The Steinbach Black Wings started the new ice hockey season with three well -deserved points against the Pioneers Vorarlberg. In the first home game visited with 4280 fans, went on the way to 5: 2- (2: 0, 2: 0, 1: 2) victory through the Linz-AG-Eisarena. The weak phases in the third third did not change that.
Before it got really loud, ghostly silence had returned. Because the Wings held a minute’s silence for Richard Höller, who died on August 21. The teammates of the 32-year-old, the Danube Ducks Linz, also came onto the ice rink. It was so quiet that the new ventilation system could be heard in the hall.
After that, however, it only took 58 seconds to get really loud again 166 days after the last Play-Off-Heimmatch 2024/25. Shawn ST-Amant benefited from the slip of a defender from the country and gave Feldkirch-Goalie Alex Caffi no chance. After further opportunities and a rod hit by Niklas Würschl, accessed Travis Barron after the dream pass of captain Brian Lebler kneeling 2-0 because he was fouled before (17th).
You could not say that from the guests from Vorarlberg at first. Linz continued to get chance for chance. In the 24th minute, Graham Knott dusted out after a cross pass that was committed to the lifeline, 3-0 (24th). In the 27th minute – also in the power play – the captain was also able to enter the shooting list.
“I would have liked more consistency”
Linz took the foot from the accelerator pedal in the final section – and was punished with goals to 1: 4 (48./sh) and 2: 4 (53.). Nevertheless, it was no longer a tremor because Lebler posted his third scorer point of the evening with the 5: 2 (57th) and its 399 goal in the service of the EHC.
There is no reason and no time for excessive celebrations. Already on Sunday in the morning the Black Wings climbed the bus to Szekesfehrar to blow there from 4 p.m. in the magnificent arena. By the way, the Hungarian “Red Devil” received a 0: 4 defeat at the KAC on Friday. No reason for high spirits.
“I would have liked more consistency against the Pioneers,” said Linz coach Philipp Lukas: “We had good sequences, but brought ourselves into problems unnecessarily. But we are happy with the three points.” Nache: “Our game has to be a lot saddle festival.”
- Ice Hockey League, 1st round: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Vorarlberg 5: 2 (2: 0, 2: 0, 1: 2). Goals: St-Amant (1st), Barron (17th), Knott (24./PP), Lebler (27./PP, 57.); Metzler (48./SH), Maier 53. Ferencvaros – Villach 2: 4, KAC – Fehervar 4: 0, Innsbruck – Pustertal 1: 7, Ljubljana – Vienna 8: 1, Bozen – Salzburg 3: 4. 2nd round, Sunday, 4 p.m.: Fehervar – Linz.
Source: Nachrichten
