KAC remains in form – Innsbruck and Bolzano lost

The sixth-placed Klagenfurt defeated the Graz99ers 1-0 (0:0,0:0,1:0) at home on Friday. There were surprises in Feldkirch and Asiago: The Pioneers Vorarlberg, who were at the bottom of the table, won against the second HCB Südtirol 5:4 (3:2,1:1,1:1), leader Innsbruck had to defeat Asiago 1:3 (1: 1.0:1.0:1).

In the fourth game of the evening, the Vienna Capitals lost to Fehervar after an intense game 3:4 after extra time (0:1.3:1.0:1). The Viennese are now four points behind the Hungarians in eighth place, they are missing five at the KAC. The league continues on December 26th.

KAC, who were last successful in the Carinthian Derby, did not reward themselves against the 99ers for the time being. The “Red Jackets” missed good chances in the first two thirds in front of just over 3,900 spectators, failed at Graz keeper Christian Engstrand or were unlucky when Rihards Bukarts hit the post. The spell was finally broken after 44 minutes: Matt Fraser defeated Engstrand with a shot under the bar (45′).

Graz intensified their efforts in the last ten minutes. In this phase, a majority game gave KAC the chance of a preliminary decision, but the Klagenfurt team couldn’t take advantage of it. Engstrand went off the ice in the finish, Graz tried again but couldn’t force the equalizer. KAC goalie Sebastian Dahm was allowed to celebrate a “shutout”.

The Pioneers and Bozen exchanged blows. 1: 0, 1: 1, 1: 2, 2: 2, 3: 2, 3: 3, 4: 3 were the interim results of the first two thirds. Richard Jarusek, Jack Jacome, Tyler Sandhu and Andreas Heier wrote for Feldkirch. The South Tyroleans then equalized again before Jacome (52.) poked the puck over the line after a Jarusek shot. Bolzano’s ongoing pressure phase then weakened a late penalty against the guests. The Pioneers wrote only their second win in the last twelve games in front of their home ranks.

Innsbruck took the lead in Asiago through Jan Lattner after just 23 seconds, as scheduled. However, the league newcomer deservedly made it 1-1 and took the lead at the beginning of the second period. Daniel Leavens’ equalizer for the Tyroleans was denied because the goal had already been moved. It was even more bitter for the “Haie”: After losing a disc in their own zone, Asiago made it 3-1 ten minutes before the end. The Innsbruckers failed to make a comeback.

In front of 4,400 spectators, the Caps were down 2-0 against Fehervar in their second home appearance in three days before a brace brought them back. Nikolaus Hartl (26th) and Maxwell Zimmer (28th) each scored on the power play. Zimmer (38th) scored the third goal before the second break. The American scored the third point of the evening after assisting Hartl’s goal. The Capitals rewarded themselves for a clear increase in performance.

Fehervar found a good chance to equalize right from the start in the final section. Bernhard Starkbaum had to be highly concentrated by the finish at the latest. The Hungarians also managed to make it 3:3: Istvan Terbocs (57th) completed his start. In overtime, the guests had the better end for themselves, Bence Stipsicz rewarded his team after just 61 seconds.