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Pustertal put on a cohesive team performance. © Gintare Karpaviciute - EC Red Bull Salzburg
The Puster Valley bullfighters achieve their first playoff victory.
Although HC Falkensteiner Pustertal finished the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL) regular season in a strong fifth place, the Wolves will face the reigning champions, Red Bull Salzburg, in the quarterfinals. However, in their playoff opener, the Wolves weren't intimidated by their opponent's big name, but instead inflicted a heavy defeat.
March 10, 2026
From: leo
The Red Bulls have been striking fear into the hearts of their ICEHL rivals for the past four years. Especially in the playoffs, Thomas Raffl and his teammates have been virtually unstoppable. However, with three wins out of four games in the regular season, the Black and Yellows proved they have the right formula to defeat their seemingly invincible opponents. Jason Jaspers' team provided further proof on Tuesday, dominating the first game of the best-of-seven series against Salzburg, securing a 3-2 overtime victory.
Daniel Glira and his teammates faced the home team like a fearless bullfighter in the Salzburg ice arena, packed with nearly 3.000 spectators. And like a matador who pulls his red cape away from the charging bull at the last moment, the South Tyroleans – especially from the second period onward – repeatedly left their opponents chasing shadows. Pustertal was the more active, more aggressive, and clearly the better team. So why did the game go to overtime? Simple: HCP simply didn't capitalize on their numerous scoring opportunities.
Pustertal makes it exciting
Need examples? Tommy Purdeller – the most noticeable player on the ice – danced around the entire Salzburg defense in the third period before finally meeting his match in goaltender Atte Tolvanen. The Austrian-Finnish player also excelled against the completely unmarked Mikael Frycklund and Henry Bowlby. The three-time playoff MVP was largely responsible for the hosts forcing overtime. There, the dominant Puster Valley team deservedly snatched the victory. Once again, Purdeller was at the center of attention, with linemate Rok Ticar serving as the finisher.
The entire Puster Valley bench erupted in jubilation, embracing the Slovenian forward, but left the ice without much fanfare, heading straight for the locker room. For all their euphoria, the South Tyroleans are well aware that a best-of-seven series is a long one – especially against Salzburg. However, the way the Wolves performed this evening should give Purdeller and his teammates even more confidence. They intend to make their opponents feel the effects of this in just 48 hours, when the second game kicks off at 7:19.15 p.m. in the Intercable Arena.
The highlights
| Fatal error | Seven minutes have been played when Pustertal is caught out after losing the puck in the forward zone: Huber plays the ball to the middle on the counter-attack, where Stephens beats Pasquale with a misfired shot. |
| Clear thing | Shortly after the restart, cheers erupted among the traveling Puster Valley fans: Frycklund's goal, which hit the left corner after a counter-attack, was disallowed due to an offside position by Lobis. |
| There it is | Pustertal dominated the second period and scored the deserved equalizer through DiTomaso, who was perfectly set up by Bardreau and slammed the puck into the top corner with a powerful wrist shot. |
| Turbulent minute | Two goals are scored within 71 seconds: First, Bowlby scores into the empty net during the power play, before Michael Raffl sets up St-Denis and he remains ice-cold in front of Pasquale. |
| Wow | What a magnificent play: HCP launches a counterattack through Purdeller, which Ticar finishes with ice-cold precision. After the youngster's cross-ice pass under Lewington's stick, the Slovenian lifts the puck under the crossbar. |
Red Bull Salzburg – HC Pustertal 2:3 OT
RBS: Tolvanen (Kickert); Stephens-Corcoran, Nienhuis-Krygier, Robertson-Lewington, Rebernig; Thomas Raffl-Nissner-Schneider, Michael Raffl-St. Denis-Huber, Thaler-Baltram-Bourke, Kraus-Wukovits-Schreier, Auer.coach: nurseries
HCP: Pasquale (Rabanser); Lauridsen-DiTomaso, Blum-Almquist, Glira-Osmanski, Zanatta; Bowlby-Ticar-Purdeller, Saracino-Bardreau-Rueschhoff, Lobis-Frycklund-Lipon, Mantinger-Andergassen-Deluca.
Trainer: Jasper
Gates: 1:0 Stephens (6.56), 1:1 DiTomaso (28.11), 1:2 Bowlby (36.38), 2:2 St-Denis (37.49), 2:3 Ticar (65.50)
Viewers: 2945
Status in the series: 0:1
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