It couldn't be more dramatic: Wolves in the playoffs

Collective sigh of relief at HC Pustertal: The Wolves averted the looming end of the season on Thursday evening, won the decisive third game of the pre-playoffs against Olimpija Ljubljana, not least thanks to the goal year, and were the last team in the ICE Hockey League to open the door to the fifth season .

29. February 2024

From the Intercable Arena

From:
Leo Holzknecht

There was an almost eerie silence in the Intercable Arena as the Wolves fought back against the threat of defeat in the final third. As if the fans felt deep down that their own team could no longer turn things around. But then Mikael Frycklund came onto the scene and breathed new life into the home team with his wonderful goal to make it 3-3. It was the initial spark for the final chord in which the home team indicated why they were still at the top of the table at the start of the season. Rick Schofield's goal gave the Wolves a 4-3 win after extra time and a place in the playoffs.

Coach Kasper Vuorinen corrected his mistake in the second game and once again put his trust in goalie Jacob Smith. With his saves, the Italian-Canadian played a key role in ensuring that the Wolves did not fall hopelessly behind early on. But the big protagonists of the evening were two others – namely Frycklund and Matthias Mantinger. The Swede was a constant source of trouble, the opponent could hardly keep him in check and scored the 3:3 in a remarkable way. Already in the first third, Mantinger scored the goal of the year, which will probably go around the world.

After a tense atmosphere prevailed throughout the game, there was no stopping after Schofield's winning goal. An entire valley breathed a sigh of relief and looked forward to achieving the minimum goal. What follows in the playoffs can be seen as an encore. This begins for the HCP on Sunday with the duel against Fehervar.

The highlights

Stumbling start	The Wolves were absent in the initial phase, appeared passive - and promptly conceded the 0-1: Maris Bicevskis unstoppably deflected a Pance shot.
The goal of the year	Out of nowhere, the HCP equalizes when Catenacci is hit by an Atwal shot and the puck rolls into the goal. 39 seconds later, Matthias Mantinger tanks through on the right side, the hard rubber remains between his legs, but he still gets a shot at goal with one hand and celebrates.
Cold shower	It suddenly becomes quiet again when Ryan Stanton triggers a counterattack and Ville Leskinen and Marcel Mahkovec finish it in an exemplary manner.
Frycklund, the savior	After Aleksander Magovac's 3-2 from the blue line, the Wolves seemed petrified before Frycklund danced through the entire defense in the final third and caused the stadium to shake.
Schofield's Redemption	In the power play, Rick Schofield penetrates the opponent's zone with a lot of speed, puts the puck on his backhand and hits it with pinpoint accuracy into the far corner.

HC Pustertal – Olimpija Ljubljana 4:3 aet

HCP: Smith (Bernard); Stanton-Messner, Kasastul-Ege, Glira-Atwal, Althuber; Catenacci-Frycklund-Petan, Morley-Schofield-Akeson, Sill-Andergassen-Mantinger, Deluca-Berger-Hasler, Öhler.
Trainer: Mountainous

HKO: Horak (Kolin); Masic-Pavlin, Cosic-Dodero, Crnovic-Magovac, Stojan; Pance-Bicevskis-Gooch, Mahkovec-Simsic-Leskinen, Zajc-Predan-Povse, Sodja-Bericic-Kiljunen, Mehle.
coach: The bear

Gates: 0:1 Bicevskis (5.40), 1:1 Catenacci (11.07), 2:1 Mantinger (11.46), 2:2 Mahkovec (13.45), 2:3 Magovac (25.55), 3:3 Frycklund (42.43), 4: 3 Schofield (74.50)

Viewers: 2467

Final standings in the series: 2:1

Schlagwörter: Hockey ICE Hockey League HC Pustertal Olimpija Ljubljana