Release from 25.02.2022
With the spusu Vienna Capitals and HK SZ Olimpija, two teams secured their tickets for the quarterfinals on Friday. While the duel for the second Champions Hockey League starting spot between EC Grand Immo VSV and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 remained open, EC Red Bull Salzburg won against Innsbruck with Brian Lebler scoring a debut goal.
Bolzano's new appeal rejected
The permanently neutral arbitration panel of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League has rejected the appeal of HCB Südtirol Alperia regarding the final verification of the games #255 (KAC-HCB) and #270 (AVS-HCB).
The two games remain in the scoreboard with 5:0 in favour of EC-KAC and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and are thus also included in the current bet-at-home ICE Hockey League standings.
The spusu Vienna Capitals showed themselves unimpressed by the defeat they suffered against Ljubljana only 24 hours earlier in their road game in Bruneck. Already in the fourth minute Niki Hartl put the guests in the lead from close range. Joel Lowry (15th) increased it on power play after a wonderful Wall-assist. Pustertal became stronger in the second period, but failed again and again due to Caps goalkeeper Bernhard Starkbaum. In the final period, the Wolves were rewarded for their efforts, Jakob Stukel and Greg Carey even scored to equalise 2:2. But in another power play James Sheppard (53rd) put the Viennese in the lead again and only 60 seconds later Matt Bradley ensured the preliminary decision. Niki Hartl rounded off the scoring and the Viennese moved into the quarterfinals early after their fourth win of the season against HCP. Pustertal can still follow on Sunday in a direct duel at Znojmo.
HK SZ Olimpija also booked their ticket to the playoffs. After only five minutes, the home side led 2:0 against Bolzano through goals by Tadej Cimzar and Blaz Tomazevic. The South Tyroleans, however, took the quick goals well and offered the Slovenians a duel on equal terms from then on. It took until late in the second period when Nick Plastino scored for the Foxes on a double power play. In the 39th minute, Alex Trivellato evened the score at 2:2. Bolzano had more of the game in the third period, but Ljubljana scored the only goal: Rok Kapel beat HCB-goalie Justin Fazio for the third time in the 49th minute and secured the early quarterfinal ticket for the Slovenians. Bolzano, on the other hand, have to go into the pre-playoffs.
Lebler scores on Salzburg debut
EC Red Bull Salzburg won their home game against HC TIWAG Innsbruck "Die Haie" with 5:4. In an open exchange of blows the lead changed several times, only in the final period the home side decided the game in their favour with the fifth goal. And forward Brian Lebler immediately introduced himself to his new team with a goal for the league leader.
Villach and Fehervar in duel for second place
In the highest-scoring game of the evening, EC GRAND Immo VSV prevailed in Dornbirn. Scott Kosmachuk scored the only goal of the first period. After the lead changed twice in the middle frame, it went into the dressing rooms for the second time at 3:3. In the 51st minute, 22-year-old Sebastian Zauner made it 5:4 for the Carinthians, and it was also the game winner. After an empty netter by Flemming, VSV defended second place and now has the best chance for the second CHL ticket. But Hydro Fehervar AV19 is still hot on the heels of the Blue-Whites. The Hungarians won 6:3 in Linz. The bottom team fought back for a long time, Pelletier equalised the quick Fehervar lead through Petan in the eleventh minute. After two more goals by the visitors, Stefan Gaffal reduced the score to 2:3 in the 24th minute, but the Hungarians then pulled away and won for the fifth time in a row in Linz.
bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | 25.02.2022:
EC Red Bull Salzburg – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie 5:4 (1:2, 3:2, 1:0)
Referees: GROZNIK, TRILAR, Seewald, Snoj.
Goals Salzburg: Raffl (10.), Nissner (21.), Lebler (25.), Kanzig (25.), P. Huber (52.)
Goals Innsbruck: Jakubitzka (13.), Bär (14.), Huntebrinker (31.), Magwood (34.)
Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3:6 (1:3, 1:1, 1:2)
Referees: FICHTNER, SIEGEL, Bedynek, Riecken.
Goals Linz: Pelletier (11.), Gaffal (24.), Kristler (59.)
Goals Fehervar: Petan (7.), Mihaly (15.), Bartalis (18.), Campbell (35.), Hari (48.), Shaw (56./PP)
Dornbirn Bulldogs – EC GRAND Immo VSV 4:6 (0:1, 3:2, 1:3)
Referees: BERNEKER, NIKOLIC K., Martin, Sparer.
Goals Dornbirn: Jevpalovs (22., 35.), Suhonen (27.), Antonitsch (49.)
Goals Villach: Kosmachuk (10.), Oleksuk (29.), Karlsson (33.), Schofield (48.), Zauner (51.), Flemming (60./EN)
HC Pustertal Wölfe – spusu Vienna Capitals 2:5 (0:2, 0:0, 2:3)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., OFNER, Basso, Pardatscher.
Goals Pustertal: Stukel (42.), Carey (50.)
Goals Vienna: Hartl (4., 58.) Lowry (15./PP), Sheppard (52./PP), Bradley (53.)
HK SZ Olimpija – HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:2 (2:0, 0:2, 1:0)
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc.
Goals Olimpija: Cimzar (3.), Tomazevic (5./PP), Kapel (49.)
Goals Bozen: Plastino (37./PP2), Trivellato (39.)
Photo: Foppa Iwan - HC Pustertal