Serie A: Four teams want to reach the final

Which teams will advance to the play-off final? Here vote!

(1) Fiat Professional Wolves – (5) HC Alleghe Tegola Canadese For the third time in a row, HC Pustertal and Alleghe meet in the play-off. In the last two seasons there was a direct duel in the quarter-finals - and both times the Wolves retained the upper hand: in 2009/10 they won 4-0, and a year later they won with a similarly clear 4-1. This time a place in the final is at stake. HC Pustertal is the favorite, not least because of its impeccable record in the quarter-finals against Asiago, but also because of the strong phase at the end of the second round. In comparison, the past few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for Alleghe. The 4-2 win in the series against Pontebba was a real feat. In the championship, Alleghe has not won against HCP since October 15th, who in turn won the last two duels. In the historical comparison between the two teams, Alleghe leads with 77 wins in 160 meetings. Bruneck has 18 successes with 65 draws.

Coach Teppo Kivelä will have all squad players available on Tuesday. He has to send a foreign goalkeeper and another transfer card player to the stands. The trainer doesn't want to announce who will be drawn until the day of the game. David Ling, who was the driving force in the quarterfinals against Asiago in the first line with Scandella and Oberrauch and also provided seven goal assists himself, will certainly be admired on the ice. Goalie Strömberg also clearly impressed against the dethroned champions with a catch rate of 96,5%. However, his counterpart on Tuesday, Adam Dennis, is also one of the best goalkeepers in the league and, when in top form, can infuriate any opponent. In addition to Dennis, Alleghe's hopes rest on the local players, who performed particularly well in the final phase of the season. Of the last 22 goals, 16 were scored by captain Manuel DeToni, Daniele Veggiato, Nicola Fontanive and Co.. Alleghe coach McKenna will probably have to do without the ailing Alberto Fontanive and DaTos in the first semi-final game.

The previous play-off record between Pustertal and Alleghe: 83/84 season Final 3rd place, Pustertal - Alleghe 0-2 (3-5; 3-4) 87/88 season Quarterfinals, Alleghe - Pustertal 2-0 (6-3; 6-3) 92/93 season Quarterfinals, Alleghe - Pustertal 3-0 (9-3, 5-3; 5-4) 09/10 season Quarterfinals, Pustertal - Alleghe 4-0 (5-4, 4-1; 2-1, 3-2) 10/11 season Quarterfinals, Pustertal - Alleghe 4-1 (4-2; 3-2; 3-4 aet, 3-1, 2-1)

(2) HC Bozen – (3) Hafro SG Cortina Bozen-Cortina is the meeting between the two most successful teams in Italian ice hockey. The White-Reds' 18 championship titles are compared to the Ampezzo's 16. No other club entered the honor roll more often. The two teams have faced each other seven times so far this season: Bolzano leads with five wins (3 in the regular season, 2 in the Master Round), although Cortina achieved the most prestigious success in the final of the Italian Cup. Now the two traditional clubs are playing for a place in the final. The game on Tuesday in the Eiswelle is the 195th meeting between the South Tyroleans and the Ampezzanians. So far, the HCB has left the ice rink as winners 103 times, while Cortina has achieved 75 successes.

HC Bozen recently had ten days without a game and thus had the opportunity to refresh its energy reserves. Previously, the record champions showed no weakness in the 4-0 win against Fassa. In the meantime, the HCB has brought a prominent new addition on board: Brian McCutcheon, who has worked in the NHL for a total of eleven years, will bring in his experience as an assistant coach. First and foremost, however, it is up to the players to secure their place in the final. The key to success will once again be the first attack line around Giliati, Knackstedt and Sharp, which collected no less than 9 goals and 13 assists in the last four play-off games. The upcoming semi-final will also be explosive due to the showdown between the two goalies Matt Zaba and JP Levasseur, who are undoubtedly among the best in their profession in Italian ice hockey. However, Cortina can also offer several great players on offense, such as the always dangerous Rob Hennigar, Ryan Dingle, Jonas Johansson and Luca Felicetti. Due to the return of Mark Isherwood, who was recently in Canada for family reasons, coach Stefan Mair has to remove a surplus transfer card player from the player sheet. The coach from Bolzano is also missing the ailing Luca Zanatta. Meanwhile, the long-term injured Josh Meyers and Derek Edwardson have to pass for the home team.

The previous play-off record between Bolzano and Cortina: 83/84 season Quarterfinals, Bolzano - Cortina 2-1 (7-0, 3-5, 7-3) 87/88 season Quarterfinals, Bolzano - Cortina 2-0 (10-4; 5-2) 97/98 season Quarterfinals, Bolzano - Cortina 2-0 (3-2; 6-3)

03/04 season Quarterfinals, Bolzano - Cortina 1-3 (8-2, 2-4; 2-3 nP, 1-6) 08/09 season Semi-final, Bolzano - Cortina 4-0 (3-1, 4-3; 5-2; 4-3)

Serie A Škoda – Semi-Final, Game 1 – Tuesday March 20th Leitner Solar Arena in Brunico, 20.30 p.m (1) Fiat Professional Wolves – (5) HC Alleghe Tegola Canadese Referees: Metelka and Gamper Line judges: Manfroi and Unterweger

Ice wave in Bolzano, 20.30 p.m (2) HC Bozen – (3) Hafro SG Cortina Referees: Colcuc and Gastaldelli Line judges: Matthias and Christian Cristeli

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Serie A: Four teams want to reach the final

The time has come on Tuesday, then the battle begins. Final game tickets: In game one, HC Pustertal (against Alleghe) and HC Bozen (against Cortina) enjoy home advantage.

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