The fourth final game will take place on Friday (7.30 p.m.) in the Salzburg Volksgarten. As in the second duel on Sunday, which the KAC won 5-2 away, Salzburg took the lead early on.
It took almost four minutes in the Heidi-Horten-Arena until captain Thomas Raffl captured the puck in the corner and sank it into the opponent’s goal via the skate of KAC defender Jan Mursak (4th). Raffl extended his lead as the most successful final scorer according to Puls 24 statistics with his 16th goal ahead of Thomas Koch (14).
GEPA/Daniel Goetzhaber This time the KAC had every reason to celebrate at home
Guests set the tone for the time being
The “Red Jackets”, whose captain Thomas Hundertpfund returned after an injury, had the equalizer several times in the first third. But Nikolaus Kraus and Raphael Herburger failed several times. Instead, the “Bulls” celebrated again, Troy Bourke somewhat fortunately extended the lead after a solo four-on-four with a shot over the catching hand of KAC goalie Sebastian Dahm (17th).
Change in the middle third
In the middle third the KAC pressed for the first goal and the goal was immediately achieved. Lukas Haudum sank a direct shot from distance in the power play (23′). Shortly afterwards, Salzburg goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen held on to the lead against Paul Postma, Clemens Unterweger and Matthew Fraser, among others.
The Carinthians’ pressure phase ended in an entertaining game with Manuel Ganahl’s equalizer again in the power play (33′). Shortly before the third break, Mursak evaded three opponents on a counterattack and gave the best team in the regular half the lead for the first time that evening (39th).
The KAC also dictated the game in the final third, cheered on by the home fans. Salzburg had a good chance through Cameron Schilling, but the American was denied by Dahm (46′). Towards the end of the game, the guests became a little more offensive, but they were no longer able to equalize against Klagenfurt, who were defensively compact. Shortly before the end, Dahm saved with the tip of his skate against Drake Rymsha (59th), and Johannes Bischofberger hit the empty goal for the final score (60th).
“Series is far from finished”
“We started the game well, exactly how we wanted. In the second third we lost track and had turnovers and penalties. That ultimately cost us the game, even though we played well in the final third. But it’s a series that’s far from over, now we have home advantage again,” said Salzburg player Peter Hochkofler, encouraging himself and his teammates before the next match.
Win2day ICE Hockey League, third final game
Tuesday:
KAC – Salzburg 4:2
(0:2 3:0 1:0)
Tore: Haudum (23rd/PP), Ganahl (33rd/PP), Mursak (39th), Bischofberger (60th/EN) bzw. Raffl (4.), Bourke (20.)
Penalty minutes: 6 or 8
Stand in der „Best of seven“-Serie: 2:1
