The hoped-for New Year’s rocket of the Steinbach Black Wings was just a flash in the pan: the Linz ice hockey cracks showed the hardships of the past few days, they didn’t bring the energy to the ice that it takes to bring the leaders to their knees. Innsbruck kept the upper hand in front of 3315 eyewitnesses at the Untere Donaulände with 3:1 (1:0, 1:0, 1:1) and celebrated the fourth win in a row.
The EHC remained for the first time in five matches without gaining points, in the last four games the Upper Austrians only scored five goals. A certain degree of weakness in the final cannot be dismissed out of hand, although the overall result this season is absolutely satisfactory. “At the moment we are not as efficient offensively as we should be,” says Black Wings coach Philipp Lukas, also addressing the majority game, which left a lot to be desired against the snappy “Sharks” from Tyrol.
Nothing countable came out of three power plays. On the contrary: Innsbruck even scored a goal from the top scorer in the league, Adam Helevka, to make it 2-0 (26th). That is bitter.
What you definitely cannot accuse the people of Linz under the direction of Lukas is a lack of commitment. Regardless of the score, they fight to the last second. Same today. When Logan Roe reduced the lead to 1:2 92 seconds after the start of the third period (42nd), a jolt went through the team and the crowd. But the Tyroleans had an answer for that too: Senna Peeters put it coldly to 1: 3 (50th).
The Black Wings continue on Tuesday (7.15 p.m., live ticker on nachrichten.at) in the Salzburg Volksgarten against the “Red Bulls”, who defeated Villacher SV 3-1. Perhaps that’s when recently signed Canadian defenseman Matt Murphy, who is awaiting his playing permit, will be on board for the first time.
Against descent
Austria’s U20 national team with the three Linz cracks Benedikt Oschgan, Patrick Söllinger and Lorenz Lindner has to face relegation in two nerve-wracking duels in Halifax after four defeats in four World Cup group games (goal difference 2:35). The first relegation match against Latvia is today. “It hurts that we lost 4-2 against Germany because we could have won that game too. We have to mobilize all our strength now,” said head coach Kirk Furey.
more from Black Wings
6:1 – Steel Wings celebrated home win over Fassa
The eventful year of the Steinbach Black Wings
Merry Christmas
1: 2 after extra time: Linz struggled with efficiency in Vienna
My themes
For your saved topics
found new items.
info By clicking on the icon you add the keyword to your topics.
info
Click on the icon to open your “My Topics” page. They have of 15 tags saved and would have to remove tags.
info By clicking on the icon you remove the keyword from your topics.
Add the theme to your themes.
Source: Nachrichten
