The Graz ice hockey 99ers gave their fans a battle in the Merkur ice stadium against Salzburg. Jens Gustafsson’s squad was already 1: 3 behind, in the end the Graz team, who showed a lot of heart and passion and got 4: 4 into the penalty shoot-out, but a big “smiley” from their fans on “Emoji Day”.
The premiere in the 99ers-Tor was a real Hochschaubahn ride for neo-goalkeeper Niklas Lundström! On the dress of the Swedish goalie on “Emoji Day” instead of his name, the icons as a firefighter were emblazoned – the obvious hope that the 28-year-old representative of the injured standard goalkeeper Peters would join the Graz ice hockey team (the one with the return of Boivin for the first time was almost complete) can help out of the crisis. But after two thirds it didn’t look like it: Salzburg easily led 3-0, although ten regular players were missing.
With their backs to the wall, the Gustafsson team started a race to catch up in a class of its own in the final section: First Lundström was allowed to congratulate his ex-Linköping buddy Andrew Gordon on his first goal of the season, then Schiechl scored – and after Schneider had made the supposedly final decision, forced Zusevics and Zalewski still have overtime.
“The last third makes me happy”
In the penalty thriller, Salzburg got the upper hand thanks to TJ Brennan (who had already scored twice before). Which 99ers coach Jens Gustafsson didn’t bother. “We came back from 0: 3 to 4: 4! The last third makes me happy. We are hard to beat at home! “