Innsbruck: Close 4: 3 against Ljubljana!
Innsbruck. (PM Haie) Olimpija remains the Haie’s favorite opponent. The Tyroleans didn’t show their best game against the Slovenians, but in the end they narrowly won 4:3.
Fresh snow, glorious weather, the start of the game at 1 p.m. and the soccer World Cup final in the afternoon – the omens for a mass visit were not the best. And yet the TIWAG Arena is also well filled against Laibach on the “Family (game) day”, the table leader draws. The Haie, with Bär, Feldner and Leavens returning to the squad, are the game-determining team in the first third, have the better chances and take the lead through Adam Helewka. The Canadian successfully deflects a Hackl shot. But the guests are always dangerous, especially towards the end of the third, but the defense around goalkeeper Tom McCollum keeps the box clean in the first twenty minutes.
In the middle third is the party offender, the guests try to love the sharks on the defensive more than the home side. In the 31st minute, the Dragons then equalize. Gregor Koblar makes it 1:1. But the Tyroleans hit back a little later with a double majority. Tyler Coulter puts the Haie back in front, which lasts exactly two minutes. Luka Kalan equalizes after a nice combination from the Slovenians. However, the Tyroleans take the lead for a third time in the middle third and again they strike on the power play. Thanks to Corey Mackin, the Haie go into the final section with a 3-2 lead.
The guests are on the power play at the beginning and equalize again. Vallerand beats McCollum with a shot into the near corner. And the scoreboard is also going back and forth this afternoon, because it’s the Sharks again who can celebrate a goal. Helewka dances out Olimpija goalie Zan Us and scores his second goal of the game – the Haie are in the lead again. And this time the Tyroleans can’t take the lead anymore and bring the 4:3 with a little stomach ache over time.
Of the HC TIWAG Innsbruck beats Olimpija Ljubljana 4:3 after a hard fight and celebrates the seventh win against the Slovenes in a row.
HC TIWAG Innsbruck-Die Haie – HK SZ Olimpija 4: 3 (1: 0, 2: 2, 1: 1)
Goal sequence: 1: 0 Helewka (9th), 1: 1 Koblar (31st), 2: 1 Coulter (33rd / PP2), 2: 2 Kalan (35th), Mackin (40th / PP1), Vallerand ( 44./PP1), 4: 3 Helevka (47.);
Penalty minutes: 2 or 10 – power plays 2/5 or 1/1