The KAC performed brilliantly in the first game after winning the play-off ticket in the Pustertal, the Canadian Nicholas Petersen shone with a triple pack. Thanks to their success, the Red Jackets maintained their lead over Fehervar with five points and secured home advantage in the quarter-finals. They can no longer be pushed out of the top four.
For Salzburg’s engine, which had been sputtering a bit lately, Graz, the bottom team, came at just the right time. Drake Rymsha scored twice and Dennis Robertson even scored three times for the home team. The only Graz goal from Michael Schiechl to make it 1-2 at the end of the first third had no impact on the final result. Graz suffered its biggest defeat of the season with 1:9 and has already been waiting for a win for six games; for Salzburg it was the second win in the last six matches.
GEPA/Amir Beganovic Drake Rymsha played a major role in Salzburg’s clear success with three goals
Linz celebrated an important success in the fight for the top six with a 4-3 win over Bozen, which had previously won four games in a row. Thanks also to a brace from Sean Collins, the Upper Austrians held on to 69 points and improved to fifth place, only two points behind the South Tyroleans, who were in fourth place. Close behind are VSV, who had to go into overtime at home in a 3-2 win over Olimpija Ljubljana, and Innsbruck (68 each).
Things will be tight for Capitals
For the Capitals, however, things are getting tighter in the fight against the early end to the season. The Viennese took the lead at Fehervar through Zane Franklin (14th) in the first third and offered the Hungarians an open duel for a long time. Daniel Leavens (36th) and Janos Hari (42nd) turned the game around and ultimately brought home the victory quite safely.
In tenth place, the Caps are already twelve points missing because the Pioneers Vorarlberg, who are there, celebrated a 6-2 win over Asiago at home and moved ahead by a further three points.
Win2day ICE Hockey League
Freitag:
Pustertal – KAC 1:7
(1:3 0:2 0:2)
Goals: Sill (32nd) or Petersen (9th/PP, 15th, 27th), Maier (10th), Haudum (27th), Schwinger (57th), Bischofberger (58th)
Penalty minutes: 6 or 8
Salzburg – Graz 9:1
(2:1 3:0 4:0)
Goals: Robertson (7th, 47th), Baltram (11th), P. Huber (28th), M. Huber (30th), Rymsha (35th, 49th, 60th), Auer (60th) or Schiechl (18.)
Penalty minutes: 2 and 4 respectively
Linz – Bolzano 4:3
(0:0 2:1 2:2)
Goals: Collins (37th, 56th), Roe (38th/PP), Kristler (48th/PP) or Frigo (26th), Thomas (46th), Alberga (55th)
Penalty minutes: 6 or 8
VSV – Ljubljana 3:2 n. V.
(1:0 0:1 1:1 / 1:0)
Goals: Lanzinger (5th/PP), Rebernig (59th, Desjardins (61st) or Dodero (32nd/PP), Leskinen (60th)
Penalty minutes: 8 or 10
Fehervar – Vienna 2:1
(0:1 1:0 1:0)
Tore: Leavens (36./PP), Hari (42./PP) bzw. Franklin (14./PP)
Penalty minutes: 4 or 10
Vorarlberg – Asiago 6:2
(1:0 1:1 4:1)
Tore: Erne (7th, 60th/PP), Pastujov (30th), Owre (55th), Woger (57th/PP), Spannring (59th/EN) bzw. Finoro (24th/PP, 42nd)
Penalty minutes: 8 or 10
