Linz vs. Bolzano going to Game 7

Red Bulls Salzburg – Villacher SV 4:1 (2:1, 5:6 OT., 3:0, 2:1 OT, 4:1)

The Red Bulls from Salzburg are considered the top favourite for the title in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga and showed why in the series against VSV. Villach battled hard against Salzburg, but the Red Bulls proved their experience. In Game 1 Villach had the lead for almost the entire game thanks to a goal scored by Mark Santorelli in the 11^th minute of the first period. Bryan Fahey tied the game with 1:37 remaining and Dominque Heinrich gave the Red Bulls the win with 7 seconds left.
Villach showed character tying the series with a crazy 6:5 overtime victory in Game 2, before Salzburg took the lead again with a 4:0 win on home ice.
Game 4 featured the longest EBEL game in history as it took John Hughes, who last season departed with Villach because of disciplinary reasons, to score the game winner against his former club. In Game 5 the Red Bulls used the momentum to close the series and eliminate Villach.

EHC Liwest Black Wings – HC Bolzano Foxes 3:3 (3:7, 6:4, 1:2, 3:2, 4:5, 2:1)

This has been a series with the home ice advantage being a real factor so far, as all games have been won by the home team. The series began with a 7:3 victory for the Austrians, but Justin Keller’s three goals indicated that some of the underperforming players on the HCB-team were eager to show more. So the series got back and forth and Bolzano, led by an excellent Jaroslav Hübl in net, were able to gain a 4:1 lead on the road in Game 5. A hockey game though ends only after 60 minutes and the Black Wings were able to tie the game within 3 minutes, only to score the game winner in the 60^th minute.
Also the Italian record champions wanted to prove their persistence and so they tied the series with a 2:1 win in Game 6.

Now the series is going back to Linz, where Game 7 is awaiting us. Neither team has shown great defensive qualities in the first 6 games of this series, so this should be a highlight for every hockey fan. Linz remains the favourite, but it would be a mistake to underestimate the Foxes.

The winner will face the Vienna Capitals in the semifinals. Game 7 starts on Friday at 19.30 CET, live broadcasted on Servus TV and Video33 (online streams available).

Sapa Fehervar – Vienna Capitals 2:4 (4:3, 4:1, 2:3, 1:2 OT, 2:5, 1:2 OT)

Fehervar was one of the surprising teams in the regular season. With the second youngest roster of the league, the Hungarians earned a lot of respect and some predicted them to go far in the playoffs.
In the first two playoff matchups it also looked as Fehervar could eliminate the Capitals. Vienna, who replaced head coach Tom Pokel only 3 games before the start of the playoffs to bring in Jon Boni, were down 2:0 after two games, including a tough 1:4 loss on home ice.
The Capitals though did not give up and gained a lot of momentum winning Game 3 on the road. Other 2 wins followed and Vienna on home ice, had the chance to eliminate the ‘Red Dragons’. Vienna capitalized and after 79 minutes of play it was Kristopher Foucault to send the Capitals to the second playoff round.

Orli Znojmo– Klagenfurter AC 1:4 (4:5, 6:5 OT, 3:6, 1:2 OT, 1:2 OT)

This might have been the most surprising result in the quarter finals. The Czechs proved to be a highly talented team in the regular season and were thought to eliminate the underperforming Austrian record champion. KAC though was ready for the post season and, led by experienced forward Jamie Lundmark, were able to win on the road in Game 1. If the score of 5:4 was not weird enough for a playoff game, it got even weirder as Znojmo stroke back winning 6:5 in Klagenfurt. Renè Swette, just as when the ‘Rotjacken’ won the title two seasons ago, took the starting job during Game 3 and from that moment on, Klagenfurt seems to be on a roll. On the other side Znojmo’s goalkeeping situation was not ideal, as neither former KHL-goalie Chris Holt, nor the young Patrik Nechvatal, could give their team the needed assurance in net to make a serious playoff run.

KAC will challenge Salzburg in the semifinals, whereas Vienna is waiting for the winner of the series between the Black Wings Linz and the Bolzano Foxes.

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