Overtime victory: HCB snatches home advantage from Vienna

At first, the ice in Vienna-Kagran simply didn't seem to suit the cracks in white and red. Four days after the clear opening defeat, the guests were pushed deep in front of their own goal at the beginning of the third semi-final game. The Capitals clearly set the tone throughout the entire first third - aided by several Bozen penalties. In the 14th minute, the home team had their first crack at taking the lead when a blueliner from Aaron Brocklehurst hit the post. It was a harbinger of the 1-0 that followed two minutes before the first buzzer of the period: Jamie Fraser got free to shoot after a pass from Wukovits and heaved the puck into the net. His shot was slightly deflected by Domenic Monardo. Bozen had no formal presence in the first third and only threatened once with a long-range shot from Matt Tomassoni.

After the break, a duel between equals developed, in which goalie Pekka Tuokkola and his front men managed to lock the visitors' goal, but there were no significant offensive actions from the Bolzano side. Even when the HCB had the majority, Jean-Philippe Lamoureux rarely had to intervene in the Vienna box.

One-man show by Petan That should change suddenly at the beginning of the last third. After another Bolzano power play went unused, Alex Petan struck ice cold. Chris DeSousa rounded the opponent's goal and played the hard rubber disc into the slot, where the completely free Petan had no trouble scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs. Suddenly the cards were completely reshuffled again. Bozen now really gained momentum and began to play courageously forward. At this moment of all times, the Austrians once again acted in the style of a top team. In the 52nd minute, Kelsey Tessier went down the left wing and surprised Tuokkola with a powerful diagonal shot - 2-1 for Vienna. The Foxes were unimpressed by the new setback and promptly went on the offensive again. Just two minutes after the Caps goal, Petan hit the post and missed his second personal success. The 25-year-old Italian-Canadian is now increasingly becoming a solo entertainer. It was also him who saved Bozen in overtime with 26 seconds left. Petan completed a wonderful move over Mike Angelidis and Mike Halmo. At this point, Tuokkola had long since vacated his spot for a sixth field player. Miceli scores the sudden death hit So extension. This began with a Viennese power play and several moments of shock for the HCB. But Tuokkola was wide awake and repeatedly drove the former Bolzano player Jerry Pollastrone and his teammates crazy with his saves. The “Foxes” seemed to be under attack, but just then Austin Smith started a quick counter-attack, passed it across to Angelo Miceli, who was rushing along, who somehow pushed the disc onto the opponent's goal - and in! “I didn’t even see the puck anymore. It was only when he was in the goal that I understood what had happened,” Miceli said afterwards. Caps defenseman Patrick Peter was the last to skate. But no one was interested in that anymore at this point. The home team disappeared into the catacombs, while the people of Bolzano were celebrated by the supporters who had traveled with them.

The series is now moving back to the South Tyrolean capital, where HC Bozen can take the next big step towards the final on Saturday. Erste Bank Ice Hockey League − Semifinal, Game 3 Vienna Capitals – HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:3 nV (1:0, 0:0, 1:2, 0:1) 1:0 Jamie Fraser (18.18), 1:1 Alex Petan (42.26), 2:1 Kelsey Tessier (51.13), 2:2 Alex Petan (59.34), 2:3 Angelo Miceli (64.46)

Audience: 5.550

Standings in the best-of-seven series: 1:2

Red Bull Salzburg – Liwest Black Wings Linz 4:2 (2:0, 2:2, 0:0) 1:0 Thomas Raffl (3.07), 2:0 Alexander Pallestrang (15.18), 2:1 Philipp Lukas (26.52), 3:1 Robert Schremp (28.19), 3:2 Dan DaSilva (32.35), 4:2 John Hughes (34.24)

Audience: 3.400

Standings in the best-of-seven series: 2:1

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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Overtime victory: HCB snatches home advantage from Vienna

Who would have thought? HCB Südtirol Alperia also tripped up the heavy favorites Vienna Capitals away from home and clinched a celebrated 3-2 win after extra time. Now the Foxes are suddenly ahead before the fourth duel in the ice wave.

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