Semifinals are set

After an overtime win by Black Wings Monday it was time for Game 6 of the quarterfinals in Zagreb. Linz got off to a better start, when Fabio Hofer managed to get the puck over the goalline after a scramble in the 16th minute. Linz played more actively, but couldn't capitalize on their chances. After a couple of penalties to start the second period, Tyler Morley intercepts a failed clearance in the middle of the offensive zone, has time to perfectly time the shot and buries one in the upper left corner to tie the score (28.). As a four-minute penalty expired for Black Wings, the Bears couldn't clear the puck and Shane O'Brien fired a wrister from the blueline and found the back of the net to restore the visitors' lead in the 33rd minute. Not long after Tyler Morley nets a backhander from a deflection for his second of the night (34.). Medvescak gained the lead for the first time in the game in the 36th minute as Sondre Olden capitalized on a powerplay. It took 54 seconds after the break for the Black Wings to level the score: Brian Lebler found the back of the net through the five hole. The same player restores the lead for the Black Wings when he beat Carr from a tough angle (44.). Halfway through the period Rick Schofield beats Carr for the fifth time to give Linz a two-goal lead. With two men up Tyler Morley buries the hattrick in the 56th minute and gives some hope for the home fans. But even the huge effort at the end wasn't enough as Linz punches the ticket to the semis, joining Bozen, Vienna and Red Bull.

 

HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ started well into Quarterfinal 6. The Tyroleans had early chances from John Lammers and Benedikt Schennach, but the first goal was scored by the guests from Vienna: Taylor Vause gave his team a 1:0-lead with the teams first chance. The lead gave the Champions an extra boost. Rafael Rotter made it a 2:0 Capitals advantage in a Power Play in minute 12. The Sharks did not give up and got the game under their control again. But the hosts could not score from their chances. This changed immediately after the re-start: A shot by John Lammers was deflected by a Caps player into the own net. Just moments later, Hunter Bishop potted the 2:2 from a Penalty Shot. The game continued with chances for each team, but the score stayed unchanged. As in period 2, the Tyroleans had a perfect start into the final period: Andrew Yogan got the puck infront of the opponent‘s net and netted the 3:2. The Tyroleans had the momentum, but Vienna had an answer. The Capitals responded applying pressure on the Sharks and it paid off: The Champion turned the game with two goals within just 36 seconds: Tessies Power Play goal and Nödl made it 4:3 for the Caps. The Champion had the game under control in the final minutes and even added the 5:3 from Vause into the empty net. The Caps stepped up to the semifinals. There Vienna will face Bozen. The two clubs have meet in the semifinals past season as well.

 

EC Red Bull Salzburg had a perfect start into Quarterfinal 6 in Dornbirn: Julien Brouillette put the guests ahead after just 79 seconds. The Bulldogs responded quickly: Jamie Arniel (6.) finished a combination over Ziga Pance and Kevin Macierzynski. This goal gave the Vorarlberger an extra boost, but the hosts failed to score from their chances. The Mozart Citizens were more effective: Alexander Cijan netted the 2:1 from a fast counter attack after a pass from Michael Schiechl. The game was offensively played in period two. Matthias Trattnig gave the Red Bulls a 3:1-lead with a Penalty Shot (30.). On the other side, Kevin Macierzynski was stopped by Bernhard Starkbaum after a solo. The guests decided the series with two quick goals from Rob Schremp (44.) and Captain Mattias Trattnig (46.) within just 113 seconds early in the third period – 5:1. The Red Bulls won in Dornbirn 6:2 and stepped up to the semifinals. There the Mozart Citizens will face EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz.

 

HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC-KAC had a chippy game. Mike Angelidis‘ 5-on-3-Power Play goal gave Bozen a 1:0 lead in minute 13. Klagenfurt’s best chance from Harand was stopped by Pekka Tuokkla. Each team had their chances in period 2, but the score stayed unchanced. The Italians applyied pressure on Klagenfurt in period 3. After several chances, DeSousa deflected a shot from Stefano Marchetto into the net - 2:0. Klagenfurt had their chances as well (counter, Kozek), but the Austrians found no way through the well playing HCB defense. Bozen will face Vienna in the semifinals.

 

best-of-seven-series: KAC - HCB: 2:4.
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR; spectators: 6010
Goals HCB: Angelidis (13./p2), DeSousa (52.)

Tue, 20.03.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs – EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:6 (1:2, 0:1, 1:3)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC; spectators: 4.270.
Goals DEC: 1:1 Arniel (6.), 2:5 (51.)
Goals RBS: 0:1 Brouillette (2.), 1:2 Cijan (14.), 1:3 Trattnig (30./PS), 1:4 Schremp (44.), 1:5 Trattnig (46.), 2:6 Duncan (59./en)
best-of-seven-series, RBS - DEC: 4:2.

Tue, 20.03.2018: HC TWK Innsbruck – Vienna Capitals 3:5 (0:2, 2:0, 1:3)
Referees: SMETANA, ZRNIC; spectators: 3200
Goals HCI: Lammers (21./pp), Bishop (24./Penalty), Yogan (43.)
Goals VIC: Vause (5., 59./en), Rotter (12./pp), Tessier (56./pp), Nödl (56.).
best of seven series, VIC- HCI: 4:2.

Tue, 20.03.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb (5) vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (3) 4:5 (0:1,3:1,1:3)
Referees: KINCSES, LEMELIN; spectators: 5.112
Goals MZA: Morley (28., 34., 56./pp), Olden (36./pp)
Goals BWL: Hofer (16./pp), O’Brien (33.), Lebler (41., 44.), Schofield (50.)
best-of-seven-serie, BWL – MZA: 4:2