The EC iDM VSV (6th) made up for a 0:3 deficit in a 6:3 win against Pustertal and slipped into the new year in a direct play-off place. Bottom team Moser Medical Graz 99ers extended the Steinbach Black Wings’ low (4th) with a 4-1 win in Linz. The Upper Austrians lost four of their last five games. The TIWAG Innsbruck Haie (7th) won the West derby against the Pioneers Vorarlberg (9th) 4:2.
The KAC scored for the tenth time in a row. After two shooting festivals against Fehervar (7:1, 7:3), the third duel of the season was closer. A goal from the fourth line – Marcel Witting scored after an assist from Finn van Ee (24th) – made the difference. Johannes Bischofberger scored into the empty goal in the final minute. The most accurate offensive in the league cut its teeth on KAC keeper Sebastian Dahm. The Hungarians had remained flawless in seven home games since their defeat against the “Red Jackets”.
Raffl plays big against Bozen
Against Bozen, of all places, Raffl showed off his goal-getter qualities again. Salzburg’s veteran hadn’t scored in five games, but was clearly the match winner in the Volksgarten with goals to make it 2-0 (13th), 3-1 (28th) and 4-2 (43rd) on Saturday. The South Tyroleans, who started with five wins en suite, proved to be stubborn opponents and stayed in the race for a long time thanks to two power play goals.
GEPA/Gintare Karpaviciute Raffl scored three goals to lead Salzburg to a 5-2 win over Bozen.
The VSV needed a show of strength in the Pustertal to stay in sixth place. Alexander Rauchwald brought back faith with the goal to make it 1:3 (29th), and the rest of the middle third was furious from Villach’s perspective. With four goals between the 34th and 39th minutes, the “Adlers” made it 5:3. Rauchwald shone with a total of three goals and one assist.
Julia Kainberger makes history
In Olimpija Ljubljana’s 4-2 win (10th) against Asiago (12th), former Austrian team player Julia Kainberger was the first female main referee in league history. Your referee colleague Manuel Nikolic reached the 500-game mark in Innsbruck (4:2). The Tyrolean “Sharks” successfully stopped the league’s top scorer Steve Owre, although it was close again against the Pioneers after a 3-0 lead in the finish.
Win2day ICE Hockey League, Saturday
Saturday:
Salzburg – Bolzano 5:2
(2:0 1:2 2:0)
Tore: Bourke (11th), Raffl (13th, 28th, 43rd), Hochkofler (54th) bzw. Shelter (27th/PP), Teves (29th/PP)
Penalty minutes: 12 or 10
Pustertal – VSV 3:6
(2:0 1:5 0:1)
Goals: Petan (4th), Mantinger (15th), Hannoun (22nd) or Rauchwald (29th, 39th, 60th/PP), Hancock (34th), Rebernig (37th), Hughes (38th). .)
Penalty minutes: 2 or 2
Linz – Graz 1:4
(1:1 0:2 0:1)
Goals: Matson (23rd/PP) or Bauer (8th), Mackenzie (11th), Krastenbergs (31st/57th)
Penalty minutes: 4 or 4
Fehervar – KAC 0:2
(0:0 0:1 0.1)
Tore: Witting (24.), Bischofberger (60.)
Penalty minutes: 2 and 4 respectively
Innsbruck – Vorarlberg 4:2
(0:0 2:0 2:2)
Tore: Albano (31st), Roy (40th), Green (45th), Lattner (60th/EN) bzw. Van Nes (51st/PP), Macierzynski (64th)
Penalty minutes: 10 or 4
Ljubljana – Asiago 4:2
(1:1 3:1 0:0)
Tore: Mahkovec (12th), Predan (29th), Mehle (34th), Gooch (36th) bzw. Gazzola (2nd), McShane (26th)
Penalty minutes: 6 or 8
