Image: APA/EXPA/Johann Groder
Salzburg’s championship party has been postponed until at least Tuesday. HCB Südtirol reduced the ICE Hockey League’s “best-of-seven” final series to 2:3. In the second longest game in the history of the league, Matt Frattin secured the home win against the Austrian champion with the goal to make it 4:3 (116 th ) only in the sixth game segment. Game five was also extremely close, but after the 1:0 (for Bozen) and 1:0, 4:1, 3:0 (Salzburg) before that it was almost a “high score game”. Bozen presented three times in the sold-out Eiswelle and postponed the championship decision due to the character victory in extra time. Salzburg still have two “match pucks”.
The Austrians owned the initial phase. After just a few seconds, Thomas Raffl knocked on the 1-0, but Bozen scored the opening goal. Daniel Mantenuto blocked Atte Tolvanen’s sight and Ryan Culin’s long-range shot came in behind the hitherto outstanding goalie. Driven by 6800 spectators, the South Tyroleans pushed for the second goal in the second third, but now the guests equalized something against the course of the game. Raffl unpacked the hammer in the short cross corner in the left face-off circle (28th).
In the last section, the champion of 2014 and 2018 presented in the previously toothless power play. Again Culin from the ambush, Angelo Miceli deflected to make it 2:1 (47th). Salzburg had the right answer ready 43 seconds later: Troy Bourke defeated Sam Harvey in the Bozen box after strong Raffl preliminary work. Eight minutes from time, the home team took the lead again with a breakaway goal from Frattin. But Salzburg also managed a third comeback: with six field players on the ice, the visitors forced extra time through Benjamin Nissner’s goal with 27 seconds remaining. Dominique Heinrich had shown a good eye for the completely free striker.
Salzburg pushed the South Tyroleans into the ropes on the second shot, HCB goalie Harvey kept his front men in the game, who had meanwhile only been dangerous with pinpricks (Frattin missed the empty goal). Salzburg, however, did not capitalize on often power play-like scenes, and Bozen struggled back into the action at eye level. A seldom seen battle of attrition was the result, we played each other down.
After 115 minutes and 10 seconds, Frattin, who had already been operated on the nose, was responsible for the “lucky punch”. The longest league game also took place in Bolzano. In 2019, KAC won 4:3 after 120 minutes and 53 seconds.
Source: Nachrichten
