The Rittner Buam can continue to dream of the final. © Oskar Brunner

100-minute thriller: Buam forces game 7

The fans of the Wipptal Broncos and the Rittner Buam get what this semi-final series in the Alps Hockey League (AlpsHL) deserves: a decisive seventh game. The basic round winner pushed this forward on Saturday evening after a real thriller. The decision was only made in the third extra time.

March 30, 2024

From: leo

The fifth game of the best-of-seven series left its mark. Both coaches were fined because the teams played unsportsmanlikely. In addition, Ethan Szypula and Paul Eisendle were each sidelined for two games for a cross-check. This meant that the Broncos were missing a complete forward line on Saturday, with Justin Maylan and Luciano Zandegiacomo also missing. Nevertheless, the surprise team defied the favorites for the entire 100 minutes before Max Coatta scored the winning goal. The Buam won 3-2 after extra time, forcing a decisive seventh game. This will take place on Tuesday in Klobenstein at 20 p.m.

In the Weihenstephan Arena, which was filled to capacity, both teams went at full speed from the start. The duels were hard, the passes were played precisely and not an inch was left to the opponents. The Wild Horses had their first good chance thanks to Bryson Cianfrone's follow-up shot, but Ritten goalie Colin Furlong remained attentive. On the other hand, the guests showed what cool-headedness means: They took the lead with the first chance of the half: Marco Insam deflected a shot from Terrance Amorosa in the power play that was unstoppable for Wipptal goalkeeper Jakob Rabanser. Curious: The Buam scored the first goal in all six games of the series.

Broncos strike back

With the advantage behind them, Tray Tuomie's team increased the speed and now gained clear advantages, which were promptly converted into a 2-0 lead: Michael Lang hit Stefan Quinz, who was lurking in front of the goal, with a shot, who took the puck with him the leg into the goal. Shortly before the end of the first third, the Buam made a hair-raising mistake in the build-up, which playoff top scorer Davide Conci punished coldly. When he went solo, he delayed briefly and caught Furlong between his braces.

The second third was characterized by many duels. Opportunities were rare - also because the teams were careful not to make any mistakes. But out of nowhere, the Rittner defensive department made a faux pas. Lang misused the puck on his own blue line, Alex Planatscher ran alone towards Furlong and converted with a precise shot over the catching hand. As a result, the game was on a knife edge. Both teams were aware of the importance and exercised great caution. Manuel Öhler had the best chance of deciding the game in regular time: the loanee from HC Pustertal had a free shot in the slot after a pass from Giacomuzzi, but did not hit the puck as intended.

Heart-stopping finale

In extra time, the Broncos initially had the fresher legs, fitness advantages and better chances. Daniel Soraruf, Davide Conci and Bryson Cianfrone left top-class players unused after quick counterattacks. The Buam hardly appeared offensively before Markus Spinell suddenly found a solo, but got stuck on Rabanser's stick hand. Things now went up and down, the rooms got bigger. Alan Lobis and Julian Kostner almost capitalized on this. But it seemed like magic: the puck didn't want to go into the corner on either side. And so the first two overtime periods went without scoring. 16 seconds after the restart, the time had finally come: Simon Kostner forced his way into the zone and laid it out wonderfully for Max Coatta, who made the Buam fans who had traveled with him freak out with a direct shot.

Meanwhile, it is already known who the final opponent will be: Cortina won the sixth game against the Red Bull Juniors on Saturday 3-2 after extra time, won the series 4-2 and, like last year, has a chance of winning the AlpsHL. Title.

Wipptal Broncos – Rittner Buam 2:3 aet

WSV: Rabanser (bracket); Hackhofer-Gschnitzer, Niccolai-Topatigh, Brunner-Messner, Nardon; Capannelli-Cianfrone-Livingston, Conci-Gschliesser-Sanvido, Soraruf-Hasler-Zecchetto, Mantinger-Planatscher-Covelli.
coach: Sjoquist

RIT: Furlong (Platter); Amorosa-Insam, Lang-Hjorth, Marzolini-Ginnetti, Valentini-Uffelmann; Fink-Simon Kostner-Coatta, Giacomuzzi-Lobis-Prast, Julian Kostner-Robert Öhler-Spinell, Quinz-Graf-Manuel Öhler.
coach: Tuomie

Gates: 0:1 Insam (9.51), 0:2 Quinz (14.02), 1:2 Conci (18.09), 2:2 Planatscher (30.19), 2:3 Coatta (100.16)

Viewers: 642

Status in the series: 3:3

Alps Hockey League, Game 6:

Red Bull Juniors – Cortina 2:3 aet
Goals: 1:0 Steffler (16.13), 1:1 Cuglietta (25.32), 2:1 Schreiner (45.30), 2:2 Doherty (57.15), 2:3 Cuglietta (68.13)
Audience: 251
Final score in the series: 2:4