The Bolzano plays them at Vienna
The Armani-Egger duo seems to have turned Bolzano like a sock, because even tonight against the Vienna Capitals there was a gritty Bolzano that also showed some very interesting things in terms of play and physical condition.
Bolzano starts strong immediately and after just over a minute is already in the lead: DeHaas shot, Kickert rejects a little uncertainly and the carom puck on Halmo and slips into the net; shortly thereafter the visiting goalie has to save on Gazley. The guests try to repay, but they risk the safety between Alberga and who again calls into question the yellow and black extreme defender; the Capitals try to raise their center of gravity, but struggle to get out of the area cleanly due to the strong pressure of the red and white. After a few minutes of relative tranquility, Bolzano is still dangerous with Ciampini who, even if in precarious balance, tries the jab that is best stopped by Kickert. The first penalty of the match is against the guests, with Bauer sent to the bench punished for a high stick; Bolzano tries immediately to take advantage of it with a diagonal from Trivellato that Kickert controls in two halves, shortly after Plastino tries from the blue, but the visiting goalkeeper stops again. Foxes again dangerous with a half-clicked shot from Frigo that puts the visiting goalkeeper in apprehension; shortly after catenacci takes a puck on the attacking blue and fires a very strong shot that comes out not long. A few minutes pass and, after an intervention beyond the limits of the regulation against Catenacci, Frank comes to blows with Dodero, the referees only detect the reaction of the number 94 of the Foxes. Vienna is therefore playing with the extra man, but continues to try to annoy the red and white; the equalizer arrives in a rather fortunate way: shot by Meyer, Preiser puts the cue and the hard mockery Fazio. The numerical parity lasts a few tens of seconds, because the referees send Prapavessis to the penalty bench; the powerplay of the Foxes struggles to set up the cage, then the record arrives at Plastino who is seen rejected by Kickert. As soon as the penalty is over, Mizzi, from behind the opponent’s goal, serves for the tow of Insam: another rejected by Kickert who, shortly after, also stops DeHaas’ conclusion from the blue. The Bolzano continues to press in search of the new advantage, but the guests close well in defense and, at the first siren, the two teams go to rest on an equal score that is very close to Bolzano.
At the start of the second period, Bolzano returns to become dangerous with a shot from the blue that Kickert blocks the
n due times; the red and white full-back tries again a few seconds later without finding the target. But Gazley thinks about deservedly the Foxes ahead: the red and white number 10 receives the puck from Lowe on the left, focuses on Kickert and then goes around the door to put a backhand net on the far post. Vienna immediately throws itself forward in search of an equalizer, but the defense of Bolzano stands up to the impact and, indeed, passes to the counterattack. The Capital still try with a Fass to get dirty with Bauer, but manages to deflect the blocker. Bolzano very close to the third goal in deferred powerplay, but Halmo’s promotion comes out a little high over the crossbar. Kromp ends up in the penalty box and Bolzano takes advantage of it with Ciampini who, having received the puck from Maione, puts it on the near post surprising Kickert. The Fox still attacking and Lowe called the opposing goalkeeper to the rebound; on the reversal in front, Lowry tries to take advantage of an error in the exchange by the red and white, but the defense of Bolzano returns in time to close it. Vienna in trouble when the red and white sank; in a few seconds Findlay, Maione and Plastino created not a few in Kickert and his companions. The fourth goal is in the air and comes thanks to a shot from the blue of Trivellato, served perfectly by Miceli, on which Kickert can do nothing. Vienna attacks with his head down and, after a confused action, shortens the distance with a shot from distance by Dodero that surprises Fazio, after he had miraculously saved his goal on a close shot of the same number 91 host. The guests, encouraged by the goal, try to put it on a muscular and nervous level, but the Foxes manage to respond with blow for blow, while the referees pretend not to see and manage to run, perhaps a little too much. The Bolzano does not let itself get nervous and, on the counterattack, finds the fifth goal with Frigo who, having burnt Neal on the shot, beats Kickert with a close touch. Lowry hits Lowry when the game is stopped and earns a two-minute penalty and then resumes with Bolzano in numerical superiority; only on one occasion did Bolzano manage to become dangerous then, as soon as Lowry returned to the ice, first Findlay and then Lowe gave Kickert a cold sweat. 5 to 2 for Bolzano at the second siren.
The third portion of the game begins and Vienna again distances itself with a surprise from Prapavessis Fazio and slips under the crossing; the goal seems to give new hope to the guests who advance their center of gravity and put the red and white defense in difficulty. The visiting team continues to push and also finds the net thanks to a short distance goal by Neal that brings the gap between the two teams to only one goal. Preiser is sent to the bench punished for obstruction and Bolzano has the opportunity to catch his breath after a long period of difficulty; Ciampini tries diagonally and immediately Halmo, almost from the same position, but Kickert also thwarts the problems that remain the only dangers brought by the Foxes to the host cage. Bolzano tries to keep the puck as much as possible and start off on the counterattack, but Miceli devours himself on a very occasional basis, not finding the door with Kickert already lying on the ice. The host team continues to press hard and with Prapavessis once again calls Fazio to the parade; the Volpi seem to be in reserve of energy and Vienna tries to take advantage of it. Bolzano resists the opposing offensive waves and Vienna tries to remove Kickert for the extra striker. To worsen the situation for the Foxes there is also a penalty against DeHaas and the visiting coach takes the opportunity to call a time out and give the latest directives to his team. The Foxes look for the last crumbs of energy to find and also find the empty net with a strong-willed Luca Frigo and, 15 seconds from the siren, Halmo also finds the goal into an empty net for the final 7-4.
Thanks to this very important victory, Bolzano returns to the “noble” areas of the standings, a stone’s throw from the Vienna Capitals and in front of Klagenfurt, while on Sunday afternoon, again at PalaOnda, the Red Bulls from Salzburg will arrive.
Riccardo GIURIATO
for hockeytime.net and HCBfans.net
HC BOLZANO – CAPITALS OF VIENNA 7–4 (1–1; 4–1; 2–2): 01:03 Mike HALMO (1-0); 13:32 Armin Preiser PP1 (1-1); 21:37 Dustin GAZLEY (2-1); 26:19 Daniele CIAMPINI PP1 (3-1); 29:42 Alessio TRIVELLATO (4-1); 31:03 Carlo Dodero (4-2); 37:25 Luke FRIGO (5-2); 40:34 Matthew Prapavessis (5-3); 43:14 Matthew Neal (5-4); 59:07 Luca FRIGO EN (6-4); 59:45 Mike HALMO IT (7-4)