Salzburg held its own against KAC. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Overtime thriller in Game 1: Salzburg takes the lead

Red Bull Salzburg won Game 1 of the best-of-seven final series in the ICE Hockey League against KAC.

04 April 2025

From: apa

The defending champions won their hard-fought opening match 2-1 (1-1,0, 0,0-0, 1-0; 69-17.30) after extra time on Friday evening at the Heidi Horten Arena, securing their first advantage in the title race. Lucas Thaler scored the winner in the XNUMXth minute. Salzburg will host their second match on Sunday (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.).

"One win doesn't mean much, but it's definitely good to win the first one," said the match winner in an interview with Puls24. "It was a very tough game. We definitely have more in the tank. We have to show that at home, because Klagenfurt will definitely step it up a notch," said Thaler.

Fans witnessed a brawl between Scott Kosmachuk (RBS) and Maximilian Preiml (KAC). © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Record champions KAC got off to a perfect start. Striker Finn van Ee put the hosts ahead early in the third minute after a beautiful attack in a rematch of last year's final, but Mario Huber equalized for Salzburg on the power play eight minutes later. The middle period was evenly matched and scoreless, with the Carinthian team missing two power plays.

Thaler with the decision

In the intense final period, both teams sought a decisive game, but were too ineffective in front of the opposing goal. The result was overtime, in which Thaler silenced the Klagenfurt arena with his 8th goal of the season after 17:16 minutes.

Klagenfurter AC – Red Bull Salzburg 1:2 aet

Goals: 1:0 van Ee (2.24), 1:1 Huber (10.49), 1:2 Thaler (68.17)
Audience: 4409
Score in the series: 0:1