Road-wins in the Pick Round, home-wins in the Qualification Round

Znojmo opened the game as the more active team, looking for openings in the offensive period. Yellow Horn was close to opening the scoring seven minutes into the game after Stehlik´s pass, but was denied by Foxes goalie Pekka Tuokkola. Visitors came close on a powerplay when a rebound by Smith into the open net was deflected wide by a skate. Home side opened the scoring 37 seconds into the second period when a loose puck was picked up in the offensive zone by Colton Yellow Horn who skated past a defenseman and netted a backhand shot that beat Tuokkola in a 5-hole area. Mrazek was very active, leading few breakaways from side areas, Cip missed a good chance on a powerplay. Otherwise, both teams played a careful game with focus on minimizing the mistakes. Third period brought chances on both sides, but neither Guman or Angelidis could find the net from good positions. Foxes forechecked high as the game clock ticked down but had trouble finding goal scoring positions. Few deflections and rebounds were saved by Schwarz whose faultless performance secured first win of qualification round for Znojmo.

 

Both teams started active, but the home team were the first to score: a two-on-two saw Netik dash down the right wing and found Sondre Olden in the slot who was patient enough to find a hole and open the scoring. Until the end of the period neither team was able to get the edge and at the first pause it was 1:0 for the Bears. As the initial powerplay of the second period drew to an end Medvescak were able to double their lead through Nik Simsic from the slot on a deflection, assisted by David Brine. Halfway through the second period Linz cut the lead in half as Brian Lebler smoothly put a one-timer in the back of the net. Three minutes before the second break Fabio Hofer made it two apiece, assisted by Brian Lebler, his wrister found the top right shelf of Vilim Rosandic's goal. Eight minutes into the third there was some pushing and shoving which resulted in minir penalties for a player from each team, after repeated attacks on Rosandic after the stoppage in play. In the 56th minute Linz went ahead for the first time in the game when Joel Broda shot from the left circle beat Rosandic in the five-hole. The goal was allowed after the video review of about five minutes. 11 seconds before the end of the third Linz had displaced the goal in a goal-scoring opportunity, the referees signalled for a penalty shot but Sondre olden couldn't convert, hitting the post. The game ended in a 3:2 win for Linz.

 

The game started with a Höneckl save, then Gilbert hit the post. Fehervar started better, Unterweger fouled but apart from Luttinen’s chance the Hungarians did not threaten five on four. Playing full strength, the guests hit the post, then Krisztian Szabo got a penalty. Although the Austrians attacked throughout the two minutes, but Carruth saved. In the middle of the period, LoVecchio passed to Latendresse, who did not miss the breakaway. Graz answered fast with a goal, three minutes later Pirmann deflected Fechtig’s blueliner. Höneckl got a penalty 5 minutes before the buzzer, Hari threatened on the powerplay. The second period started balanced then Fehervar started to push harder, Hari, then LoVecchio shot but Höneckl saved. Vidmar fouled in front of the net, but the Hungarians had the puck more, Kocsis and Reisz both missed. Setziger was the next in the penalty box, Manavian was the most active five on four but there was no goal. 12 minutes in the period Camara shot clear and Carruth could not save, putting his team in the lead. This time, Fehervar had an answer, Uotila shot from the blue line, the puck got in front of Reisz, who put it in the net. Fehervar remained better after the goal, but the decision was up to the third period. The third period started better for the Hungarians: Manavian shot but Koger missed the tip-in. After Nixon’s penalty, Fehervar missed another powerplay, but five on five, the home team had more chances, Graz barely got to Carruth’s net. In the middle of the period, Fehervar got in the lead again, LoVecchio deflected Manavian’s blueliner. Hari and co. had no easy job as Reisz fouled but the home team defended well. Graz battled hard for their third goal, Zusevic missed, then Koger had to sit in the penalty box, Doug Mason used his timeout and pulled his goalie. It was an extciting three minutes in Fehervar, the game became emotional and physical in front of the Fehervar net as Graz missed many opportunities. Finally, Koger was on ice again but Graz still attacked with six players, however, the guests did not manage to tie the game again.

 

The Dornbirn Bulldogs threatened in Villach first, but the Eagles scored the first goal: Andrew Sarauer put the puck in from a sharp angel in minute 19. The Bulldogs responded quickly: Brian Connelly tied the game one second before the break. Period 2 started great for the Eagles: Christof Kromp poked the puck in after 96 seconds. Villach extended the lead: Kromp made it 3:1 with a deflection in a Power Play and then Dave Shields finished a pass from Miha Verlic easily for the 4:1. In the last period Back-up-goalie Thomas Stroj fills in for Rasmus Rinne. The guests tried hard to come back, but without success. Jordan Hickmott netted the 5:1 after a mistake from Stroj. Dornbirn did not give up and netted two goals within three minutes. VSV Head Coach Markus Peintner took a Time Out and his team responded quickly: After some good chances Valentin Leiler netted the final 6:3.

 

The Capitals were on Fire in Innsbruck in the first 30 minutes: Kyle Klubertanz (7.), Peter Schneider (13./pp), Rafael Rotter (20./pp), Andreas Nödl (26.) and Patrick Peter (27.) gave their team a 5:0-lead. Then Back-up Rene Swette fills in for Patrik Nechvatal and this was a wake-up-call for the Sharks. Morten Poulsen, who poked the puck in, and Captain Tyler Spurgeon in a Power Play netted the first two goals for the Tyroleans. Period 3 started perfect for Innsbruck: Andrew Clark scored the 3:5 in a Power Play. The Champion stayed unimpressed and responded quickly: Ryan McKiernan beat goalie Rene Swette with a covert shot from the blue line – 6:3 (46.). In the end the Caps won in Innsbruck 6:4.

 

Raphael Herburger gave the Red Bulls a 1:0-lead with the first good chance in Klagenfurt. Ryan Duncan extended the lead, before Julian Talbot scored the first goal for EC-KAC. In period 2 Mitja Robar made it 2:2. The Red Jackets took the momentum into the last period. Stefan Geier’s Power Play goal gave the Carinthians a 3:2-lead. Then one goal after the other followed. The score was 4:4 after 60 minutes. The game went into an Overtime and into Shoot Out, where Herburger scored the Game Winner for the Red Bulls.

 

YoungStar vote January 2018 has started.
Nominated for the EISNER Auto YoungStar vote January 2018 are Lukas Bär (HCI), Raphael Wolf (DEC), Adam Deutsch (MZA), Ali Wukovits (VIC) and Philipp Kreuzer (KAC). The vote is online until Friday, February 9th 2018 and is done by fans (1/3), National team Coach (1/3) and ServusTV experts (1/3). 

 

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2. Qualification Round:
Sun, 04.02.2018: HC Orli Znojmo – HCB Südtirol Alperia 1:0 (0:0,1:0,0:0)
Referees: KINCSES, K. NIKOLIC; spectators: 2.102
Goal ZNO: Yellow Horn (21.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2. Qualification Round:
Sun, 04.02.2018: Fehervar AV19 – Moser Medical Graz99ers 3:2 (1:1,1:1,1:0)
Referees: BALUSKA, STERNAT; spectators: 3.158
Goals AVS: Latendresse (10.), Reisz (34.), LoVecchio (51.)
Goals G99: Pirmann (13.), Camara (32.)
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2. Qualification Round:
Sun, 04.02.2018: EC VSV – Dornbirn Bulldogs 6:3 (1:1,3:0,2:2)
Referees: KELLNER, SMETANA; spectators: 2.475
Goals VSV: Sarauer (19.), Kromp (22., 29./pp), Shields (36.), Hickmott (48.), Leiler (58.)
Goals DEC: Connelly (20.), Sylvester (50./sh), D’Alvise (53.)

 

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2. Pick Round Round:
Sun, 04. 02. 2018: EC-KAC – EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:5/SO (1:2/1:0/2:2/0:0/0:1)
Referees: BABIC, NIKOLIC, Nagy, Nemeth; spectators: 2.822
Goals KAC: Talbot (18.), Robar (37.), St. Geier (44./pp), Kapstad (56./pp)
Goals: RBS: Herburger (6.), Duncan (10.), Brouilette (46.; 50./pp), Herburger (entsch. Penalty)

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2. Pick Round:
Sun, 04.02.3018: HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" - Vienna Capitals 4:6 (0:3, 2:2, 2:1)
Referees: GRUBER, LEMELIN; spectators: 2000
Goals HCI: Morten Poulsen (31. Min., PP1), Tyler Spurgeon (40. Min., PP1), Andrew Clark (45. Min., PP1), Benedikt Schennach (58. Min.)
Goals VIC: Kyle Klubertanz (7. Min.),Peter Schneider (13. Min., PP1), Rafael Rotter (20. Min., PP1), Andreas Nödl (26. Min.), Patrick Peter (27. Min.), Ryan McKiernan (46. Min.)

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2. Pick Round:
Sun, 04.02.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz 2:3 (1:0,1:2,0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC; spectators: 5.243
Goals MZA: Olden (4.), Simsic (23.)
Goals BWL: Lebler (30.), Hofer (37.), Broda (56./pp)