The Steinbach Black Wings Linz once again show a strong performance in preparation and win away against Budweis 3: 1. With the third victory in the fourth test game, the Linzer also ended a seven games on the traditional duel.
Almost two weeks before the start of the home in the championship against the Pioneers Vorarlberg, the Steinbach Black Wings played their fourth friendly. The traditional show of strength with Budweis has been about the first direct success since 2019. Head coach Philipp Lukas also chose a new personnel variant for the fourth test run. In addition to the injured Luka Maver, Shawn St-Amant received a break. Brian Lebler, who complained about the symptoms of illness after the warm-up, had to cancel at short notice and therefore took his journey home before the first face-off. As expected, the hosts took over the game at the beginning of the game and came to a powerful change in the second minute. Filip Prikryl came to the end of the right Hashmarks from a good position, but Rasmus Tirrons fended off with the schooner. The Finnish goalkeeper was also the focus of it afterwards: Novak appeared again on the right in the same shift and was given a pass from a short distance – but he also failed on the goalie in Linz. The Upper Austrians tried to attack and switch them quickly when they were gained. This was possible for the first time in the fifth minute as desired: Andreas Kristler gave a mighty shot from the high slot, but missed the goal.
Two minutes later, the Stahlstadt residents were not quick enough: after a duel won in their own zone, the guests tried to go forward with a long pass, but which was intercepted in front of their own housing. Nick Olesen suddenly stood all alone in front of Rasmus Tirrons, delayed for a long time, but somehow his hook got stuck on the top of the goal of the goalies – the puck jumped back into the game. The pace remained high, and the Linzer also came to a powerful attack scene in the ninth minute. Two long shots caused traffic before Jan Strmen, but a buyer did not find the rebound. The Czech extra league subsequently increased the pressure again and fired several good shots on the goal. Novak and Beranek had the best opportunity to lead shortly after half -time of the first third: the two Czechs enforced vigorously in the slot, but only met the rod when the box was empty. The Steinbach Black Wings ran after and in the 14th minute only came through a foul for a breath. In the first power play of the evening, the pressure finally got too big – Michal Bulir scored the 1-0 for Budweis with a rich wrist shot from the left.
The home side remained dangerous afterwards and achieved two other big chances to expand their lead. However, Novak only failed to go to Tirrons again. In return, Logan Roe started a solo worth seeing in the 18th minute. The defense lawyer turned the opposing goal and put back in the middle – there was no customer there for the pass. With the narrow deficit from the guests’ point of view, we finally went back to the cabin for the first time.
Strong third of the middle for leadership
Returned to the middle third, the Steinbach Black Wings looked much more lively right from the start and developed significantly more windows. Again and again the team of Head Coach Philipp Lukas managed to prevent the Czechs’ attempts to build up at an early stage. Just when the Upper Austrians wanted to tear the momentum itself, they slowed themselves down through an impetuous duel. Ryan Mackinnon had to go into the cool box for two minutes, but was able to watch his teammates brave the outnumbered. Julian Pusnik and Co. freed each other several times and visibly fueled self -confidence with the surviving penaltykilling. Greg Moro tried twice with a dangerous shot from a distance, which, however, got stuck on strms both times. In the 26th minute, the Stahlstadt residents finally rewarded themselves for their increase in performance-and again one had a particularly good laugh: Emil Romig got a wonderful pass from interim captain Graham Knott in the middle, falsified perfectly and scored his fourth goal in the fourth game. The 17-year-old player Jonathan Oschgan also had his hands in the game, who was allowed to celebrate his first direct goal participation in his second mission. The equalizer inspired the guests, and just a few moments later it was romaic again, which almost put together the double pack. The Viennese got a lot of space in the high slot, but only put his conclusion on the Blocker of Strmen. In the 35th minute, Budweis caused danger again after a long time. Tirrons had to let a shot bounce from the outside, but was immediately on the spot at the rebound and saved strongly. Before the end of the second section, the goalie was once again faced with a outnumbered of its forefighters. But this time the Black Wings used the Special Team to their own advantage: Collins sent Knott on the trip after a puck profit with a wonderful pass. The captain briefly deceived, recognized the gap and scored ice cold to 2-1 for the Steinbach Black Wings Linz.
Linz bring home victory
With the intermediate stand, both teams went into the final 20 minutes, in which Budweis tried again to start aggressively. After just a few seconds, Harris appeared completely in front of Tirrons, but he parried again with a strong reflex. The home side were now more dominant in a playful way, while the Linzers are increasingly inaccurate. In the 45th minute, Budweis offered the next big chance, but a dangerous cross pass before Tirrons did not find a buyer again. The traditional duel subsequently turned into the final ten minutes. As soon as these started, the domestic fans were already screaming on their lips – but once again Tirrons was on hand. Humenik escaped his opponents in the middle and came to the end completely freely, but the Linz goalkeeper shiny, shortened the angle and surely buried the puck among themselves. However, this only started the permanent deposit of the home side, which was still worrying through another power play.
The Czechs pressed with all its might, but again and again the Linzers managed to transport the pane out of the danger zone. The two minutes of outnumbered were survived – but after a check by Greg Moro, you had to act in outnumber again. Fires of shot flew onto the Linz goal, but twice threw himself into the shots with full commitment and freed his team from this dangerous phase. Two minutes before the final siren, the Czech extra league took full risk and replaced the goalkeeper with a sixth field player. Budweis rotated in the third of the attack for a long time, but Raffael Aigner finally fought for the puck, turned over skillfully and pushed him into the orphaned goal for the decisive 3: 1. The Upper Austrians are celebrating the third victory in the fourth game of this year – and at the same time the first success against Budweis for six years.
blackwings.at Image: BwL/Eisenbauer
