Successful Playoff-start for Bruneck, Jesenice, Ljubljana and Salzburg

Alps Hockey League, Quarterfinals #1 (best of seven):
Mon, 18.03.2019: HC Pustertal Wolves vs. Sportivi Ghiaccio Cortina Hafro 1:0 (1:0,0:0,0:0)
best-of-seven-series: 1:0
Referees: BULOVEC, RUETZ; spectators: 1.350
The home team recovered Marko Virtala who had played his last game last January 19. Erlacher and Laner were absent. The Cortina played with the best line-up available except for the absence of Moser and Alessandro Zanatta as they recovered Marco Sanna for the occasion. Start as expected. The leader of the regular season put a lot of pressure in front of Marco De Filippo's net. The visiting team defended very well. The decisive moment of the whole first and then of the whole game was after 13 minutes. Teemu Virtala took a puck at the Cortina and after served a perfect assist to Markus Gander who found the net with a slap-shot. The Cortina tried to react and top-scorer Riccardo Lacedelli has the best action at the end of the first period. In the second period the Bruneck continued to attack and Cortina closed any ways for the Wolves. The same happened for the third period. The home team did not find the strength to close the game. The Cortina didn't find the right cue to draw. So, the game arrived in the final moments but the result didn’t change. Pustertal won by 1:0 as they earned the first ever game in AHL playoffs against Cortina. Colin Furlong earned the eleventh shutout of the season.
Goal PUS: Gander (14. – Virtala).

Mon, 18.03.2019: HK SZ Olimpija vs. Rittner Buam 3:0 (0:0,2:0,1:0)

best-of-seven-series: 1:0
Referees: DURCHNER, OFNER; spectators: 1.031
The goalies Us and Tragust stopped all shots in period 1. After the intermission, the Rittner Buam had a great chance to go ahead. Daniel Tudin received the puck and went alone at Us, who ended up as the winner in their duel. Then, Olimpija got the upper hand of the game. Half way into the game, the Slovenes had two almost consecutive powerplays, but failed to beat Thomas Tragust, who made a superb save to Gregor Koblar. The deadlock finaly got broken in 35th minute. In front of the net Ales Music ended up in the right place at the right time. Ritten then had a power play on their own but didn't get a shot on target. Just before it was over Patrik Luza made a holding foul on Gal Koren. This time the hosts took advantage as Miha Zajc made it 2:0 from the right side. The Final period opened much the same. Luka Ulamec had a nice chance in 44th minute. Then Olimpija first had over a minute 4 on 3 power play and a little later whole 2 minutes 5 on 3 advantage but only managed to get a single shot on goal. After the power play Ritten felt it was their time to press forward. Andreas Lutz came close but Zan Us was on the spot. Olimpija then hit the goal frame twice. First it was Kristjan Cepon in 57th and then David Planko in 59th minute. With a minute to go Thomas Tragust left the ice for an extra attacker. The dragons took advantage of an open net as Ales Music netted his 2nd of the night with 32 seconds remaining on the clock. The series now moves to Ritten, where game 2 will be played on Wednesday.
Goals HKO: Music (35. – Koren, Kranjc; 60./EN - Koren), Zajc (38. – K. Cepon, Music).

Mon, 18.03.2019: Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau 3:2 (2:2,0:0,1:0)

best-of-seven-series: 1:0
Referees: BAJT, SUPPER: spectators: 117
EHC Alge Elastic Lustenau had a perfect start into Quarterfinal number 1 in Salzburg on Monday: Myrrä (3.) and Winzig (8./sh) gave the west-club a quick 2:0-lead. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors stayed unimpressed and they have quickly responded with goals from Schütz (8./pp) and Nordberg (15.). Now, the Mozart Citizens have been the more active team, but, the the goals were missing. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors started strong into the last period too and and they were quickly rewarded with the 3:2 netted by Varejcka (42.). Each club had their chances to score further goals in the final minutes, but the netminders Laakso (RBJ) and Corbeil (EHC) didn‘t allow further goals. So, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors started the Quarterfinals with a 3:2-comeback-win over the Lions. 
Goals RBJ: Schütz (8./pp – Predan), Nordberg (15. – Evertsson, S. Witting), Varejcka (42. – S. Witting, Schmitz)
Goals EHC: Myrrä (3. – König), Winzig (8./sh – Grabher-Meier).

Mon, 18.03.2019: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey 1935 vs. HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice 1:2 (0:1,1:0,0:1)

best-of-seven-series: 0:1
Referees: MOSCHEN, PAHOR; spectators: 680.
Asiago without Pace and Foltin. The game started immediately intense and fast as expected from the two formations. The first real opportunity was a crossbar of Naclerio in powerplay after 3 minutes of play and then a good opportunity of Miglioranzi. But shortly after half time Jesenice took the lead with a counterattack action of Gasper Glavic that overcame Cloutier. Asiago tried to equalize but the first period closed with the slightest advantage of the Red Steelers. The first phases of the second half were all in favor of Jesenice but they didn't double for the skill of Frederic Cloutier. The home team reorganized as they found the goal of Naclerio after the assist of Olivero in a situation of numerical inferiority.  The match was very intense with large phases of special team but the second period closed in a draw (1:1). To report a goal canceled to Bardaro (36.). In the third period the match was more fragmented because of the penalties whistled at the yellow-red team. When the spectre of overtime loomed, Jaka Sodja concluded a nice action by the Slovenes on the net (57.). In the final game penalty against Anthony Bardaro for a charge against Tadej Cimzar who had to leave the rink. Asiago no longer recovered and the Slovenian team won by 2:1 on the road.
Goal ASH: Naclerio (31./sh – Olivero, P. Pietroniro)
Goals JES: Glavic (12. – Sersen), J. Sodja (58. – Svetina, U. Sodja)