Next important step: Foxes beat league leaders

By Christian Staffler, Bolzano

Both teams started the fourth-to-last match of the regular season offensively. Because coach Kai Suikkanen trusted the same line-up as in Graz, Daniel Frank and Viktor Schweizer had to watch again. Although it went back and forth constantly, chances to score were initially scarce. That's why Alex Petan got into a fight with the Viennese - not for the last time in a heated game in the Bolzano ice wave. The first good opportunity for the Foxes was missed by Dan Catenacci, who shot past the goal of Vienna goalie Bernhard Starkbaum (he was playing for regular goalkeeper Jean-Philippe Lamourex) as he fell. Bolzano remained dangerous, as with Brett Findlay in the 15th minute, but league leaders Vienna also showed their class from time to time.

Miceli dry, brace worth seeing After a goalless first third, HCB took the lead in the 24th minute. Angelo Miceli used an assist from captain Anton Bernard to make it 1-0, but the goal was only recognized after the video evidence was checked. But Bolzano's lead didn't last long, as Vienna equalized eight times later through Benjamin Nissner (32'). Before the last third break, the HCB took the lead again: Riley Brace took the lead from Starkbaum with a wonderful hook - a remarkable goal to make it 2-1 (39th). Thrilling duels: The Viennese bit their teeth against Mike Blunden.

Ten minutes later, Catenacci and Petan had Bozen's third goal on their hands, but the former was denied by Starkbaum and last year's EBEL champion shot just wide of the goal. Then it was Brace who couldn't get the puck past the well-playing Vienna goalie (50th) - as did Luca Frigo and Bernard just seconds later. And so it was Andrew Crescenzi who finally scored the deserved 3-1 for the Foxes. The center cleverly sneaked away behind the Vienna defense, went around Starkbaum and slotted in for the third HCB goal (55th). Anton Bernard finished off the game with an empty-net goal (59').

But: Because Linz also won their match on Friday evening, the Foxes are not yet definitely qualified for the pick round. On Sunday (18 p.m.) there was a direct duel with the Upper Austrians in the Eiswelle. HCB Südtirol Alperia – Vienna Capitals 4:1 HSBC: Irving (Smith); Nordlund-Marchetti, Geiger-Campbell, Glira-MacKenzie; Catenacci-Findlay-Blunden, Brace-Crescenzi-Petan, Deluca-Kuparinen-Insam, Frigo-Bernard-Miceli, Frank, Schweitzer Coach: Suikkanen

Vienna: Starkbaum (Wraneschitz); Wall Clark; Fischer Dorion; Peter Mullen; Pear tree; Wukovits Crab Apple Tessier; DeSousa-Vause-Olden; Nödl-Nissner-Schneider; Romig-Großlercher-Hartl Coach: Cameron

Gates: 1:0 Miceli (23.11), 1:1 Nissner (31.50), 2:1 Brace (38.11), 3:1 Crescenzi (54.40), 4:1 Bernard (57.50)

Viewers: 2940 The further results Fehervar – Zagreb 10:0 Goals: 1:0 Luttinen (1.32), 2:0 Philipps (4.31), 3:0 Tikkanen (11.00), 4:0 Koskiranta (21.54), 5:0 Koskiranta (25.20), 6:0 Hari (29.59), 7:0 Reisz (31.20), 8:0 Sarpatki (34.46), 9:0 Sofron (41.25), 10:0 Sofron (50.19) Audience: 2988

Znojmo – Graz 1:4 Goals: 0:1 Yellow Horn (17.28), 0:2 Garbowsky (27.08), 0:3 Grafenthin (46.26), 1:3 Kalus (53.53), 1:4 Yellow Horn (58.59) Audience: 2328

Linz – Dornbirn 4:1 Goals: 1:0 Schofield (6.59), 2:0 Lebler (15.23), 3:0 Davies (27.20), 3:1 Picard (35.04), 4:1 Schofield (52.23) Audience: 4770

Salzburg – Klagenfurt 1-0 Goals: 1:0 Heinrich (51.19) Audience: 3101

Villach – Innsbruck 2:4 Goals: 1:0 Fraser (9.22), 2:0 Down (20.47), 1:2 Boivin (50.21), 2:2 Guimond (53.40), 2:3 Yogan (57.02), 2:4 Guimond (58.12) Audience: 2215 The table SP G U V TV P 1. Vienna Capitals 41 27 0 14 146:109 81 2. Graz99ers 41 28 0 13 155:107 80 3. Klagenfurt 41 26 0 15 136:93 75 4. HCB South Tyrol 41 23 0 18 122:94 73 5. Salzburg 40 23 0 17 159:111 71 6. Fehervar 41 23 0 18 152:140 67 7. Linz 41 21 0 20 129:121 66 8. Dornbirn 41 19 0 22 127:130 60 9. Znojmo 41 18 0 23 148:154 56 10. Innsbruck 41 20 0 21 140:154 55 11. Villach 41 11 0 30 98:148 30 12. KHL Zagreb 40 6 0 34 71:222 21

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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Next important step: Foxes beat league leaders

In the fight for a fixed ticket for the pick round, HCB Südtirol Alperia took another important step in the next direction on Friday evening. The Foxes defeated league leaders Vienna 4-1 in front of their home crowd.

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