EBEL: Salzburg wins Matchpuck against Bolzano after a dramatic game

Red Bull Salzburg is only one victory away from the seventh triumph in the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League. The Salzburg team decided on Sunday to beat HCB South Tyrol 6:5 (2:1,1:2,2:2;1:0) after extra time and took the lead in the “best of seven”-final series with 3:2. Salzburg can make everything clear on Tuesday (8.20 pm) in Bolzano.

Salzburg lost a lead three times and went into the finish with a gap in which none of the 3,400 spectators in the Volksgarten Arena held their seats. Greg Poss’ side took a 5-4 lead with two Powerplay goals, missed the big chance to score an empty-net goal and equalised 5-5 54 seconds before the final siren before Brant Harris finally decided the game in 16 minutes of extra time, putting the Red Bulls ahead for the first time in the series.

Bolzano had only won the play-off ticket on the last matchday of the intermediate round and reached the final with successes over record champion KAC and defending champion Vienna Capitals. With effective advances and a lot of morale they now also challenge the clear favourite and can beat back in front of 7,200 spectators in the domestic ice wave. A victory in Bolzano on Tuesday would be decided in Salzburg on Friday.

The first two minutes of play belonged to the guests, Salzburg however immediately used its first chance by Peter Hochkofler (2.). After two metal goals, Kai Suikkanen’s team took advantage of a two-man superior game to equalize Dominic Monardo (8th). But thanks to Ryan Duncan (18th) the local team went into the first break with a lead.

An inattention allowed the South Tyroleans the 2:2. Robin Gartner came directly from the penalty bench, could drive unhindered towards goalkeeper Bernhard Starkbaum and slammed the puck into the corner of the cross (28.). Duncan provided the next Salzburg lead (38./PP), but Bolzano scored a perfect outnumber counter by Chris DeSousa just 69 seconds later (39.).

DeSousa finally brought the South Tyroleans into the lead for the first time (45th) – but it was only the starting signal for a crazy final phase. With two more men on the ice, Bobby Raymond equalled (58.), Harris took the lead with the second game (59.). John Hughes then had the glass on the bat and a clear view of the empty goal, but did not score. So Michael Halmo provided after a nice individual performance for an extension, in which Harris struck a second time.