Salzburg extends winning streak | VSV stops Graz

In the first game of the year, the Grazers had to do without neo-goalie Christian Engstrand, who won his first six games in the 99ers jersey, and Dominik Grafenthin. Although the home side had the first good actions, in a quick counter-attack former Graz player Travis Oleksuk scored against goalie Felix Nussbacher after only 79 seconds to give the visitors the lead. A mistake in the Graz defence even led to 0:2 through John Hughes in the fifth minute. The home side got into the game better, but failed again and again against VSV-goalie Andreas Bernard. The 99ers returned to the ice aggressively in the middle period and were rewarded for their offensive efforts: A Kainz shot found its way into the net in the 22nd minute. Although Mike Zalewski equalised in the 27th minute, Joel Broda - who also has a 99ers past - gave the visitors the lead again just 49 seconds later. With a great individual action Chris Collins even restored the two-goal lead before the second period break. And Villach got off to a lightning start in the third period as well, going up 2:5 through Renars Krastenbergs. In the 54th minute, the hosts regained hope after the second Zalewski goal. After Simon Hjalmarsson missed another top chance, Krastenbergs scored an empty netter for the final score of 3:6. While the Eagles left the ice as winners for the third time in a row, the Styrians missed out on a new club record after last winning eight games in a row. VSV, now in seventh place, also overtook Graz in the standings.



Raffl goal gives Salzburg ninth win in a row
HC Pustertal got off to a perfect start in their home game against Salzburg and took the lead after just 62 seconds: JP Lamoureux lost the puck behind the goal and Pustertal's Raphael Andergassen scored into the half-empty net. After that, a balanced first period developed in which both teams played on equal terms and alternately had opportunities. In the second period, Salzburg increased the pressure and equalised in the 34th minute, Florian Baltram deflected a shot by Ali Wukovits in front of the goal and overcame the strong Pustertal goalkeeper Tomas Sholl for a 1:1 interval score after 40 minutes. In the final period, the Red Bulls took the lead for the first time when Dominique Heinrich scored from the blue line into the cross corner on the power play (49th). But Pustertal fought back and equalised again, Dante Hannoun scored after a 2-on-1 counter-attack to make it 2:2. This was also the score going into overtime, which meant that also the fourth duel of the season between these two teams was not decided in regulation time. In the overtime Thomas Raffl hammered the puck from the slot under the crossbar (62nd) and secured the Red Bulls a hard-fought 3:2 away victory. It was Salzburg's ninth win in a row.

bet-at-home ICE Hockey League:
Sun, 02.01.2022: Moser Medical Graz99ers - EC GRAND Immo VSV 3:6 (0:2, 2:2, 1:2)
Referees: FICHTNER, RENCZ, Kis-Kiraly, Muzsik.
Goals Graz: Kainz (22.), Zalewski (27., 54.)
Goals Villach: Oleksuk (2.), Hughes (5.), Broda (27.), Collins (35.), Krastenbergs (41., 59./EN)

Sun, 02.01.2022: HC Pustertal - EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:3 OT (1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PIRAGIC, Nothegger, Puff.
Goals Pustertal: Andergassen (2.), Hannoun (55.)
Goals Salzburg: Baltram (34.), Heinrich (49./PP), Raffl (62.)