Salzburg celebrate home win against KAC
Red Bull Salzburg quickly returned to victory in the ICE ice hockey league. Two days after the defeat in Villach, the champions won at home against KAC on Sunday after a dramatic final phase with 4:3 after extra time. Black Wings Linz celebrated their highest win of the season with a 5-0 win over bottom-placed Vorarlberg.
After three goals in the middle third, the Salzburg railroad are well on their way to three points. However, Klagenfurt came back in the finish and equalized two seconds before the final siren through Fabian Hochegger. In extra time, KAC striker Manuel Ganahl hit the crossbar, while Ty Loney decided the game on the other end.
Salzburg conceded three penalties in the first seven minutes, and KAC used one of these overtime games to take the lead. Thomas Hundertpfund overcame goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen with a backhand (7th). Salzburg then acted in a more disciplined manner, instead of Klagenfurt now being in the penalty box. In the third power play, the defending champion managed to equalize. Mario Huber, who was playing as a defender in this game due to a shortage of personnel, took aim and scored in the short Kreuzeck (28′).
Salzburg then completely took over the command and turned the game around. After Ganahl lost a shot in front of his own goal, Nicolai Meyer gave the Bulls the lead (33′), Nikolaus Heigl increased it to 3:1 (35′). Loney could have finally decided the game, but only hit the post (55th).
In return, Rok Ticar provided a thrilling final phase with the goal (56th) after preparatory work by Ganahl. With sixth field players, KAC pushed for an equalizer, Paul Postma’s shot at the crossbar (58′) is only a centimeter away, two seconds before a final siren the puck landed, but still in the Salzburg goal when Hochegger missed a Postma shot for the 3rd minute :3 distracted. In extra time, Ganahl had the win on his hands before Loney let Salzburg cheer.
Matt McIlvane’s third-placed side are five points behind leaders HC Innsbruck and three behind HCB Südtirol after their eighth win in the last nine games. The KAC missed the chance to return to the top six.