Teams in playoff race keep nerves

KAC was without Michael Kernberger, Philipp Kreuzer and Kevin Schettina who all palyed for the EBEL team in Graz. They also missed Florian Vorauer and forward Niki Kraus but continued their upward trend of the past weeks against the 6th-palced Slovenes, who came with two successive wins. Just with a man advantage the Carinthians conceded the first goal against after 17 minutes when Andrej Hebar put the favourites ahead. The dragons had a perfect start into the middle frame when Aljaz Uduc doubled the lead after only 77 seconds. Olimpija was the dominant team but they often failed because of KAC netminder Jakob Holzer. Early in the third Maks Selna added a third for the preliminary decision. Ljubljana goalie Robert Kristan came close to a shutout but with 20 seconds left Daniel Obersteiner scored Klagenfurt's consolation goal.

 

With Villach born Nico Wieser in the net and defender Hagen Kaisler back from injury, the Red Bulls had a good start into the game. After an exchange of blows and an high-level hockey, the first period ended goalless. Shortly before the midway point of the game Miha Brus opened the scoring for Jesenice but with four four and a half minutes to go in the second, the visitors struck back on power play. First, defender Emil Quaas tied t with a two man advantage and then Maximilian Egger turned the game around with another power play goal. In the third period there were lots of penalties with the Red Bulls killing a four-minute shorthanded period. In a final push Jesenice pulled their goalie for an extra skater and with 66 seconds to go Lukas Kainz scored Salzburg's third fo a 3:1 road win. With their third successive win the Red Bulls climbed to 12th place.

 

While Lustenau came out ahrd, the visitors had problems to find their game rhythm. As a result the hosts created some good chances and halfway through the first Jeff Ulmer opened the scoring after a nice combination with Jason DeSantis and Yan Stastny. The lions pressed for a second goal and in the 17th minute Ulmer doubled the lead. In the middle frame the derby became more emotional with power plays on both sides. The goalies did a great job with several saves but after 36 minutes Kristof Reinthaler got the guests on the score board. Lustenau answered quickly with Thomas Auer restoring the two-goal lead on power play. In the third period the VEu tried hard to turn the game around. Just a few minutes after the restart Dylan Stanley took advantage of a mistake in the EHC defense to make it a one-goal game again. Then, the hosts showed a solid defense and often tried their luck on breakaways. With three minutes to go Dominik Oberscheider made the game safe for a 4:2 Lustenau win.

 

It was a fast-paced game right from the beginning with Bregenzerwald using their chances efficient. After only 33 seconds Jusso Mörskymade the breakthrough off a Hyypä pass and in the third minute Marcel Wolf added a second goal. Zell am See coach Dieter Werfring took a time out and now the hosts did ebtter. Halfway through the opening period Gregor Koblar found the back of the net and soon later Martin Oraze tied the game at two with a hard shot. The visitors had the final say in the first, though, when Wolf netted for his brace and a 3:2 Bregenzerwald lead. After the restart the game at eye level continued. Despite Zell am See playing with high pace, the visitors scored as Daniel Ban lit the lamp. Just one minute later Franz Wilfan pulled one back but it was again Daniel Ban who restored the two-goal lead. It repeated once again before the second intermission: After a Fabian Scholz goal, it was Bregenzerwald's Simeon Schwinger who made it 4:6. In the third the Vorarlberg side did well defensively and Christian Haidinger scored for the preliminary decision after 48 minutes. After the seventh goal against, Patrick Machreich was repalced by Dominik Frank. The new goalie also conceded one goal against when Julian Zwerger rounded off the scoring for a 4:8 road win.

 

South Tyrolean derby was played in the front of almost 2000 fans. The Wolves renounced to Thomas Erlacher and Benno Obermair (both injured) and Nick Bruneteau (suspended). The Ritten renounced to Andreas Alber, Max Ploner and Johannes Fauster (all injured), while Brad Cole and Kevin Fink returned to the team. The first period rewarded the home team that played more concrete in attack zone. Even if a difference of three goals after 20 minutes of play may seem a bit 'too much for the formation of Klobstein that has no absolutely demerit. Bruneck hit in double powerplay after 6 minutes of play with Sean Ringrose's goal thanks to a shot at the intersection. The doubling was by the youngest Alex De Lorenzo Meo who guessed the right trajectory from close range: the puck surpassed a surprised Patrick Killen. The Pustertal was exalted as they took off for 3:0: Ivan Althuber passed the puck in front of the slot but a defender of the visitors deflected the puck in his net. During the second period the game was very balanced and then after the middle game the Ritten reignited its fans. In three minutes Christian Borgatello and then Oscar Ahlströhm completely reopened the game But before the end of the second half, Armin Hofer scored after a lonely breakaway. In the third time it was always a show in Bruneck. Dan Tudin concluded a personal action with a shot under the crossbar and the guests reopened the game again (42.). Then the Renon attacked a lot in the last minutes of the third period. Pustertal hold the puck to save the result as they played in a defensive manner. But when were missing two minutes to the end of the third time, it was the goal of a draw by Thomas Spinell. After 5 minutes of overtime the 4: 4 remained. The game finished to the shutout. The Wolves won thanks to the decisive one of Sean Ringrose. The Wolves earned two very heavy points also for the IHL Elite standings.

 

The Asiago started immediately well as they played always in attack zone. The game was one-way. The efforts of the hosts are rewarded by the first goal of Marco Rosa who realized during the first powerplay available after four minutes of play with a wrist shot diagonally. The home team then found the doubling with Michael Sullivan who realized after a descent on the right and then he shot in front of the door. The yellow-red team created other opportunities but its attackers didn’t find the way to the goal. Michael Sullmann missed a good opportunity alone in the front of Cloutier’s door. In the second half, the Asiago controlled the game as they left no possibility for the return of the opponents. Halfway through the game Fabrizio Pace descended in the central area and then served Anthony Bardaro who scored with a precise wrist shot under the crossbar. During the third time the Asiago controlled and at half period they made two other goals: Fabrizio Pace (on rebound) and again Anthony Bardaro (breakway). After this goal the Egna changed the goalkeeper: out Daniel Morandell, inside Kristian Budinsky. Alex Sullman realized the first and only goal of the meeting for the Neumarkt with a powerplay shot. Then Hannes Oberrauch hit the crossbar but the hopes of the Neumarkt ended with this action. Asiago won with full merit as they were only four points from the leading team of Ritten in the standings of AHL. 

 

Joel Brugnoli, Diego Glueck and Samuel Moroder were absent for home team for injury. During the first period Colin Long was seriously injured (knee). For the team of Broncos, Tommy Kruselburger and Matthias Mantinger were out for fever. The Gherdeina started very strong as they skated a lot, created a lot of play but didin’t score in powerplay. When the Sterzing was with the extra man, the Broncos took the lead with Ivan Deluca. During the first period but also in general during the other two period the home team will play better the game but the visitors, instead, will be more concrete in scoring. The Sterzing doubled with David Gschnitzer on rebound just before half period. This night the Broncs were a machine‘s goal.  Jure Sotlar served a perfect assist for Ben Duffy who scored 3:0 just alone in the front of the net. Gherdeina lost Colin Long due to injury and in the same action there were 4 minutes of penalty to Felix Brunner. During the second period the game's history didn’t change. Gherdeina played in the attack but the puck didn’t enter. The Sterzing, however, went on 4:0: Ivan De Luca deflected the puck in the front of the net and on the rebound there was the winning touch of Fabian Hackhofer. The Gherdeina was rewarded by many efforts as they made the first goal in powerplay with Linus Lundström. The second half ended with the visitors ahead of three goals (4:1). During the third time Gherdeina still put pressure as they completely reopened the game with the goals of Benjamin Kostner (double superiority) and again of Lundström. But when were missisng three minutes to the end of the third period, it was the hit of knockout: the Broncos scored at the end of a quick three-way action against the goalkeeper for Jure Sotlar's goal. Vipiteno won 5:3 as they returned to the victory.

 

The Cortina found Diego Iori after the suspension but Luca Zandonella was always absent. The Falcons played this match with 14 movement players. The first period was a bit 'played subdued by the hosts who couldn’t find the right pace. The visitors played his honest game as they kept the result. In the last five minutes of the fist time the game unlocked. Derek Roehl, the latest arrival in Cortina, made the first goal with a deflection from a short distance. The Fassa answered in the final with the goal of Devin Di Diomete in powerplay. The management of the special teams will be the key to the second period. The Cortina still led with Derek Roehl in powerplay. The home team managed to control the opponent and then scores the third goal in middle game with Riley Brace. For the forward of Cortina it was the 100th points in the regular season, also counting the regular season of last year. He was the first player to reach this milestone in the AHL. But was not over: Derek Roehl was the right forward in the right place. His hat-trick still came in powerplay for the Cortina (4: 1). During the third time the Fassa halved the disadvantage with the young Davide Schiavone for the last goal of the whole match. Three important points for the Cortina who won 4:2 as they leaded in the qualifying round of the Final Four Scudetto (Group Sud A).

  

Referees: FICHTNER, WIDMANN, Bergant, Markizeti

Goal KAC: Obersteiner (60./Sticha-Zandonella)

Goals Ljubljana: Hebar (18./sh-Zajc), Uduc (22./Koren-Zibelnik), Selan (41./Hebar-Kralj)

  

BAJT, FAJDIGA, Holzer, Rezek

Goal Jesenice: Brus (28./Tavzelj)

Goals Red Bulls: Quaas (37./PP2-Wachter-Lahoda), Egger (39./PP1-Wachter-Quaas), Kainz (59./EN)

 

Referees: MORI, VIRTA, Kalb, Rigoni

Goals Lustenau: Jeff Ulmer (11./Stastny-DeSantis, 17./Koczera-Stastny), Auer (38./pp-Hrdina-P. Winzig), Oberscheider (57./DeSantis-Auer)

Goals Feldkirch: Reinthaler (36./D. Winzig-Birnstill), Stanley (43.)

 

Referees: KUMMER, WALLNER, Bärnthaler, Kainberger

Goals EKZ: 1:2 9/EQ #20 Koblar Gregor (#27 Dinhopel T.; #57 Wilfan F.), 2:2 11/EQ #43 Oraze Martin (#4 Krammer, #20 Koblar), 3:4 31/EQ #57 Wilfan Franz (#43 Oraze M.), 4:5 38/EQ #44 Scholz Fabian (#48 Kolar J.; #16 Vala P.)

Goals ECB: 0:1 1/EQ #77 Mörsky Juuso (#3 Hyyppä P.), 0:2 3/EQ #74 Wolf Marcel (#42 Kauppila A.; #2 Mitgutsch D.), 2:3 13/EQ #74 Wolf Marcel, 2:4 30/EQ #11 Ban Daniel (#42 Kauppila A.), 3:5 35/EQ #11 Ban Danuel (#9 Ban Chr.), 4:6 39/EQ #97 Schwinger Simeon(#58 Haidinger C.; #31 Pöschmann P.), 4:7 48/EQ #58 Haidinger Christian (#42 Kauppila), 4:8 52/EQ #14 Zwerger Julian (#97 Schwinger S.)

 

Referees: BENVEGNU, LEGA, De Zordo, Wiest

  

Referees: KAMSEK, LESNIAK, Basso, Miklic

Goals ASH: Rosa (4./PP1/Scandella-Gellert); 2:0 M.Sullivan (15./Miglioranzi-Olivero); 3:0 Bardaro (29./Pace-Rosa); 4:0 Pace (51./Rosa-Gellert); 5:0 Bardaro (51./M.Sullivan-Miglioranzi); 

Goal HCN: A.Sullmann (54./PP1/Brabenec-Muzik); 

 

Referees: KUCHER, PODLESNIK, M. Cristeli, Stefenelli

Goal GHE: 1:4 Lundström (32./PP1/Roupec-Eastman); 2:4 B.Kostner (50./PP2/Deyl-I.Demetz); 3:4 Lundström (55./PP1/G.Vinatzer-A.Vinazter); 

Goal WSV: 0:1 I.Deluca (3./PP1/Felicetti-Hackhofer); 0:2 Gschnitzer (9./Hackhofer-T.Kofler); 0:3 Duffy (10./J.Sotlar-F.Brunner); 0:4 Hackhofer (24./I. Deluca-Felicetti); 3:5 Sotlar (57./Duffy-Nyren); 

 

Referees: RUETZ, STRASSER, Ch. Cristeli, Rinker

Goals SGC: 1:0 Roehl (16./R.Lacedelli-Manning); 2:1 Roehl (23./PP1/R.Lacedelli-Torquato); 3:1 Brace (31./Alverà-F.Lacedelli); 4:1 Roehl (38./PP1/Torquato-De Biasio); 

Goals FAS: 1:1 Di Diomete (19./PP1/Klimicek-Schiavone); 4:2 Schiavone (49./Heikkinen-Bustreo); 

 

Photo: Optic Rapid