The HCB South Tyrol has all the trump cards in its hand to reach the final of the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League for the second time. The 2013/14 EBEL champion defeated the Vienna Capitals 5:2 in Bolzano on Saturday and leads 3:1 in the “best of seven” semi-final series. Linz equalled Salzburg 5-2.
The South Tyrolean team finally came into play after two victories with a broad chest and thus finally put aside their weakness in numbers. In power play, by far the weakest of the four semi-finalists so far, the Bolzano team struck three times in the first 21 minutes. Matt Tomassoni (13th), Matias Sointu shortly before the first break (20th) and Michael Angelidis immediately afterwards (21st) provided a clear lead for the local team in front of 7,200 spectators at the Eiswelle stadium.
The Viennese, who had to play Rafael Rotter as the second injured top striker in the absence of Riley Holzapfel, came back into the match in the middle third. Kelsey Tessier (30th) and Jerry Pollastrone (33rd) brought the now clearly dominant caps up to 2:3. But the fourth goal scored 25 seconds before the second break siren sealed the defending champion’s third defeat in a row.
This gives Bolzano three chances to repay the clear rejection in last year’s semi-final. If the Caps don’t make the turn, they would only be the third club to miss the final as number one before the play-off.
In Linz the 4,865 fans were offered a rousing first third. Thanks to Michael Schiechl, Salzburg was initially successful in the open exchange of blows. The striker completed a nice solo action with a goal (6th), which was only given after minutes of video analysis.
But after that the Black Wings really turned the game up and within four and a half minutes. Rick Schofield in the first powerplay (10.), Shane O’Brien (13.) and play-off topscorer Dan DaSilva (14.) advanced the Linzers 3:1. The Upper Austrians defended this lead strongly and never really got into danger of losing this game.