Normally, the Austrian national anthem in ice hockey only sounds in international matches and in emotional league play-off final series. On the occasion of the national holiday, however, even the regular season match between the Steinbach Black Wings and the Pioneers Vorarlberg, which is listed as game number 89 in the calendar, received a state-supporting note. Most of the Linz cracks listened intently to the playing of “Land der Berge” and then blasted loudly to catch up. But without success.
The EHC had equalized a deficit of 0:2, but Tyler Sandhu missed the Upper Austrians with the unexpected catch 122 seconds before the final siren with the goal to make it 2:3 (0:2, 2:0, 0:1).
That was not at all what the 2125 fans had in mind, who, after periods of constant pressure, had rightly hoped for a happy ending in the first of four home games in a row. It should work tomorrow (7:15 p.m.). With Asiago, not only is the second league newcomer next to the Pioneers, but also the team that is cemented at the bottom of the table.
Yesterday’s 3-1 loss in Salzburg was the Italians’ ninth defeat in their eleventh match. No reason for Linzer, who slipped to third place, to get euphoric. “We can’t afford to underestimate anyone,” emphasized Black Wings coach Philipp Lukas, who maintains a healthy balance in his speeches and analyzes: never saddened to death after defeats, not exuberant after victories.
His team showed morale against the ensemble around the ex-Linz striker Patrick Spannring, who was warmly welcomed by the audience, with a shot ratio of 31:17 they deserved to be counted. That’s what it looked like towards the end of the second third, when the knot seemed to burst. After a wonderful pass from Marco Brucker, Andreas Kristler scored deep into the area to make it 1:2 (38th), 79 seconds later Shawn St-Amant was there to make it 2:2 (40th). More should not jump out.
Source: Nachrichten
