With Val Gardena and Vipiteno: The playoff field is complete

The playoff teams have been determined: In addition to the regular starters HK Olimpija, Jesenice, Pustertal and Asiago, Cortina, Val Gardena, Vipiteno and Lustenau have found their way into the postseason via the pre-playoffs. On Wednesday, the top 3 can choose their quarter-final opponent. The first day of the playoffs is already on Saturday.

This is particularly special for Val Gardena: the Ladins are in the quarter-finals for the first time in the history of the Alps Hockey League. Against the favored VEU Feldkirch, Joni Petrell's team surprisingly won the best-of-3 series of the pre-playoffs 2-0 and can now look forward to the postseason. On Tuesday evening, Michael Sullmann & Co. won 5-2 at home. Val Gardena has been cleared up It was a hard-earned victory that the people of Val Gardena won in Selva. Goalkeeper McGowan gave the Furies the lead in the first period, after which goalie Smith and his front men cleverly closed the gap - initially also in the second period, in which Feldkirch was overwhelmingly superior. Birnstill's 1-1 equalizer in the majority was therefore unavoidable.

Patrick Tomasini, whirlwind in the Val Gardena attack. © Andreas Senoner

But out of nowhere, Val Gardena brought about the preliminary decision: luck after fine preparatory work by Tomasini and Wilkins in the power play gave the Furies a 3-1 lead in the second third - flattering at that point. Feldkirch came out of the locker room in the final period as if bitten by a tarantula and reduced the score to 2:3 thanks to Gehringer. But the equalizer didn't work - on the contrary: HC Bozen's loanee Pitschieler and Niemelä, outnumbered, ensured Val Gardena's 5-2 win in the final minutes. Broncos win an exciting series The Wipptal Broncos also caused a little surprise. The Vipiteno team prevailed with a 2-0 win against the second guard from Red Bull Salzburg, who had started the series as the clear favorites. Above all, the 3-2 win after extra time on Tuesday evening in Klobenstein (the Broncos had to move there because their stadium was, as is well known, destroyed and the alternative place in Brixen was occupied) was particularly tough. In the first third, Salzburg were still well on their way to erasing Saturday's 3-4 defeat and quickly led 2-0.

Markus Gander (right) scored the decisive goal for Vipiteno. © Oskar Brunner

But then Vipiteno hit back with all its might: Erlacher (37th) and Kofler (40th) restored the equalizer within a few minutes. Because goalie Rabanser (he was preferred over Reinhart) also did a good job, the game went into overtime. And here Markus Gander shot his Broncos into luck in the majority. For Vipiteno it is the second quarter-final in the AlpsHL. The last time they made it into the postseason was in the 2017/18 season. Ritten is out Meanwhile, the Rittner Buam failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in league history. After the 2:7 defeat on Saturday, there was also a heavy 2:6 defeat against Lustenau on Tuesday, although the result does not reflect the course of the game. The match in Vorarlberg was open until four minutes before the end, Lustenau led 3-2. However, D'Alvise then scored to make it 4-2 - and the match was decided. Also because Grabher Meier and Wilfan then made things clear with two empty net goals.

Ritten says goodbye to his summer vacation. © Max Pattis

Previously, the Buam, who are experiencing a season of upheaval this year, played the match very evenly. Although the Rittners initially got off to a slow start and conceded three goals by the 26th minute (first Wilfan scored after a fine individual performance, then Karkis doubled the lead before D'Alvise finished off a nice combination with Grabher Meier), then Simon showed Kostner & Co. but their fighting hearts.

Spinell grabbed a rebound to make it 28:1 in the 3th minute, then Sharp scored the goal after fine preparatory work from Lutz. Ritten believed in himself again and caused Lustenau to falter, but the equalizer was no longer possible. A sticking point in the game was the exclusion of Andreas Lutz after 45 minutes: the Gargazonian, up until then one of the best on his team, was sent to the shower early after a check on the Lustenau goalie. Pre-Playoffs, Game 2 – Best-of-3 Series Val Gardena – Feldkirch 5:2 1:0 McGowan (9.14), 1:1 Birnstill (33.03), 2:1 Glück (34.36), 3:1 Wilkins (38.48), 3:2 Gehringer (40.27), 4:2 Pitschieler (54.33), 5: 2 Niemela (57.09) Series: 2: 0 - Val Gardena in the quarter-finals

Vipiteno – Salzburg II 3:2 aet 0:1 Rebernig (11.12), 0:2 Fischer (17.37), 1:2 Erlacher (36.31), 2:2 Kofler (39.12), 3:2 Gander (62.29) Series: 2: 0 - Vipiteno in the quarter-finals

Lustenau – Ritten 6:2 1:0 Wilfan (10.53), 2:0 Karkis (21.22), 3:0 D'Alvise (25.33), 3:1 Spinel (27.46), 3:2 Sharp (39.50), 4:2 D'Alvise (56.12 ), 5:2 Grabher Meier (57.38), 6:2 Wilfan (59.23) Series: 2: 0 - Lustenau in the quarterfinals Played on Monday Bregenzerwald – Cortina 2:3 aet 1:0 Lipsbergs (9.21), 1:1 Pietroniro (12.35), 2:1 Metzler (21.22), 2.2 Pietroniro (29.45), 2:3 Giftopoulos (82.46) Series: 0: 2 - Cortina in the quarterfinals

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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With Val Gardena and Vipiteno: The playoff field is complete

The playoffs in the Alps Hockey League can now begin: the last tickets for the postseason were awarded on Tuesday. Of the South Tyrolean teams, only the Rittner Buam have said goodbye to the summer break early, while Val Gardena and Vipiteno are still there.

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