Slovenian teams start with victories in semifinal series

Ljubljana defends home advantage
Defending champion HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana takes the lead in the first semifinal against EHC Lustenau. The team from Vorarlberg, who defeated a struggling HC Pustertal in the quarterfinals, suffered their first playoff defeat. The Slovenians started the semifinal series against Lustenau with a full success, as they did in their 2018/19 championship season. The hosts were able to create a chance plus right from the start. Nik Simsic and Ziga Pesut established a 2:0 lead with a double strike in the 17th and 19th minute. The guests from Lustenau scored the connecting goal at the beginning of the middle period in the person of Elias Wallenta, but had to concede to the physical play of Ljubljana. Nejc Brus restored the 2-goal lead a little later. At the beginning of the final period, Ales Music scored the decisive goal in powerplay. Chris D'Alvise was able to reduce the deficit five minutes before the end, but it was too late for a comeback. Ljubljana celebrated a 4:2 win and put the score at 1:0 in the best-of-five series, while Lustenau have a chance to equalize already on Saturday.

Overtime win brings opening victory for Jesenice
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice celebrated a hard-fought 4:3 overtime win against Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey in the first semifinal game. After three close victories in the quarterfinals, the Slovenians proved their nerves once again. The visitors still had the better start. Marco Rosa opened the scoring for the yellow-red team in overtime. But Jesenice's answer was not long in coming. Less than a minute later, Zan Jezovsek equalized the score. In the second period, the hosts initially went ahead in the person of Jaka Sodja. But Asiago fought back as well and finally managed to score the 2:2 in a period of pressure in powerplay. Again Jezovsek needed less than a minute for the answer and let Jesenice go into the second break with a narrow lead. Asiago came back again - Marco Rosa with his second powerplay goal of the night took his team into overtime. In the extra period, first the Slovenians failed on the crossbar before Asiago could not take advantage of high-caliber chances on the power play. In the 73rd minute, Bine Masic scored the decisive goal with a powerful blueliner from the right side. For the only 18-year-old, the game-winner was the first AHL goal ever in his 36th game.

HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana - EHC Lustenau 4:2 (2:0,1:1,1:1)
Referees: GROZNIK, LESNIAK, Bergant, Miklic.
Standing in the "best-of-five"-series 1:0
Goals HKO: 1:0 HKO Simsic N. (16:09 / Vallerand M. ,Logar M. / EQ), 2:0 HKO Pesut Z. (18:27 / Simsic N. ,Ropret A. / EQ). 3:1 HKO Brus N. (26:51 / Zajc M. ,Logar M. / EQ), 4:1 HKO Music A. (44:30 / Pance Z. ,Vallerand M. / PP).
Goals EHC: 2:1 EHC Wallenta E. (23:08 / Ozolins A. ,Haberl L. / EQ), 4:2 EHC D'Alvise C. (54:57 / Connelly B. ,Karkls R. / PP)

HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 4:3 O.T. (1:1,2:1,0:1)
Referees: PAHOR, REZEK, Arlic, Snoj.
Standing in the "best-of-five"-series 1:0
Goals JES: 1:1 JES Jezovsek Z. (04:02 / Tomazevic B. / EQ), 2:1 JES Sodja J. (24:07 / Jezovsek Z. / EQ), 3:2 JES Jezovsek Z. (38:18 / Tomazevic B. ,Urukalo Z. / EQ), 4:3 JES Masic B. (72:06 / Urukalo Z. ,Rajsar S. / EQ)
Goals ASH: 0:1 ASH Rosa M. (03:24 / Gellert A. / PP), 2:2 ASH Magnabosco J. (37:39 / McParland S. ,Gellert A. / PP), 3:3 ASH Frei A. (52:12 / Gellert A. ,McParland S. / PP)