A strong first third was not enough: The Vienna Capitals were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League on Monday. The defending champion had to accept the fourth defeat in the “best of seven” series with 1:2 (1:0,0:2,0:0) against HCB Südtirol. The outgoing coach Serge Aubin’s team finished the season prematurely, South Tyrol rose to the final with 4:1 victories.
The “Foxes” from Bolzano will meet the winner of the duel Red Bull Salzburg vs. Black Wings Linz in the finals (best of seven). It is the second final for the South Tyroleans after winning the title at their EBEL debut in 2013/14.
The Capitals, the best team of the basic round, surprisingly had to cancel their sails before the final. South Tyrol had just reached the quarter-finals as the eighth team and had defeated KAC there with 4:2 victories. With four victories in a row, two of them in Vienna, the team of coach Kai Suikkanen surprisingly defeated the ÖEHV champion. Before the fifth duel, the Caps had their back to the wall, but no more than a strong opening third with 17:2 shots.
Once again without strikers Riley Holzapfel and Rafael Rotter, the Viennese lacked strength. In addition, goalkeeper Jean-Philippe Lamoureux did not get his best day and scored two long-lasting goals. After the Caps lead by Brandon Buck (17th) the goalie took a seemingly safe puck under his body towards the goal, Monardo got dusty (23rd). Ten minutes later Lamoureux let a shot pass from Frigo from a quite acute angle.
As in the recent duel, the Foxes proved to be extremely effective in attacking and defensive. Pekka Tuokkola gave the team enormous support. “Our goalie is incredible,” said Luca Frigo. “We’ve improved over the course of the season and now we’re in the final. We won’t be celebrating very much, because it’s not over yet,” said the striker in the Sky interview.
Andreas Nödl spoke of a “very bitter” ending. “We weren’t good enough. We had our chances, but we gave too many presents. Bolzano played solidly, their goalkeeper held incredibly, that was the difference,” explained the former NHL player.