Vienna remains unbeaten and captures lead

Fr, 28.09.2018: Vienna Capitals – Moser Medical Graz99ers 2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Referees: BABIC, GRUBER, Bärnthaler, Nemeth. Spectators: 3.500

The Vienna Capitals celebrated their fifth win of the season. They beat Moser Medical Graz 99ers 2:1 at home. While Vienna captured the lead, Graz dropped to sixth place in standings. After a non-goal opening frame, in which both goalies kept their sheet clean showing awesome saves, the guests opened the score late in the second. Matthew Catio converted a blue liner for the lead. Soon later, the Capitals tied the game thanks to Benjamin Nissner about one minute to go in the second. While the first minutes of the last frame were under control of the goalkeepers, Vienna took the lead in a powerplay situation. Christopher DeSousa converted an amazing pass of Riley Holzapfel. Graz tried everything to come back but could not tie up the game in the end.

Goals VIC: Nissner (38. PP), DeSousa (52. PP)
Goal G99: Caito (35.)

Fr, 28.09.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs – Fehervar AV19 2:3 n.V. (1:0, 0:2, 1:0, 0:1)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Sparer, Tschrepitsch. Spectators: 2.320

Fehervar AV19 defeated Dornbirn Bulldogs 3:2 after overtime. It was Dornbirn’s first loss of the season. While the Austrian team is second in standings, the Hungarians moved to the fourth place. The hosts opened the score late in the first, when Michael Parks deflected a blue liner of Jerome Leduce. Dornbirn was about to double up, but Kevin Macierzynski failed with a penalty. Soon later, Daniel Szabo turned the game for Fehervar with a brace. He scored twice in power play situations. About six minutes to go in the last, again Parks scored for the hosts and secured overtime. Jonathan Harty decided the game seconds before the end of the extra session. 

Goals DEC: Parks (14., 54.) 
Goals AVS: Szabo (31. PP, 35. PP), Harty (65.)

Fr, 28.09.2018: HC Orli Znojmo – KHL Medvescak Zagreb 1:4 (0:0, 1:4, 0:0)
Referees: BALUSKA, KINCSES, Nagy, Soos. Spectators: 2.876

KHL Medvescak Zagreb booked its first win of the season. The Croatians gained a 4:1 road-win at HC Orli Znojmo. The “eagles” lost their first home game of the season. After a non-goal opening frame, Zagreb decided the game on an early stage in the second: The “bears” scored three goals within two and a half minutes at the beginning. Pusic, Svensson and Zanoski scored for Zagreb. The hosts, who made a goalkeeper substitution after being down by three, responded quickly and Charles Stretch scored for the “eagles”. Antonin Manavian rebuilt the comfortable lead for the guests later in the second and rounded off the score. 

Goal ZNO: Stretch (25.)
Goals MZA: Puzic (22.), Svensson (24.), Zanoski (24.), Aviani (37. PP)

Fr, 28.09.2018: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – EC-KAC 1:3 (1:2, 0:0, 0:1)
Referees: SMETANA, TRILAR, Rezek, Seewald. Spectators: 4.865

The EC KAC landed its second win in a row. The Carinthians celebrated a 3:1 road-win at EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and moved to the third place in standings. Linz suffered its third home defeat this season and dropped to 8th place. Corey Locke gave Linz an early lead. Steven Strong tied the game about one minute later. Further, the hosts were more active and had much more chances to take the lead again. But the KAC took the advantage about two minutes to go in the first, after Nikolaus Kraus potted a one timer under the crossbar. Both teams showed their defensive strength in a non-goal middle frame. Johannes Bischofsberger increased the lead of KAC in the last and secured the third win of the season.

Goal EHL: Lock (4.)
Goals KAC: Strong (6.), Kraus (18.), Boschofsberger (49.)

Fr, 28.09.2018: EC Panaceo VSV – HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:2 SO (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, STERNAT, Pagon, Zgonc. Spectators: 2.253

The EC Panaceo VSV secured its third win of the season. The Carinthians defeated acting champion HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:2 after overtime. While Villach moved to seventh place in standings, Bozen dropped to fifth place. After a non-goal opening frame, in which both teams acted very conservatively, Villach’s Jason DeSantis scored the first goal of the game in the second. Matthew MacKenzie equalized in a power play situation seconds before the end of the second frame. Brendan Aldersen restored the lead for the hosts early in the last. Bozen’s Michael Blunden tied up again an moved the game into extra session. After a non-goal overtime, Jerry Pollastrone secured Villach’s extra point by converting the penalty. 

Goals VSV: DeSantis (35.), Alderson (45.), Pollastrone (65.)
Goals HCB: Mackenzie (40. PP), Blunden (55.)