Wins for the top 5

Sun, 13.01.2019: Fehervar AV19 vs. EC Panaceo VSV 3:1 (2:1,1:0,0:0)
Referees: BALUSKA, BULOVEC; spectators: 3285
The game started fast-paced. Fehervar missed the new signing, Ty Wishart, who just arrived to Székesfehérvár. Carruth had to make the first save of the game, then both teams had their chances but they all missed. In the 7th minute, Wolf had to sit in the penalty box, Tikkanen had the biggest opportunity but Bakala saved. Playing full strength, Fehervar got the lead, Daniel Szabo passed to Hari who put the puck in the net. The game became balanced after the goal, then Fehervar started to push harder, Bakala saved Sarpatki’s shot but he could not do so after a rebound, where Phillips scored and doubled the lead. Koskiranta got a penalty and the guests used their powerplay, Sharp shot in the net. At the end of the period, the Hungarians left another five-on-four opportunity unused. The first few minutes of the second period went on without bigger chances then the Austrians were the better team on ice but the Hungarians defended well. 6 minutes into the period, Szita threatened then Koskiranta missed. After a defensive mistake, Kromp had the biggest opportunity for his team in the period but Harty blocked the shot. The Devils had chance after chance, Stipsicz missed but Koskiranta did not, putting up his team two goals again. The goal did not slow the guests down, but, whatever they tried, they could not break through Fehervar AV19 defense anymore.
Goals AVS: Hari (11.), Phillips (16.), Koskiranta (33.)
Goal VSV: Sharp (17./pp)

 

Kainz gave the Moser Medical Graz99ers a 1:0-lead in Innsbruck in minute 14. On the other side, Paulweber and Lammers came closest to score, but each Shark just hit the post. In minute 32, Garbowsky was successful with a convert shot and the Styrians were leading 2:0. A shock for the Sharks, who threatened with shots from Yogan and Clark late in the second period. The North Tyroleans did not give up in period 3 and were rewarded with the 1:2 netted by Clark. But, Graz had a quick answer: Oberkofler netted the 3:1 just three minutes later. The 99ers moved up to place 2.
Goal HCI: Clark (55.)
Goals G99: Kainz (14.), Garbowsky (32.), Oberkofler (58.).

So, 13.01.2019: EC-KAC vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs 7:6/OT (2:1,3:4,1:1,1:0)

Referees: FICHTNER, IVERSON; spectators: 3301
The Dornbirn Bulldogs took two early penalties in Klagenfurt and were punished quickly: Bischofberger (6./pp) and Koch (8./pp) gave the EC-KAC a 2:0-lead within 90 seconds after just eight minutes. The Vorarlberger stayed unimpressed and had a quick answer as well. O’Donnell netted the 1:2 just 33 seconds later. The Vorarlberger got a Power Play on their own in minute 12, but couldn’t beat goalie Madlener. It was getting tough in period 2, the fans saw seven goals! Whenever the "Red Jackets" scored a goal, the West-Austrains responded quickly and tied the game after 35 minutes - 5:5. In minute 60, the Vorarlberg even got the lead for the first time: O’Donnell netted the 6:5. The Red Jackets pulled their goalie for an extra-skater in the final seconds and were rewarded with the 6:6 potted by Comrie. The game went to Overtime, where Comrie netted the Game Winner for Klagenfurt after just 31 seconds. 
Goals KAC: Bischofberger (6./pp), Koch (8./pp), S. Geier (25./sh), Kozek (20.), Kraus (34.), Comrie (60., 61.)
Goals DEC: O’Donnell (8., 35., 60.), Magnan (25.), Zwerger (27.), Timmins (32.).

 

Referees: GRUBER; OFNER; spectators: 2.287
The visitors from the Austrian capital were quick to grasp the lead - and on a penalty kill. Already in the 5th minute DeSousa was right at the rebound from Olden's shot to bury the puck. Two minutes later Wukowits doubles the lead after dangling through the defense with ease. In the 8th minute Schneider took advantage of bad defensive positioning from the home team and extended the lead to three goals. Four more goals were scored in the second period: Clark finds Hartl in the zone with a fine-tuned pass and the latter takes Filipec in net by surprise. Halfway through the game Tessier was able to make the score 5:0 for the Capitals. Vause (34.) and Wall (35.) scored two more and the second intermission score was a tough 0:7 for the visiting Caps. Instead of calming the play, the Capitals pushed even harder and a goal galore ensued in the third period - it took them only four minutes before ex-Medvescak star Olden scored against his former team. Schneider buried his second of the night in the 51st minute, a minute later Grosslercher scored the 10th goal for the visitors. Tessier (55.), Hartl (56.) and Holzapfel (57.) marked the final score 0:13 in favor of the Caps. spusu Vienna Capitals have marked a new record (13:0). Besides, the Austrians are the first team, that has successfully qualified for the Pick Round and Playoffs 2019.

Goals VIC: DeSousa (5./sh, 34.), Wukovits (7.), Schneider (8.), Hartl (24.), Tessier (31., 55.), Wall (35.), Olden (44.), Großlercher (52.), Holzapfel (57.)

Sun, 13.01.2019: EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz 6:1 (3:0,2:0,1:1)

Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SCHÜTZ; spectators: 3.159
EC Red Bull Salzburg and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz searched their luck in the offense in period 1 (15:15-shots). But, while Salzburg‘s netminder Stephen Michalek allowed no goal from the guests, goalie Mike Ouzas has given away three goals netted by Herburger (4.), VanDeVelde (14.) and Raffl (14.) in the first 14 minutes and was replaced by Backup David Kickert.  The game was simular in period 2, both teams played offensively. But, while the Upper Austrians still could not score, Jakubitzka (38.) and Herburger (39.) decided the match with two goals within 85 seconds late in the second period. In the end the Mozart Citizens won 6:1. Linz fell in the ranking to place 7.
Goals RBS: Herburger (4., 39.), VanDeVelde (14.), Raffl (14.), Jakubitzka (38.), Huber (45./pp)
Goal EHL: Kearns (56.)

Sun, 13.01.2019: HC Orli Znojmo vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:3 (1:0,1:0,0:3)

Referees: BABIC, TRILAR; spectators: 2371
Both teams entered the game with a quite defensive-minded approach, a change in tactics especially for the home side after several high scoring games. Bolzano was close to an early lead when Insam hit the post. Home side took the lead midway through the first period when Nicolas Hlava deflected a shot from the blue line into the net. Spacek then hit a post, as well, as both teams had their chances later in the period. Second period was very similar to the first one. A disciplined and tactical performace from both sides was broken by ocassional chances on either side. Novak missed a breakaway 30 minutes into the game, Stretch hit a post later on, but it was Marek Kalus who found the net three minutes before the intermisstion with a well-placed wristshot. The  Italians staged a great comeback in the third period. Bernard shortened the deficit to one after eight minutes of play with a goal from close range, Findlay then equalized after a quick combination in the slot and with four minutes to go, Alex Petan converted a penalty shot into a third goal for his team. Despite a late pressure from the home team, all points went to Italy.
Goals ZNO: Hlava (12./pp), Kalus (37.)
Goals HCB:  Bernard (48.), Findlay (49.), Petan (56./PS)
Picture: Fehervar AV19/Attila Soos