Play-off semi-finals: Pustertal and Bolzano win

The 3.150 spectators in the Bolzano Eiswelle saw a high-class, extremely exciting game today, ice hockey at its finest. Bolzano won 4-2, for the white-reds it was also their fourth win in their seventh game of the season against Asiago, their first after three defeats in a row. Only the long-term injured Christian Borgatello was missing from Bolzano today. Coach Adolf Insam also did without Rhett Gordon, who watched the game from the stands as a surplus foreigner. Asiago, on the other hand, had to make do without Mirko Presti. In the middle third, Matteo Tessari broke a finger and had to leave the ice, and in the final third, defender Benysek was injured so badly that he could no longer continue.

The encounter started just as the spectators liked, with Bolzano leading 41-1 after just 0 seconds. Danny Irmen got the target behind the visitors' goal and shot at Daniel Bellissimo's leg pads, who unfortunately directed the puck into his own goal. Asiago reacted promptly and equalized 43-1 just 1 seconds later with John Vigilante. It was the 25-year-old's 19th championship goal. But not enough yet. In the 3.52 minute, Mike Souza put Bolzano back in the lead. Bellissimo was able to fend off the national player's first attempt, but he was powerless on the second. Then an open exchange of blows followed, with many goal scenes on both sides. Christian Walcher missed his best opportunity in the 14th minute when he was denied by Bellissimo. Asiago equalized in the middle third, just at the moment when Bolzano was exerting the greatest pressure. Federico Benetti got the puck in his own defense and sent on Michael Henrich, who beat Matt Zaba in the near corner on the counterattack to make it 2-2. Just three minutes after the equalizer, Mike Souza gave the home team the lead again. This was the 31-year-old's fourth play-off goal. Three minutes before the end of the game, Mazzolini and Scandella could have closed the bag, but Bellissimo failed. The Asiago goalkeeper then left his box for a sixth field player and the visitors almost got the score. However, Zaba saved some dangerous situations and four seconds before the end of the game, Colton Fretter made it 4-2 to the guests' empty goal. For Fretter it was the first goal after exactly two months of lull.

Pustertal defeats Valpellice in a penalty shootout Top-class hockey could also be seen in the Cotta Morandini in Torre Pellice, where a play-off semi-final was held for the first time. The home team was without Saviels and McDonough, but with Stricker and De Frenza from the Real Turin farm team, while HC Pustertal was missing top scorer Rob Sirianni. “The Wolves” took the lead after just 1.56:1 minutes with Armin Helfer, who used a rebound to make it 0-22.13. The first third ended with this result. In the 2 minute Matt Kelly made it 0-30.59 with a quick counterattack. Then Regan rescued Oberrauch, Desmet and Helfer. The home team reduced the lead to 1:2 in the 34.45 minute with a hammer shot from Trevor Johson. A minute later Alex Nikiforuk equalized. In the 2.440 minute Christian Willeit put the Pusterers in the lead again. 3 spectators created a great atmosphere after Silva made it 3-4 four minutes before the end of the game. Extra time remained goalless, so the game had to be decided in a penalty shootout. Pustertal scored with Cullen and Desmet, while Anthony Aquino (missed goal) and Nikiforuk (saved) missed. The “Wolves” won 3:2.48 after 2 hours of play. Pustertla also leads 0-XNUMX in the best-of-seven series.

The third semi-final will take place on Thursday in Bruneck and Asiago. This encounter will be broadcast directly on RAI Sport.

HC Interspar Bozen - Supermercati Migross Asiago 4:2 (2:1, 1:1, 1:0)

HC Interspar Bozen: Matt Zaba (Guenther Hell); Alex Egger, Mika Lehtinen, Rosario Ruggeri, Samuli Suhonen, David Ceresa, Michael Busto; Colton Fretter, Danny Irmen, Mike Souza, Giulio Scandella, Nick Mazzolini, Marco Insam, Stefan Zisser, Anton Bernard, Christian Walcher, Enrico Dorigatti Coach: Adolf Insam

Supermercati Migross Asiago: Daniel Bellissimo (Gianfilippo Pavone); Matt De Marchi, Michele Strazzabosco, Nicholas Plastino, Ladislav Benysek, Enrico Miglioranzi, Marco Rossi, Andrea Gorza; Michael Henrich, Dave Borrelli, Ralph Intranuovo, Adam Henrich, Layne Ulmer, John Vigilante, Matteo Tessari, Nicola Tessari, Federico Benetti, Filippo Busa, Michele Stevan Coach: John Tucker

Referee: Luca Cassol and Claudio Pianezze (Fabrizio De Toni, Giulio Soia)

Tore : 1:0 Danny Irmen (0.41), 1:1 John Vigilante (1.24), 2:1 Mike Souza (3.52), 2:2 Michael Henrich (26.51), 3:2 Mike Souza (30.38), 4:2 Colton Fretter (59.56)

Penalty minutes: Bolzano 12 - Asiago 12

Shots on goal: Bolzano 30 - Asiago 28

Viewers: 3150

Results Play-Off Semi-Finals, Game 2 (Tuesday, March 8, 2011)

HC Interspar Bozen - Supermercati Migross Asiago 4:2 (2:1, 1:1, 1:0) 1:0 Danny Irmen (0.41), 1:1 John Vigilante (1.24), 2:1 Mike Souza (3.52), 2:2 Michael Henrich (26.51), 3:2 Mike Souza (30.38), 4:2 Colton Fretter (59.56) (Stand in the best-of-seven series: 1:1 - 1:4, 4:2)

HC Valpellice - HC Pustertal 3:4 nP (0:1, 2:2, 1:0, 0:0) 0:1 Armin Helfer (1.56), 0:2 Matthew Kelly (22.13), 1:2 Trevor Johnson (30.55), 2:2 Alex Nikiforuk (31.52), 2:3 Christian Willeit (34.45), 3:3 Alex Silva (56.38), 3:4 decisive penalty Taggart Desmet (Stand in the best-of-seven series: 0:2 - 1:3, 3:4 nP)

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Play-off semi-finals: Pustertal and Bolzano win

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