Salzburg takes the lead | First win for Vienna

The third game of the series HCB Südtirol Alperia against spusu Vienna Capitals was also a close one and was decided with just only one goal difference. For the first time, the Capitals kept the upper hand at the end, thus reducing the score to 1:2 in the "best-of-7" series. In a very even and dramatic game until the last second, the Capitals celebrated a 2:1 away win. The decision was made by Bernhard Posch, who scored for the first time in the win2day ICE Hockey League playoffs six and a half minutes before the end of the game. Overall, it was only the 22-year-old's second goal for the Capitals. The first lead in the game, however, was held by the home side from South Tyrol. After a scoreless first period, Matt Frattin deflected a shot by Christian Thomas in the 22nd minute in the power play. Even before that, Bolzano set the tone, but failed to score against the strong Bernhard Starkbaum or the goal post. For the Capitals' goalkeeper it was his first appearance in the playoffs since game three in the quarterfinals against Innsbruck. After falling, however, Vienna got into the game better in the offensive and managed to level the score in the 37th minute with a goal from Jeremy Gregoire. In the final period, Bolzano also had numerous great chances in front of more than 5400 spectators, but in the end the Capitals prevailed and thus have the chance to equalize the series in front of their home crowd on Friday (19:15/live.ice.hockey).



Salzburg takes the lead
In the second semifinal, the EC Red Bull Salzburg clearly beat the EC-KAC 5:1 to take a 2:1 lead in the "best-of-7" series. In the third game it was the third clear home victory. Already at the start of the series the Red Bulls celebrated a 5:1 home victory, rather the KAC answered perfectly with a 6:2 home win. In front of 3400 spectators and thus a sold-out arena, Salzburg was the better team from the beginning. Already after 130 seconds Benjamin Nissner brought the home side in the lead. Still in the first period, Dennis Robertson scored a dream goal to increase the lead to 2:0. In the 25th minute, the Red Bulls scored a power play goal by Mario Huber to increase the lead to 3:0, before Rihards Bukarts made it 1:3 from the KAC's point of view and gave all fans of the Klagenfurt team some hope. But only five minutes later it was Benjamin Nissner who scored his second goal of the evening and finally decided the game in favor of Salzburg. It was the center's first brace of the season. The final goal was scored by Troy Bourke in the 54th minute of the game. The series continues on Friday in Klagenfurt. PULS 24 will broadcast live from 19:05.



WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE | 28.03.2023 | SEMIFINALS 3:
EC RED BULL SALZBURG – EC-KAC 5:1 (2:0, 2:1, 1:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, OFNER, Durmis, Riecken | Spectators: 3400 (sold out)
Standings in the „best-of-7” series: 2:1
Goals RBS: 1:0 Nissner B. (3.), 2:0 Robertson D. (17.) 3:0 Huber M. (25./PP1), 4:1 Nissner B. (37.), 5:1 Bourke T. (54.)
Goal KAC: 3:1 Bukarts R. (31.)

HCB SÜDTIROL ALPERIA – SPUSU VIENNA CAPITALS 1:2 (0:0, 1:1, 0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Nothegger, Seewald | Spectators: 5422
Standings in the „best-of-7” series: 2:1
Goal HCB: 1:0 Frattin M. (22./PP1)
Goals VIC: 1:1 Gregoire J. (37.), 1:2 Posch B. (54.)