Release from 12.04.2024

Salzburg equalizes in crazy game of the finals

Short text 446 CharactersPlain text

EC Red Bull Salzburg managed to tie the series against EC-KAC in the best-of-seven final series of the win2day ICE Hockey League in a final game characterized by turnarounds, lead changes and two overtimes as well as eleven goals. The game-winning goal in the second overtime period was scored by Troy Bourke in the 82nd minute, who had previously also sent the Red Bulls into overtime. Game five of the final will follow on Sunday in Klagenfurt.

Press release 3002 CharactersPlain text

The EC-KAC got off to a lightning start in the fourth final game of the win2day ICE Hockey League. After just 95 seconds, Thomas Hundertpfund scored a rebound off a deflected Bischofberger shot to make it 1:0. This was Hundertpfund's 33rd career playoff goal, tying him with previous record holder and legend Thomas Koch. Klagenfurt remained the absolutely dominant team in the first period and almost completely defused EC Red Bull Salzburg. Lukas Haudum - the KAC's top play-off goalscorer this season - then made it 2:0 in the tenth minute with a spectacular move in Powerplay.

The tide turned in the second period from the 23rd minute at the latest. After a burst of energy from Lucas Thaler on the left, Ryan Murphy scored the equalizer. Shaken up by this goal, the Red Bulls came fully into the game. After Finn van Ee had been given a 5-minute penalty, Peter Hochkofler was able to break his 15-game goal drought and tie the game at 2:2. The home side kept the pressure on: 20-year-old Philipp Sinn, who has repeatedly put in strong performances in the playoffs, reacted quickest to a confusing situation in front of Sebastian Dahm's goal and gave the Red Bulls a 3:2 lead with his first career playoff goal.

The EC-KAC quickly shook off the sobering middle period and started the final 20 minutes with pressure. In the 43rd minute, Matt Fraser rewarded the KAC and tied the game at 3:3. Things then went from strength to strength: Dennis Robertson had the answer just three minutes later, putting Salzburg ahead for the second time in the encounter in the 46th minute. But the goals were now scored by the minute: Matt Fraser equalized for the second time in the 47th minute, before David Maier - with his first ever playoff goal - gave the KAC the lead again in the 48th minute. Although the KAC now seemed to be back in control of the encounter, Troy Bourke equalized with a lucky deflected wrap-around and the game had to be decided in overtime.

The first overtime period - Salzburg's third in the last ten days - saw the longest goalless period of the entire encounter. After numerous chances on both sides, Raphael Herburger probably missed the best chance of the first overtime for the EC-KAC. After a goalless 20 minutes, the fourth final game continued in three-on-three. Things then moved quickly in the second overtime: Troy Bourke, who had previously also sent the Red Bulls into overtime, finally gave EC Red Bull Salzburg redemption in the 82nd minute and tied the series at 2:2. The series switches back to Klagenfurt for the fifth final game on Sunday.

win2day ICE Hockey League | 12.04.2024 | Final 4:
EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC-KAC 6:5 OT-2 (0:2,3:0,2:3)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., OFNER, Durmis, Konc.
Score in the "best-of-7" series: 2:2

Goals RBS: Murphy (23.), Hochkofler (25./pp1), Sinn (35.), Robertson (46.), Bourke (54.;82.)
Goals KAC: Hundertpfund (2.), Haudum (10./pp1), Fraser (43;47./pp1), Maier (48.)