On Saturday, the top four teams in the Alps Hockey League celebrated success – Zell am See ended Asiago’s winning streak. While Bregenzerwald prevailed in an exciting duel in Vipiteno, Ritten returned to winning ways in the South Tyrolean derby.
KHL Sisak – HC Meran/o Pircher 4:1 (0:0, 2:1, 2:0)
In a game marked by numerous penalty minutes, Sisak retained the upper hand thanks to a strong power play. After a goalless first third, the guests from Merano took the lead through Mandruzzato, but Marinković equalized in front of over 1,600 fans. One second before the third break, Dumčius turned the game around with another power play goal. The Lithuanian stepped up again in the final section with numerical superiority and secured the preliminary decision. In the end, the Croatians defended their lead in the table with a 4-1 win.
Hockey Unterland Cavaliers – Red Bull Hockey Juniors 2:7 (0:3, 1:1, 1:3)
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors got off to a perfect restart after the national team break and clearly won 7-2 against the Hockey Unterland Cavaliers. After a dominant opening third with goals from Krainer, Juhola and Schreiner, Unterland shortened the lead through Potsinok shortly after the restart. Wurzer restored the three-goal lead in the middle period. Krainer and Baumann scored in the final third before Potsinok reduced the deficit again. Wurzer finished off the game with his second goal to make the final score 7-2 – a clear success for Salzburg, who were still in second place.
Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel – HDD Jesenice 6:3 (5:0, 1:2, 0:1)
Kitzbühel laid the foundation for its fifth win in a row in the first third, which the Tyroleans won 5-0. Crnkić and Loshing each scored twice. In the middle section Ketonen increased the lead to 6:0 before Jesenice found her way into the game a little better. By the second break, the Slovenians reduced the lead to 6:2, but in the end there was a confident 6:3 home win for the Adler, who remain in third place.
EK Die Zeller Eisbären – HC Migross Asiago 3:2 SO (1:1, 1:1, 0:0)
In front of 2,570 spectators in the sold-out KEKELIT Arena, a top-class game unfolded between champions Zell am See and Asiago, which had previously celebrated four successes in a row. The visitors took the lead through Chiodo, but Wernicke equalized in the first third. In the middle period, Putnik turned the game in favor of the Eisbären, and a little later Valentini made it 2-2. It stayed that way until the end of regular time or after extra time – also thanks to some brilliant saves from Asiago goalie Rigoni. In the shootout, EKZ captain Wilfan finally scored the decisive goal and the home win for the Pinzgauers, who are still in fourth place.
Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – EC Bregenzerwald 4:5 OT (2:2, 2:1, 0:1)
Vipiteno and Bregenzerwald fought an intense match with the lead changing several times. The home team started with a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, but the equalizer came just six seconds later. The Broncos’ 2-1 was followed by another tie – the score going into the first break was 2-2. After the restart, the Vorarlbergers made their first appearance before the hosts briefly turned the game around again. In the 53rd minute, Toivo Laaksonen made it 4:4 and sent the game into overtime. This only lasted 34 seconds before Kramer secured the away win for the ECB.
Rittner Buam SkyAlps – HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 5:2 (0:0, 1:1, 4:1)
The Rittner Buam SkyAlps have ended their negative series and won the South Tyrolean derby against HC Gherdeina 5-2. After five defeats in a row, the Buam found their way back to success. After a goalless first third, Crespi gave the home team a remarkable lead in the second half before Kasslatter equalized for Val Gardena. At the beginning of the final third, Brady made it 1:2 with the advantage, but then Ritten really turned up the heat: Felicetti equalized, Alderson and Welychka made the preliminary decision with a bit of luck. In the final minute, Kostner made the final score 5-2 with an empty net goal.
ice.hockey.at Image: ekzellereisbaeren/Radlwimmer
