Bolzano shows its fighting heart

A strong final third brought HC Bozen their third win in the playoff quarter-final series against Bratislava. Three goals, scored within a few minutes, broke the Slovaks' teeth. In the end, Bolzano takes a 4-3 lead in the series thanks to a 3-1 win. Mike Halmo & Co. could make it to the semi-finals as early as Sunday in their home ice wave.

Even though there were no big scoring opportunities in the opening phase, Bolzano was in good shape in the game. Bratislava found their first good chance. Ex-NHL crack Sergey Kostitsyn tested Leland Irving in the power play with a cunning attempt at the near corner, but the Canadian didn't allow himself to be duped (8th). Bratislava fought well, but had a hard time with the Foxes, who were becoming increasingly offensive. Brett Findlay and Dustin Gazley failed, but shortly before the first half-time siren, Angelo Miceli was there after a serious passing error by the Bratislava defense. Anton Bernard had triggered the forechecking well and forced the faux pas, Miceli did the rest and wonderfully took the lead for Bolzano (20th). Cold shower in the middle third The Slovaks shook themselves briefly and came out of the locker room vehemently. The result: the equalizer. Irving let a shot from Sacha Guimond rebound and Michel Miklik sank it in the slot to make it 1-1 (22nd). Bolzano was briefly shocked and had to collect itself and because Bratislava didn't follow up, the following minutes remained uneventful - apart from a few penalty minutes for both teams. When there was little to suggest a goal, the home team struck again. This time Adam Bezak was the goalscorer (33'). The HCB reacted angrily, but neither Fournier (he missed after a nice free-standing move), nor Halmo and Findlay were able to overcome Jared Coreau.

After all, it was the captain who equalized for the South Tyroleans in the power play. With a blueliner in front of Nick Plastino, Coreau allowed a rebound, which Anton Bernard heaved over the line to make it 2-2 (46th). A wake-up call for the HCB, which struck again just seconds later. Daniel Frank portrayed Findlay ideally and the 28-year-old Canadian didn't have to be asked twice. Bozen was now wide awake, Gazley missed the fourth goal. This was done a little later by Luca Frigo, who only had to push in after a cross pass from Miceli (50'). Dennis Robertson was the usual defensive bench in the Foxes' uniform. © Svato Straka, svatostraka.com

But Bratislava didn't give up and came close again through Brock Higgs (54'). So the final minutes developed into a mini thriller in which the home team pulled out all the stops, but in the end they were no longer able to make any decisive gains.

The series is now moving back to the South Tyrolean state capital, where the fifth quarter-final duel will take place on Sunday (18.15 p.m.). It can be assumed that the Foxes will do everything they can to avoid having to travel to Slovakia again. By the way, a background report on the stress of traveling to Bratislava from Bolzano, told exclusively by Daniel Frank, will be available on S+ on Saturday morning. Bratislava Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia 3:4 Bratislava: Coreau (Baros); Guimond-Carson, Bohunicky-Chovan, Culkin-Boldizar, Smida-Durkech; Ahl-Hults-Fortier, Kostsitsyn-Higgs-Miklik, Bubela-Buc-Hudec, Faith-Bezak-Kover Coach: Peter Draisaitl

HSBC: Irving (Fazio); Robertson-Youds, Pietroniro-Plastino, Fournier-Tauferer; Halmo-Catenacci-Bardaro, Frank-Findlay-Gazley, Frigo-Bernard-Miceli, Giliati-Alberga-Insam, Pitschieler-Deluca. Coach: Greg Ireland

Gates: 0:1 Miceli (18.36), 1:1 Miklik (21.58), 2:1 Bezak (32.38), 2:2 Bernard (45.46), 2:3 Findlay (46.02), 2:4 Frigo (49.35), 3: 4 Higgs (53.04)

Status in the series: 1:3 ICE Playoffs: Quarterfinals, Game 4 (best of seven) Fehervar – Vienna 0:6 Goals: 0:1 Loney (6.09), 0:2 Besse (11.01), 0:3 Hartl (15.08), 0:4 Archibald (40.48), 0:5 Loney (47.46), 0:6 Lakos (53.13) Standings in the series: 0:4 – Vienna in the semi-finals

Dornbirn – Salzburg 4:6 Goals: 0:1 Ortega (6.32), 0:2 Schofield (9.14), 0:3 Ortega (22.32), 1:3 Luciani (29.43), 2:3 Woger (30.30), 3:3 Luciani (43.54), 3:4 Ortega (46.21), 3:5 McIntyre (54.04), 3:6 Baltram (58.52), 4:6 Yogan (59.49) Score in the series: 2:2

Villach - Klagenfurt Goals: 0:1 Fraser (6.48), 1:1 Pollastrone (27.55), 1:2 Petersen (36.46), 1:3 Witting (38.42), 2:3 Ulmer (59.56) Score in the series: 1:3

ICE Regular Season ICE	SP	TV	P
1. Klagenfurt	47	183:101	102
2. Fehervar	46	146:126	89
3. Salzburg	46	142:107	87
4. HCB South Tyrol	46	137:125	76
5. Linz	46	146:116	75
6. Villach	46	155:136	74
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Bolzano shows its fighting heart

The Bratislava Capitals rarely caused HCB Südtirol Alperia major problems in the regular season. But now, in the crucial playoff phase, the Slovaks are proving to be tough opponents. It was no different in game 4, but in the end the Bolzano fighters had the upper hand.

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