In front of a record setting: The Foxes beat themselves

HC Bozen is currently crushing the ICE Hockey League's attendance records every week. On Tuesday, no fewer than 5422 visitors came to the Sparkasse Arena - including many sports celebrities, such as ex-skier Riccardo Tonetti, DEL player Alex Trivellato and the FCS kickers Andrea Masiello, Giovanni Zaro and Filippo De Col. But what about the full ranks the Foxes if they don't get the puck over the line? After countless wasted chances, they lost 1-2 to the Vienna Capitals. This means that in the semi-final series it is now “only” 2:1 for the favorites from South Tyrol.

Christian Thomas, Dustin Gazley and the other HCB strikers left behind a dozen top-class players. Sometimes there was a lot of bad luck, sometimes they failed because of their own incompetence, four times because of the aluminum and again and again because of Bernhard Starkbaum.

The Austrian national goalkeeper was allowed to play between the posts for Stefan Steen for the first time in the semi-final series. This move by the NHL-experienced Dave Barr in the Vienna head coach chair should prove to be decisive in the game. With a lot of calm, lightning-fast catching hand moves and a necessary bit of luck, Starkbaum saved almost 97% of the shots and thus kept the Caps in the game for a long time before Bernhard Posch scored their winning goal out of nowhere in the final phase.

“Vienna did really well and put everything out there at the back,” HCB captain Daniel Frank analyzed appreciatively after the game. He added: “We had a good presence in front of the opponent's goal, but we didn't push the puck in - and then you'll concede at some point. That's what playoff ice hockey is like.” Particularly bitter: Bozner, who competed without the ailing first-line center Mitch Hults, lost another top performer, Mike Halmo, in the starting third. The key scenes Rotter knocks Halmo out For HCB crowd favorite Mike Halmo, the game ends after just a few changes. The Canadian rushes into Rafael Rotter, who hits him on the chin with an unpunished cross-check. Halmo is accompanied to the bench and smashes his racket in a rage, after which he remains injured. Bolzano sets the example, Vienna follows suit In the 22nd minute, Bozen took the well-deserved lead: Matt Frattin skillfully directed a Thomas shot into the net. The Caps equalized in the second third through Jeremy Gregoire. In a commotion in front of the HCB goal, he lets the puck fall under the crossbar and then volleys it into the goal (37th). HCB hits aluminum four times Bad luck or poor finishing? One thing is certain: the Foxes fail at the goal post a total of four times: in the starting third, Dustin Gazley first hits the crossbar, Matt Frattin then hits the sidebar. In the middle section, Angelo Miceli aims at the crossbar before Christian Thomas slams the disc onto the inside post in the final third. Anyone who doesn't do it... Bolzano misses out on more top-class players in the final phase, but Vienna has enough of a good chance to make it 2-1: Bernhard Posch benefits from heavy traffic in front of HCB goalie Sam Harvey and hits the far corner with a low shot (54'). Both semi-final opponents are now traveling back to Vienna-Kagran, where the fourth meeting will take place on Friday. It starts at 19.15:XNUMX p.m., SportNews As usual, the game will be ticked live.

HCB Südtirol Alperia – Spusu Vienna Capitals 1:2 HSBC: Harvey (Bernard); Culkin-Miglioranzi, Cole Hults-Dalhuisen, Valentine-Di Perna, Ginnetti; Halmo-McClure-Gazley, Frattin-Matus-Thomas, Frigo-Mantenuto-Frank, Felicetti-Alberga-Miceli, Kasslatter. Coach: Hanlon

Caps: Starkbaum (Steen); Wall-Brunner, Fischer-Würschl, Posch-Krys; Prokes-Sheppard-Angeli, Kainz-Bradley-Gregoire, Böhm-Hartl-Rotter, Pallierer-Antal-Preiser. Coach: Barr

Gates: 1:0 Matt Frattin (21.16), 1:1 Jeremy Gregoire (36.30), 1:2 Bernhard Posch (53.32)

Viewers: 5422

Best of 7 series: 2:1

The second semi-final duel: Red Bull Salzburg – EC Klagenfurter AC 5:1 Gates: 1:0 Nissner (2.10), 2:0 Robertson (16.56), 3:0 Huber (24.11), 3:1 Bukarts (30.51), 4:1 Nissner (36.01), 5:1 Bourke (53.34) Viewers: 3400 Best of 7 series: 2:1

The other game dates: March 31st, April 2nd, possibly April 4th, April 6th

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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In front of a record setting: The Foxes beat themselves

HCB Südtirol Alperia set a league-wide attendance record on Tuesday evening. The impressive backdrop did not help the people of Bolzano to success, on the contrary: they made the semi-final series against Vienna really exciting again.

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