39.), Latta (57./PP1)
EC GRAND Immo VSV - iClinic Bratislava Capitals 3:2 OT (0:0, 2:1, 0:1, 1:0)
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Bedynek, Gatol.
Goals VSV: Pollastrone (22.), Kosmachuk (31./PP1), Fraser (61.)
Goals BRC: Higgs (37.), Mrazik (53.)
Steinbach Black Wings 1992 - Dornbirn Bulldogs 5:3 (1:1, 1:2, 3:0)
Referees: OFNER, PIRAGIC, Bärnthaler, Kontschieder.
Goals BWI: Lebler (19.), Roach (37./SH1), Umicevic (47., 59.), Pelletier (58.)
Goals DEC: Luciani (14./PP1), Macierzynski (21.), Häußle (33.)
Fotocredit: Hannes Draxler