Final! HCB defeated Vienna in overtime

HC Bozen achieved a 3-2 win in Vienna on Wednesday evening and won the semi-final series against Vienna 4-2. On the way to their third league title, the South Tyroleans only face one, albeit extremely high, hurdle from Sunday: record champions Klagenfurt.

The final in game six was the result of an impressive performance by the Ireland team, who had traveled to the last away game with a huge lack of reserves. With Karl Stollery, Dustin Gazley and Mike Halmo, three absolute greats were missing from the HCB squad, and Domenico Alberga, who was sorely missed due to his physique, also had to pass again. And as if that wasn't enough, Marco Insam also had to go down injured during the game.

Despite the many failures, it was the Foxes who clearly set the tone in the starting phase and created several good chances. Nick Plastino shot the disc onto the inside post, but Dan Catenacci missed by himself in front of Caps goalie Bernhard Starkbaum. Ty Loney embodies the callousness that the people of Bolzano lacked in this phase like no other in this league. The Viennese top scorer took the shot in the 15th minute after winning a face-off and took advantage of the fact that HCB goalkeeper Leland Irving's view was completely obscured by the commotion when the puck was thrown in. It was Loney's 37th goal of the season, the fifth in the series.

In this scene, Dan Catenacci missed an early Bozen lead goal. © L. Vymlatil

However, the Foxes did not allow themselves to be disconcerted by the goal they conceded and had the next big chance through Angelo Miceli after the restart. His shin rebound after a shot from Daniel Frank went just wide of the goal. A little later, the latter, outnumbered, moved towards the Vienna goal alone, but failed because of Starkbaum. On the other hand, the Capitals did better again: in the same power play, the recovered Colin Campbell played to ex-Bolzano player Taylor Vause, who directed the disc into the top corner (33'). Injured on both sides Now of all times, when the situation for the guests became significantly worse with the 0:2, Brett Findlay once again stepped into the breach with a true stroke of genius. He first let opponent Steve Johnson run into space with a hook and then put Starkbaum on the seat of his pants. A fraction of a second later, the round black fiddled in the Vienna net for the first time (40th).

After Bolzano's goal, this already exciting duel gained a lot of spice. Dennis Robertson also contributed to this at the beginning of the final third, knocking William Besse to the ground with a hard but fair check. The game ended early for Vienna's first line wing - as well as for Marco Insam, who was injured a little later in a failed shot attempt and was replaced on the third line by Ivan Deluca.

When Anthony Bardaro scored to make it 2-2, only 9 seconds were missing. © APA / HERBERT NEUBAUER

This next loss shouldn't stop the South Tyroleans from their celebrated equalizer, even though it was still a real nail-biter until then. In the final minute, Darren Archibald only hit the outpost of the now deserted HCB box. After the ensuing face-off, Anthony Bardaro made it 2-2 after a Frigo shot. At this point, the clock face in the Erste Bank Arena only showed nine seconds remaining. So for the first time in this series it was time to go into overtime!

The additional third was exactly 13.11:XNUMX minutes old when Angelo Miceli scored the sudden-death goal and caused the celebration on the Bolzano bench to explode. Italy's international striker directed a shot from Robertson into the net. Although Vienna asked for the video review because of an alleged high stick, a short time later it was official: The HCB moved into the final and the passionately fighting Viennese had to go on vacation.

The Foxes now have three days to fill their energy reserves after this grueling semi-final duel before the first final game against the KAC in the Eiswelle on Sunday. Spusu Vienna Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:3 aet Caps: Starkbaum (Wraneschitz); Wall-Johnson, Hackl-Leduc, Fischer-Peter, Artner-Lakos; Besse-Nissner-Loney, Bauer-Vause-Hartl, Archibald-Campbell-Rotter, Richter-Großlercher-Preiser Coach: Cameron

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

Gates: 1-0 Ty Loney (13.55), 2-0 Taylor Vause (32.47), 2-1 Brett Findlay (39.03), 2-2 Anthony Bardaro (59.51), 2-3 Angelo Miceli (73.11)

Best of 7 series: 2: 4 - HCB in the final The 2nd semi-final duel: Klagenfurter AC – Red Bull Salzburg Best-of-7 series: 4:1 – KAC in the final

The final dates: April 11th, 13th, 16th, 18th, possibly April 20th, 23rd, 25th

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
View all

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Final! HCB defeated Vienna in overtime

Suggestions

Comments (0)