EBEL: Zagreb gets last fixed place in the playoffs

Medvescak Zagreb has secured the sixth and last fix ticket for the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League play-off. The Croatians were able to do it on their own initiative and stayed in 44th place on Sunday. Round at the tail light Znojmo 5:2 victorious. The Dornbirner EC and HCB Südtirol went out empty-handed for the time being, they have to try their luck over the qualification round.

There are also play-off tickets for the two best teams there after the ten matches. For the top six teams, the pick round is about a better starting position for the knock-out phase. The first four teams can then choose their play-off opponents in turn. For the time being, the Vienna Capitals have the best tickets for rank one. The winner of the first round beat the VSV 6:1 and takes six bonus points into the rest of the season.

There are four points for the second Red Bull Salzburg, who, thanks to a 2:1 victory at Fehervar, passed the equal points Black Wings Linz. The Upper Austrians lost 2:3 at the HC Innsbruck after penalty shooting and therefore only take two points into the next group stage. After all, there is still one point for the KAC who, despite a 2:3 defeat after extra time at Dornbirn, kept the upper hand over the Innsbruck team. The Graz 99ers defeated South Tyrol 3:2.

The capitals were completely safe against the SAAM. Taylor Vause (23rd, 51st) and Jerry Pollastrone (24th/PP2.25th/PP) met in the Albert Schultz Hall in front of 5,450 spectators in a double pack. The Viennese paid back clearly for the 4-2 defeat in Villach on Friday. In a heated match, 62 penalty minutes (22 and 40 minutes respectively) were pronounced. The home team also won the fourth duel of the season.

This series changed when the Salzburg and Fehervar met. Thanks to goals from Julien Brouillette (14th) and Brant Harris (33th/PP), the “Bullen” took three points from Hungary for the first time this season and won the league for the sixth time in a row. Fehervar has meanwhile lost six games.

For Linz and Innsbruck there was no reason to cheer after the direct meeting. Both teams failed to reach the goal set in the last round because of the poorer direct comparison with a competitor. Andrew Clarke decided the game in the penalty shootout, but he had also forced the scoreless overtime in the final minute with a 2-2 win. The home team continued to be successful in their fourth duel of the season.

Dornbirn won against the KAC thanks to a quick goal from Michael Caruso (61. /SH) in extra time 3:2, thus celebrating the third league win in a row. The Klagenfurt team, on the other hand, continued their negative trend and have now lost four games.

Graz said goodbye to the basic round with the third victory in the fourth duel with South Tyrol. Daniel Woger (43th) made the decision. The next season phase starts on Friday.