When the Graz 99ers show up in the Linz AG Eisarena, the Steinbach Black Wings ice hockey cracks will be in pain this season and have no prospect of gaining points. The “scary tactic” with the commitment of 15 Perchten backfired, ultimately only the Styrians were to be feared.
Two and a half months after the 4-0 defeat in round two (September 18), the Upper Austrians lost 5-2 (0-2, 2-2, 0-1) in front of 2,577 spectators on Friday. And that despite the fact that they dictated the match for long stretches during Michael Haga’s comeback. This underpins a shot ratio of 28:19.
At the moment there is a bit of a worm in there at home, three of the last four home games have been lost, Linz have only scored two of twelve possible points. “It doesn’t make it easy to chase a big deficit, but we tried everything and always believed in it. It’s a shame it didn’t work out,” said striker Emilio Romig, who scored the goal to make it 2-4 (35 th ).
Nevertheless: The efficiency that had distinguished the EHC last Sunday in the 6:2 triumph in Salzburg was missing this time. Probably also because towards the end of the first third a double strike played into the hands of Grazers within 59 seconds (18th, 19th). When Victor Granholm even increased the lead to 0:3 (24th), it was clear that it would be extremely difficult. Ultimately, two ex-Linzers in Graz jerseys made everything clear: Daniel Oberkofler (33rd) and Mario Altmann (59th). At the weekend the EHC is free of games.
Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Graz 99ers 2-5 (0-2, 2-2, 0-1). Goals: Roe (26′), Romig (35′); Ograjensek (18th/pp), Alagic (19th), Granholm (24th), Oberkofler (33rd), Altmann (59th/empty net). Innsbruck – Salzburg 2: 5, Fehervar – Vorarlberg 3: 0, Ljubljana – Pustertal 5: 2. Table 1. Innsbruck 47/23, 2nd Bolzano 44/21, 3rd Salzburg 39/20, 4th Linz 37/22; 9. Graz 30/23.
Source: Nachrichten
