Release from 03.03.2017

Three teams take 3:0 series lead

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On Friday UPC Vienna Capitals, EC Red Bull Salzburg and EC-KAC took a 3:0 series lead in the quarter-finals while HC Bolzano turned it around thanks to a 2:0 shutout win in Linz.

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Duba gets shut out against Znojmo
Znojmo opened the game with a chance but Klagenfurt took over command early. After seven minutes Marco Richter stole the puck and fed to Ziga Pance who made the breakthrough. The hosts were the dominant team and only Znojmo netminder Marek Schwarz prevented his side from some more goals against. After eight minutes Thomas Koch poked the puck in for a 2:0 lead after 20 minutes. Early in the middle frame Christoph Duller failed because of Schwarz who was the best man of his side. Most of the time the game took place in the Znojmo end and it was once again Schwarz who had some good saves. Klagenfurt added a third in the final period when Stefan Geier scored off a pass from his brother. This was the preliminary decision with Tomas Duba getting getting a shutout and Klagenfurt a 3:0 series lead.
 
Bolzano turns series around in Linz
As in the first two games, both teams played solid defensively right from the beginning. It was a game at eye level with Linz coming close to open the scoring but Bolzano goalie Marcel Melichercik kept a clean sheet, as his opposite Mike Ouzas, in the first. The Austrians came out hard in the middle frame and controlled the game. Clark Thompson Seymour hit the post in Bolzano's only chance but also Linz was out of luck on several occassions. With two minutes into the third the home fans celebrated but the joy was short-lived as it was a "no goal" call after video review. Linz fired goalwards from every promising position but they did not find their target this night. With three minutes to go the foxes did, though. Brodie Reid made the breakthrough on a break away and after Linz pulled their goalie, Marco Insam made the game safe - 2:0.
 
Caps win goal fest at home
The Caps came out hard and generated some chances early with Taylor Vause hitting the post after five minutes. Halfway through the first Innsbruck goalie Andy Chiodo was beaten for the first time when Jerry Pollastrone put in a great pass by Rafael Rotter. Innsbruck was not able to bounce back on power play and the hosts took a tight lead into the first intermission. The second period was a mere 28 seconds old when Tyler Spurgeon tied it at one but Rotter retook the lead with a two men advantage. MacGregor Sharp extended the lead from close range and Riley Holzapfel put his side 4:1 up even before the second intermission. Mario Huber pulled one back but with 41 seconds into the third, Pollastrone added his second of the night for a 5:1 score. Innsbruck tried to fight back, playing very physical and taking penalties. Colin Bowman used one power play to make it 5:2. Hunter Bishop and Benedikt Schennach reduced the deficit but Taylor Vause had the final say with his goal for a 7:4 win.

Salzburg gives Graz no chance again
There were just a few highlights early in the game with Salzburg becoming dangerous for the first time after eleven minutes and they promptly scored: Thomas Raffl scored on a deflection after a Thomas shot. Soon later the 99ers improved and created good chances but Beack failed because of Starkbaum. The visitors were out of luck when Pelech and Setzinger hit metalwork and at the other end Andreas Kristler was not able to convert a penalty shot. With 34 seconds into the second period Thomas doubled the lead and even before the midway of the game Ryan Duncan made it 3:0. It was everything Salzburg but after a bad line change, Setzinger got his team on the scoreboard. Dominique Heinrich restored Salzburg's lead for a 4:1 score after 40 minutes. The Red Bulls slowed down the pace in the third. With almost six minutes on the clock, Doug Mason pulled his goalie for another skater. The hosts did well in a 6 on 4 shorthanded situation and soon later Manuel Latusa finished off the scoring - 5:1.

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 3rd quarter-finals (best of seven):
Fri, 03.03.2017: UPC Vienna Capitals – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 7:4 (1:0, 3:2, 3:2)
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR; Zuseher: 5.350
Goals VIC: Pollastrone (9., 41.), Rotter (26./pp2), Sharp (27./pp), Holzapfel (39.), Bowman (53./pp), Vause (60.)
Goals HCI: Spurgeon (21.), Huber (40.), Bishop (53.), Schennach (60./sh)
Score in the best-of-7 series, VIC - HCI: 3:0

Fri, 03.03.2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – HCB Südtirol Alperia 0:2 (0:0, 0:0, 0:2)
Referees: GRUBER, NIKOLIC K.: Zuseher: 4865
Goals Bozen: Reid (57.), Insam (60.)
Score in the best-of-7 series: 1:2

Fri. 03.03.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz 99ers 5:1 (1:0,3:1,1:0)
Referees: BERNEKER/LEMELIN, 3.200 Zuschauer;
Goals RBS: Raffl (11./pp), Thomas (21.), Duncan (27/pp), Heinrich (38.), Latusa (58./en)
Goal G99: Setzinger (32.)
Score in the best-of-7 series, RBS – G99: 3:0

Fri, 03.03.2017: EC-KAC – HC Orli Znojmo 3:0 (2:0/0:0/1:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC, STOLC, Paratscher, Seewald, Zuschauer: 4.660
Goals KAC: Pance (6.), Koch (9.), St. Geier (42.)
Score in the best-of-7 series, KAC - ZNO: 3:0