Now it’s going to be a real tough game for the Black Wings

High effort, zero return. The Steinbach Black Wings left Szekesfehervar empty-handed despite a strong performance (20:2 shots in the second third). Linz lost unfortunately 1:2 (0:1, 0:0, 1:1) in front of 2,665 visitors.

The decision was made 4:06 minutes before the siren, the puck had bounced back from the boards at an acute angle, Akos Mihaly was quickest and hit the EHC, for whom Graham Knott had previously equalized in the majority (54th), right in the heart ( 56.).

• Read more in the live ticker from the game

It is a serious setback in the fight for a top 6 placement and direct entry into the play-offs. “Bitter, we had a lot of chances,” said striker Andreas Kristler before the final spurt in the regular half against Villach (Sunday, 5:30 p.m., PULS 24), in Asiago (Wednesday, 7:15 p.m., live ticker on nachrichten.at) and against Ljubljana (Friday, 7:15 p.m.).

The Carinthians, who beat Bozen 7-3, have strengthened themselves for the hot phase with three Canadians: strikers Tyler Steenbergen (HK Poprad) and Max Golod (Nybro) as well as defender Ethan Cap (Greenville) were drawn to the Drau. Successful for now. VSV is fourth, Linz is sixth, just above the line – level on points with pursuers Innsbruck (4:5 after extra time in Feldkirch). By the way, the Black Wings are ahead in the direct duels with the Tyroleans.

The KAC, who won 2-1 at the Vienna Capitals, is the regular season winner. The “Red Jackets” enjoy home advantage until a possible play-off final.

Graz99ers - Asiago Hockey          3:4      (0:2,1:0,2:2)        
Vienna Capitals - EC-KAC           1:2      (0:1,0:0,0:1)        
EC VSV - HCB Südtirol              7:3      (0:0,3:2.,4:1)       
Fehervar AV19 - Black Wings Linz   2:1      (1:0,0:0,1:1)        
Olimpija Ljubljana - EC Salzburg   4:5 n.P. (1:3,2:1,1:0,0:0,0:1)
Pioneers Vorarlberg - HC Innsbruck 5:4 n.V. (1:0,2:2,1:2,1:0)    

 1. EC-KAC              46 29 3 6  8 175:100  75 99 * 
 2. Fehervar AV19       45 27 2 3 13 144:123  21 88 * 
 3. EC Salzburg         45 22 7 4 12 138:107  31 84 * 
 4. EC VSV              45 20 5 4 16 154:134  20 74   
 5. HCB Südtirol        45 21 5 0 19 130:121   9 73   
 6. Black Wings Linz    45 18 5 8 14 144:115  29 72   
 7. HC Innsbruck        45 17 7 7 14 131:129   2 72   
 8. Pustertal Wölfe     45 18 5 5 17 134:132   2 69   
 9. Olimpija Ljubljana  45 17 5 5 18 141:137   4 66   
10. Pioneers Vorarlberg 46 17 4 3 22 149:150  -1 62 **
11. Vienna Capitals     46  9 7 7 23 110:163 -53 48   
12. Asiago Hockey       45  8 5 9 23 116:181 -65 43   
13. Graz99ers           45  6 5 4 30  87:161 -74 32   

*   = im Viertelfinale
**  = im Pre-Play-off

Nächste Runde: 

Sonntag                  
EC Salzburg - Pioneers Vorarlberg 15.00  
EC-KAC - Olimpija Ljubljana       16.00  
Black Wings Linz - EC VSV         17.30  
HC Innsbruck - Fehervar AV19      17.30  
Pustertal Wölfe - Graz99ers       18.00  
HCB Südtirol - Asiago Hockey      18.00