Release from 31.01.2020
© (c) GEPA pictures / Mario Kneisl
The top duo after the first phase of the Regular Season also celebrated victories on the first gameday of the Pick Round in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. The EC Red Bull Salzburg and the spusu Vienna Capitals both won in front of home crowds. The 5:2 victory of the Viennese over the Moser Medical Graz99ers was their 600th league win since the beginning of the 2003/04 season. In the Qualification Round, the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz stayed confident in their home game against Innsbruck, while Hydro Fehérvar AV19 and the Dornbirn Bulldogs surprised with road wins after overtime and shootout respectively against better ranked teams.
JP Lamoureux saves 29 in Salzburg’s Pick Round opener
An overall strong defensive performance and an almost flawless Jean Philippe Lamoureux, who saved 29 of 30 shots on his goal, secured a 2:1 home win for EC Red Bull Salzburg against HCB Südtirol Alperia. Neither team was able to start the Pick Round with the best line-up. Salzburg spent significantly more time in the attacking zone from the start and got rewarded: Janos Hari (13.) scored through Leland Irving's legs just seconds after the second powerplay to take a narrow lead after the first period. In the second period the home side was also more present and dangerous. In the 29th minute Florian Baltram brought the puck in front of opponent’s net, where Connor Brickley lifted it perfectly under the crossbar from close range. In the final section, the "foxes", where Stefan Quinz made his debut, picked it up, as Anthony Bardaro (45.) shortened early after a rebound. Towards the end Lamoureux kept his sheet clean again and secured the victory for Salzburg.
Vienna celebrates 600th victory in the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League
With the spusu Vienna Capitals, the runner-up also opened the Pick Round with a victory after the first phase of the Regular Season. The Viennese celebrated a 5:2 home win against Moser Medical Graz99ers and celebrated their 600th victory in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (since 2003/04). Thanks to this success, the "Caps" are now holding on to seven home wins in a row. After a goalless first frame, the Viennese opened with a double strike: Kyle Baun (21.) successfully completed a 3-on-1 break away, Mark Flood (23.) scored from the high slot. Former 99er player Ty Loney responded to Ken Ograjensek halving the deficit (23.) with a brace, as he scored on powerplay (29.) alone in front of opponents net and made it 4:1 after a nice pass of Mike Zalewski. Vienna was on the winning track. Daniel Oberkofler (45.) scored later shorthanded, while Sondre Olden (48.) responded to this with the goal for the final score.
Linz remains undefeated against Innsbruck
The EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz also won the fifth meeting of the season against HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie". The 6:3 home win brought the Upper Austrians level on points with leader EC Panaceo VSV in the Qualification Round table. The Tyrolese dropped to the last place. Linz got off the better start to the game, leading 2:1 after 20 minutes. Rick Schofield (13.) took the lead again after an amazing assist by Brian Lebler. For Schofield it was the 300th point in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. By the 29th minute Linz had pulled away 4:1 thanks to goals from Dragan Umicevic and Dan DaSilva - and made the preliminary decision. Although Innsbruck still had a few pinpricks to contend with, they were unable to endanger the "Black Wings", who were also sovereign in the final frame. The “sharks” lost for the twelfth time in a row.
Fehérvár and Dornbirn opened Qualification Round with upsets
With Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and the Dornbirn Bulldogs, two teams with lower rankings achieved a victory at the start of the Qualification Round. The Hungarians won their 700th game in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga at HC Orli Znojmo with 3:2 after overtime. The Czech lead by Ales Sova (17.) turned Fehérvár with a double strike at the beginning of the final frame: Bence Stipsicz (42.) with a blueliner and Csanad Erdely (45.) on powerplay were successful. Robert Flick (50.) brought the home team into overtime, where Tim Campbell (64.) was responsible for the extra point after 188 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Vorarlberg side won at the EC Panaceo VSV and inflicted an opening defeat on the Carinthians, who were awarded eight bonus points and lost for the first time in front of their home crowd after five wins in a row. The "Bulldogs" celebrated their first victory of the season against the "Eagles", but only achieved their fourth success in Villach ever. Both teams neutralized each other over 65 minutes, appeared to be very well adjusted tactically, but were unable to score. In the decisive penalty shootout Juhani Tamminen scored the game winner for Dornbirn, while Juha Järvenpää recorded 39 saves and grabbed his second shutout.
Fr, 31.01.2020, 7.15 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:1 (1:0, 1:0, 0:1)
Referees: SMETANA, STOLC, Riecken, Seewald. | Spectators: 2.054
Goals RBS: Hari (13.), Brickley (29.)
Goal HCB: Bardaro (45.)
Fr, 31.01.2020, 7.15 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – Moser Medical Graz99ers 5:2 (0:0, 4:1, 1:1)
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Nagy, Vaczi. | Spectators: 3.650
Goals VIC: Baun (21.), Flood (23.), Loney (29./PP1, 33.), Olden (48.)
Goals G99: Ograjensek (23.), Oberkofler (45./SH1)
Fr, 31.01.2020, 6.30 pm: HC Orli Znojmo – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 2:3 OT (1:0, 0:0, 1:2, 0:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SIEGEL, Hribar, Tschrepitsch. | Spectators: 2.494
Goal ZNO: Sova (17.), Flick (50.)
Goals AVS: Stipsicz (42.), Erdely (45./PP1), Campbell (64.)
Fr, 31.01.2020, 7.15 pm: EC Panaceo VSV – Dornbirn Bulldogs 0:1 SO (0:0, 0:0, 0:0, 0:0)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., TRILAR, Rezek, Schauer. | Spectators: 2.578
Goal DEC: Tamminen (65./PS)
Fr, 31.01.2020, 7.15 pm: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 6:3 (2:1, 2:1, 2:1)
Referees: GRUBER, NIKOLIC K., Bärnthaler, Sparer. | Spectators: 4.450
Goals BWL: Lebler (4./PP1), Schofield (13.), Umicevic (26., 55.), DaSilva (29./PP1), Finn (43.)
Goal HCI: Broda (7.), Spurgeon (31.), Lammers (43.)