The Red Bulls also won Game 3. © Red Bull Salzburg / Dominik Angerer

Klagenfurt falters: Salzburg on the verge of defending its title

Red Bull Salzburg is on the verge of successfully defending its title in the ICE Ice Hockey League.

08 April 2025

From: apa

Salzburg celebrated a 3-1 (1-0,1, 0,1-1, 3-0) victory against KAC in Klagenfurt on Tuesday, taking a 19.30-1997 lead in the best-of-seven final series. Thomas Raffl and Co. can now secure their fourth consecutive championship title with home advantage on Friday (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.), something VEU Feldkirch last achieved in XNUMX.

Fueled by their 4-0 home win, Salzburg got off to a flying start in the Heidi Horten Arena. After 98 seconds, Florian Baltram finished off a superbly executed counterattack to make it 1-0. Even without injured top striker Jan Mursak, KAC held up better than they had two days ago and had the best chance to equalize through Thomas Hundertpfund (17') – but goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen and the post got in the way.

Salzburg had everything under control. © Gintare Karpaviciute - EC Red Bull Salzburg

With a quick goal in the middle period by Niki Kraus (23'), the visitors pulled ahead 2-0. Klagenfurt fought to catch up. Salzburg, however, mostly remained compact and were fortunate when Fraser's shot hit the post, before Tolvanen did the rest.

Herburger ended Tolvanen's goal drought

The Red Bulls also struck early in the final period through Benjamin Nissner (41st minute). Shortly afterward, KAC regained hope when Raphael Herburger (44th minute) ended Tolvanen's goal drought after 169 minutes. Klagenfurt had two more power plays after that, but their fourth and fifth power plays of the match also failed to yield results.

Salzburg celebrated its eleventh win in its twelfth playoff game this season and is now undefeated in eight away knockout games, or exactly one year. This means that everything points to a twelfth championship title for Salzburg, which joined the team in 2004. Only one team has ever overcome a 0-3 deficit in Austria: the Black Wings Linz achieved the historic comeback in the 2010 semifinals against the Vienna Capitals.

Klagenfurter AC – Red Bull Salzburg 1-3

Goals: 0:1 Baltram (1.38), 0:2 Kraus (22.39), 0:3 Nissner (40.52), 1:3 Herburger (43.21)
Audience: 4409
Score in the series: 0:3