EBEL: Tom and Jerry trouble the Caps

The game began with a cautious play by both sides. The Caps had the first real scoring opportunity on Florian Iberer’s one timer in the 5^th minute, denied by the blocker of Jaroslav Hübl. On the other end of the rink Nathan Lawson also had to react quickly, stopping Jerry Pollastrone’s attempt with the edge of his skates.

In the 13^th minute the Italians were punished with two minutes for too many men on the ice and the home team did not wait long to make them pay. Hübl stopped Simon Gamache’s first rebound chance with a beautiful pad save, but Kurtis McLean eventually got it done giving Vienna the lead.

Markus Gander had the best chance for Bolzano to tie the game in the first twenty. His wrist shot beat Lawson on the glove side, only to hit the post and send the teams into the first intermission with a close lead for the hosts.

The Foxes came out of the locker room with the intention to find the equalizer in the middle frame. Alexander Foster had the chance on the rebound twice, but Lawson closed the five-hole. Daniel Frank and Anton Bernard also created dangerous opportunities for the Italian record champion, who outshot the Caps 22-13 during the first 40 minutes of play. Even on Vienna’s man advantage it was the visitors to almost bring the puck behind goal line, as Stephen Saviano’s one timer was only caught by the Canadian net minder.

The Capitals, besides on some rare occasions, were mostly trapped in the defensive zone by the ‘biancorossi’, who were perfectly prepared to challenge the vice champions. Tactical discipline, smart play and hard work were the key recipients of HCB when Pokel led them to the EBEL championship title two seasons ago. The US-coach tried to implement the same factors into the Caps’s team last season, but with much less success, before returning to the place of his biggest triumph this off-season.

Bolzano’s top line kept the pressure high also in the third period and got rewarded. After 20 seconds captain Alexander Egger brought the puck on net, Taylor Vause proved all his class giving the puck cross crease to Jerry Pollastrone, who had no problem to tie the game on the wide open net.

HCB Südtirol Foxes celebrates the tying goal by Jerry Pollastrone.

The teams battled hard for every puck in what had become a true thriller. The 4800 fans were on their seats when Egger lost the puck tohis former teammate MacGregor Sharp in the slot, but Hübl sponged up the rubber. With 3 minutes left on the game clock the Capitals were looking for the game winner on the power play, but the ‘biancorossi’ survived.

What happened with 25 seconds to go was a reminder of what it means to score when it hurts most: Vienna-defenceman Troy Milam turned the puck over in the defensive zone, Taylor Vause picked it up and fired it past Lawson’s glove side, giving the Italians the three points in exciting fashion.

Taylor Vause's game winner.

It will not get any easier for any of the two teams on Sunday. Bolzano will visit Red Bull Salzburg in a rematch of the 2014 finals. The Vienna Capitals will travel to the Czech Republic to challenge league leader Orli Znojmo, who want to redeem themselves after a loss against Villach. Villach also picked the perfect time to get back in shape, as they will face Klagenfurt in the ‘Carinthian derby’ this weekend.

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