
Goalkeeper Jacob Smith kept his box clean. © HC Pustertal/I. Foppa
Vuorinen's golden touch: Wolves on course for the playoffs
The first hurdle has been overcome: In the first important game of the pre-playoffs against Olimpija Ljubljana on Sunday evening, HC Pustertal showed a solid performance that was rewarded with a deserved success. A decision by coach Kasper Vuorinen, which was quite surprising, played a significant role in the victory.
25. February 2024
From the Intercable Arena
From:
Leo Holzknecht
While HC Pustertal started the season with an equal goalkeeper duo, over time Andreas Bernard established himself as the regular number 1. Recently, however, the Kalterer player was exposed to fluctuations in performance, which now prompted Vuorinen to make a change - and that just before the playoffs. This risk was rewarded on Sunday, as Jacob Smith gave an outstanding performance in front of 2300 fans, which gave the Wolves their first win in the best-of-three series - 3-0 in the end.
The duel was unimpressive. But there was a lack of hardness, speed and wit. But what the audience saw was a concentrated and consistent performance from the Wolves. Although the guests were often in the attacking third, they were cleverly kept out of the danger zone. And when things got tough, Smith was always there. At the same time, Jason Akeson & Co. acted extremely efficiently in the forward game. The few chances that the Schwaz-Yellow team had were coldly exploited. In short: The Wolves played perfect playoff ice hockey.
In addition to Smith, the much-maligned Daniel Catenacci and Ryan Stanton were the match winners. The Italian-Canadian, who last scored on October 14th, scored a brace. Stanton, who had only one goal of the season so far, scored the decisive 2-0 when he was outnumbered. However, the Wolves have been warned before the second game of the series on Tuesday in Laibach (19.15 p.m.), as the Slovenians have by no means proven themselves to be inferior opponents.
The highlights
A spell breaks | Daniel Catenacci waited more than four months for a goal, and of all times he scored in the pre-playoffs. The Italian-Canadian deflects a cross from Alex Petan into an untenable position. |
Smith saves | Pustertal's goalie made several brilliant saves in the first third. First he defuses a Pance solo attempt, then he also saves against Ville Leskinen. |
A second spell breaks | After strong forechecking, Matthias Mantinger, outnumbered, puts Ryan Stanton, who comes off the bench, in the spotlight, who lets goalie Lukas Horak out and scores again after almost three months. |
Catenacci again | This is the decision: Petan plays the lurking Catenacci in the power play, who makes it 3-0 with a dry direct shot. |
HC Pustertal – Olimpija Ljubljana 3-0
HCP: Smith (Bernard); Stanton-Messner, Kasastul-Ege, Glira-Atwal, Althuber; Hannoun-Frycklund-Petan, Morley-Schofield-Akeson, Deluca-Andergassen-Mantinger, Catenacci-Sill-Hasler, Öhler.Trainer: Mountainous
HKO: Horak (Kolin); Masic-Pavlin, Ronkainen-Dodero, Crnovic-Magovac, Stojan; Zajc-Bicevskis-Gooch, Mahkovec-Simsic-Leskinen, Pance-Predan-Mehle, Sodja-Bercic-Kiljunen, Povse.
coach: The bear
Gates: 1-0 Catenacci (6.22), 2-0 Stanton (33.02), 3-0 Catenacci (44.07)
Viewers: 2317
Status in the series: 1:0
ICE Hockey League:
HC Innsbruck – Pioneers Vorarlberg 3:6Goals: 0:1 van Nes (4.25), 1:1 Magwood (5.57), 1:2 Metzler (7.41), 1:3 Oden (23.37), 1:4 Erne (25.21), 2:4 Krogsgaard (28.30) , 2:5 Macierzynski (35.18), 3:5 Green (37.40), 3:6 Owre (59.06)
Audience: 2200
Score in the series: 0:1
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