The Black Wings Linz defended their third place in the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League (EBEL) with a 5:4 victory at Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday. Despite an approaching overtime, the visitors could not be taken out of their minds in the thrilling final third: Corey Locke’s seventh goal of the season, scoring 5:4 38 seconds before the end, ensured the decision in regular season.
The Linz team thus shortened the distance after the first game of the 24th minute. In the second round, the gap to Leader Vienna Capitals (55) was temporarily reduced to 14 points and 14 points respectively. on the KAC (44) to three counters. The people of Salzburg were not able to inflict a third narrow defeat on the Linzer after two last 3-4 defeats against Vienna and Zagreb.
The 27-year-old Slovakian Martin Stajnoch, who was only picked up on Tuesday, also made his debut in Salzburg with a 2-2 (20th) goal. Brant Harris had a powerplay of 3:2 (35th) in the second period, but the match was really exciting in the final section. The Upper Austrians converted the gap by beating Schofield (41th) and Hofer from a doubled number (44th) to 4-3. When Duncan was in 58th grade. from a Shorthander which scored 4:4, one already counted with an overtime. But Locke still provided the happy ending.
“It’s a great feeling, it’s a great victory for us,”said Locke happily, while Thomas Raffl mourned the victory:”It’s bitter to lose such a game in front of the home crowd. But the match was a game of hockey we’re playing this season. We need to see that we bring in more consistency.”