Salzburg continues successful streak, Linz celebrates first victory – ice hockey –
Red Bull Salzburg is still on the wave of success in the ICE ice hockey league. The Red Bulls defeated the VSV 4: 3 on Friday and secured their place in the top group with their fourth win in a row as third in the table. Fehervar successfully defended the championship lead with a 3-1 win against the Graz99ers in front of Olimpija Ljubljana, who prevailed 5-3 in the duel of the league beginners against Pustertal.
Black Wings Linz celebrated their first win of the season in the seventh round with a 6: 5 after extra time at Meister KAC. The table penultimate Vienna Capitals had to admit defeat 0: 3 at the Dornbirn Bulldogs. HC Innsbruck ended the series of defeats against HCB Südtirol and won 5-2 in Bolzano. Znojmo celebrated their fourth win in their fourth home game of the season with a 5-3 win against Bratislava Capitals.
In Salzburg, coach Matt McIlvane had to play seven players, but the Bulls continued their run. After Salzburg had lost a 2-0 lead, they made the preliminary decision towards the end of the middle third with goals from Benjamin Nissner (37th) and the sixth goal of the season from defender TJ Brennan (39th).
Two days after the grueling trip to Ukraine, which ended with promotion to the CHL round of 16, the KAC prevented a zero with a show of strength in the final third, but had to admit defeat in overtime.
The champions got off to a dream start when Manuel Ganahl scored after just 14 seconds. But after a first strong third of the KAC, the Upper Austrians became stronger and also demonstrated morale. Linz caught up three times and in the final third, after goals from Andris Dzerins (45th) and Brian Lebler (49th), in front of his father, legendary striker Eddy Lebler, they were well on their way to three points. But Die Kärntner strikes back with two goals from Rok Ticar and Thomas Koch within twelve seconds (58th). In overtime, however, Will Pelletier ensured the Black Wings’ first win of the season.
In Dornbirn, the Vienna Capitals botched the comeback of goalkeeper David Kickert. The Bulldogs, who recently had no win in six guest appearances by the Viennese in the Messestadion, took the lead through Simeon Schwinger (11th) and made everything clear in the final third through Kevin Hancock (42nd) and Jesse Saarinen (47th).
The Graz team had traveled to Hungary without seven injured players and therefore made a young lineup with ten players under the age of 23. After a balanced first third, Fehervar pressed the lead in the middle third, initially unsuccessfully. In the end, however, the Hungarians struck and successfully defended their championship lead.