The first match puck was in: Red Bull Salzburg first needed goalie Tolvanen, then nothing to fear. With a 5-1 win like the Bozen team in the semi-finals of the ICE Hockey League.
The Eisbullen did not score their first goal of the game after eight seconds, as they did last time in Linz. This time it was 1-0 after a good four minutes in the power play thanks to Bourke (came from behind the goal). However, the increase in chances was on Linz’s side – it was goalie Tolvanen, but also thanks to the guests’ inability to finish! Before Meyer worked his magic on his first goal in the play-off, shooting well behind the extended goal line and making keeper Tirronen look very bad. The 3-0 win for the champions, who increasingly got the game under control, was also durable. Yield at the end of four power play minutes: After a remarkable combination, Mario Huber was there – and Salzburg’s Höneckl trudged into the visitors’ goal for Tirronen. Linz’s faces grew longer and longer, especially since Mario Huber immediately netted to make it 1:4. “Tolvanen gave us the chance to win the game with his brilliant saves,” coach Oliver David underlined the decisive initial phase. “We weren’t happy with the starting third, it certainly wasn’t as easy as the 5-1 made it look,” emphasized goal scorer Benji Nissner, who is hoping for a few days off. The start of the semi-finals is only a week from today. The opponent is of course still open. KAC came under the wheels. The first candidate is Fehervar (leads 3-2 in the series against Pustertal). But KAC also has to do its own thing. After the home defeat against Vorarlberg (1:6), they are only 3:2 ahead of Wednesday’s game. Bolzano sealed the deal and won 2-1 at home – the season is over for Villach.
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