With a 5:2 success in the third final game, the Moser Medical Graz99ers are on the verge of winning their first title. But as we all know, the last victory is the hardest – but it should be achieved on Wednesday.
The Styrians also got off to a better start in the third duel with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal, with Kevin Conley giving Graz the lead. Defender Jonathon Blum equalized in the second period, but the 99ers’ response didn’t take long to arrive. Goals from Nick Swaney and Marcus Vela ensured things were clear before the half-time siren. A brace from Paul Huber, who now has eight playoff goals, finally put the Murstadt team on the road to victory. Rok Ticar’s power play goal should only remain a cosmetic result.
Conley, who has been getting better and better since moving to the Mur: “I wanted to get back as quickly as possible after the mishap in the last game. The fact that I scored straight away felt really good.” Captain Korbinian Holzer told the “Crown newspaper“, when asked whether this could have been the last home game of the season: “To be honest, I don’t really care. We look from game to game and still need a win. The opponent won’t step aside and say: Take the win.”
For the German veteran it is also clear why the Graz team were able to prevail in the third game of the final series: “The decisive factor was our passion and the fact that we scored the goals at the right time. Wieser also played outstandingly today.”
Now the Moser Medical Graz99ers are on the verge of their debut title in the multinational league, but one step still has to be taken – and as we all know, it is a very difficult one. “There’s a lot at stake now. The last win is always the most difficult. We have to keep playing our good ice hockey. It’s going to be tough in Pustertal,” said head coach Dan Lacroix.
Game 4 awaits on Wednesday – it starts at 7:45 p.m. in the Intercable Arena in Brunico.
Image: Foppa Iwan – HC Pustertal
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