Play-off semi-final: Second win for Bolzano, Pustertal loses in Alleghe

HC Alleghe Tegola Canadese - Fiat Professional Wölfe Pustertal 6:4 (2:1, 0:1, 4:2) Alleghe Tegola Canadese: Adam Dennis (Davide Fontanive); Michael Schutte, Jani Forsstrom, Joni Haverinen, Francesco De Biasio, Carlo Lorenzi, Simone Manfroi; Nicola Fontanive, Vincent Rocco, Greg Hogeboom, Markku Tahtinen, Daniele Veggiato, Manuel De Toni, Jari Monferone, Manuel Da Tos, Davide Testori; Coach: Steve McKenna

Fiat Professional Wolves Pustertal: Mikko Stromberg (Hannes Hopfgartner); Matt Kelly, Christian Willeit, Armin Helfer, Olivier Magnan, Armin Hofer, Christian Mair, Daniel Glira; Giulio Scandella, David Ling, Max Oberrauch, Joe Jensen, Joseph Cullen, Lukas Crepaz, Patrick Bona, Nate Di Casmirro, Ryan Watson, Thomas Erlacher, Lukas Tauber, Viktor Schweizer; Coach: Teppo Kivela

Gates: 1-0 Greg Hogeboom (10.01), 1-1 Patrick Bona (12.32), 2-1 Greg Hogeboom (13.36), 2-2 Joe Jensen (31.40), 2-3 Nate DiCasmirro (44.16), 3-3 Manuel DeToni (50.18), 4:3 Greg Hogeboom (53.55), 5:3 Carlo Lorenzi (58.40); 5:4 Joe Cullen (59.12), 6:4 Greg Hogeboom (59.52)

For the first time in exactly six years, a play-off semi-final was held in Alleghe. The home team prevailed against Pustertal after a tough fight with 6:4 goals and made the series exciting again. Alleghe had to do without the suspended Adam Henrich as well as the injured Card and Alberto Fontanive, while the “Wolves” were only missing the Swede Frederik Persson, who had to sit in the stands as a surplus foreigner. Pustertal got off to a better start, but Max Oberrauch failed because of Adam Dennis. In the 10.01 minute, Alleghe took the lead: Veggiato sent Greg Hogeboom, who gave Stromberg no chance and made it 1-0. Pustertal reacted promptly and equalized in the 12.32 minute with Patrick Bona. But the joy only lasted 64 seconds, because Hogeboom once again shot the home team forward with the advantage (Christian Willeit was in the penalty box). Dennis then saved the narrow lead into the break. In the middle third, Pustertal stepped up a gear, but couldn't beat the excellent Dennis until the 31st minute. Veggiato could have made it 3-1 on the counterattack, but failed because of Strömberg. Then Scandella and Bona missed two great chances to equalize before Joe Jensen coolly took advantage of a failed substitution from Alleghe and equalized to make it 2-2. The final third began with a missed goal from Veggiato (the referees used the video evidence to help), then Nate DiCasmirro gave the Pusterers a 3-2 lead with the advantage. Captain Manuel De Toni, the strong Hogeboom and Carlo Lorenzi in the power play turned the result around in just eight minutes and turned the 2:3 deficit into a 5:3 lead. Although Cullen reduced the score to 4:5 in the final minute, Hogeboom finally sealed the deal with his fourth personal goal in the 59.52 minute mark. Alleghe won 6:4 and the third game will take place in Brunico on Saturday.

Hafro SG Cortina - HC Bozen 0:3 (0:2, 0:1, 0:0) Hafro SG Cortina: Jean-Philippe Levasseur (Renè Baur); David Bowman, Paul Baier, Mark Isherwood, Luca Zandonella, Michele Zanatta; Ryan Dingle, Curtis Fraser, Rob Hennigar, Jonas Johansson, Luca Felicetti, Giorgio De Bettin, Ryan Menei, Francesco Adami, Andrea Moser, Denis Soravia, Andrea Baldo, Christian Menardi; Coach: Stefan Mair

HC Bolzano: Matt Zaba (Guenther Hell); Brandon Rogers, Alexander Egger, Christian Borgatello, Andrea Ambrosi, Daniel Fabris; Stefano Giliati, Jordan Knackstedt, Mac Gregor Sharp, Marco Insam, Mark McCutcheon, Anton Bernard, Stefan Zisser, Enrico Dorigatti, Tuomo Harjula, Federico Demetz; Coach: Adolf Insam

Gates: 0:1 Stefano Giliati (5.12), 0:2 Brandon Rogers (13.39), 0:3 Jordan Knackstedt (36.32)

After the narrow 3-2 home win on Tuesday in the first semi-final, HC Bozen also prevailed in the second preliminary round game in the Olympic Stadium in Cortina. The White-Reds deservedly won 3-0, Giliati, Rogers and Knackstedt were the goal scorers. The home team had to make do without Luca Zanatta and Oberg, while Bozen were missing long-term injuries Josh Meyers and Derek Edwardson as well as Christian Walcher. Stefan Zisser, however, was available again after recovering from the flu. Marco Insam missed the first opportunity of the game, but in the 5.12 minute Stefano Giliati gave Bolzano the lead thanks to a wonderful pass from Knackstedt. It was the Italian-Canadian's 20th championship goal. The White-Reds increased the pace after this goal and made it 13.39-2 with Brandon Rogers in the 0 minute. This time Giliati did the preparatory work; the unmarked Rogers only had to shoot in from close range. In the final minute of the first third, Cortina had two chances to score, but Ryan Fraser was denied both times by Matt Zaba. So after twenty minutes, Bolzano remained 2-0 ahead. In the middle third the encounter was quite even. Cortina had to do without the injured Menei, who did not return to the ice. Levasseur first fended off two dangerous shots from Harjula and Sharp, then on the other side Ryan Dingle, who was pressed by Borgatello, missed alone in front of Zaba. In the 30th minute, Bozen couldn't take advantage of a double advantage, then Zaba saved Fraser with two brilliant saves. The decision came in the 36.32 minute when Jordan Knackstedt pulled away on the counterattack, dribbled out Levasseur and made it 3-0. In the final third, Bozen controlled the game and also had several good opportunities with Harjula (twice), Rogers and Insam, who were denied by Levasseur. Three minutes before the end of the game, Stefan Mair took his goalkeeper off the ice for a sixth skater, but to no avail. Bolzano made it 3-0 easily and remains undefeated in the sixth play-off game, while Matt Zaba celebrated his third shut-out in the play-off. The third game will take place on Thursday in the Bolzano Eiswelle.

Serie A Škoda - Thursday March 22, 2012 - 2nd play-off semi-final

(5) HC Alleghe Tegola Canadese - (1) Fiat Professional Wölfe Pustertal 6:4 (2:1, 0:1, 4:2) 1-0 Greg Hogeboom (10.01), 1-1 Patrick Bona (12.32), 2-1 Greg Hogeboom (13.36), 2-2 Joe Jensen (31.40), 2-3 Nate DiCasmirro (44.16), 3-3 Manuel DeToni (50.18), 4:3 Greg Hogeboom (53.55), 5:3 Carlo Lorenzi (58.40); 5:4 Joe Cullen (59.12), 6:4 Greg Hogeboom (59.52) Standing best-of-seven series: 1:1 (2:4, 6:4) (3) Hafro SG Cortina - (2) HC Bozen 0:3 (0:2, 0:1, 0:0) 0:1 Stefano Giliati (5.12), 0:2 Brandon Rogers (13.39), 0:3 Jordan Knackstedt (36.32) Standing best-of-seven series: 0:2 (2:3, 0:3)

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Play-off semi-final: Second win for Bolzano, Pustertal loses in Alleghe

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