HC Pustertal Scores 2-2 Tie Against Capitals in Vienna and Wins in Penalty Shootout

HC Pustertal scored two extremely important points against the Capitals on Friday evening in Vienna.

by Daniel Weger

On the first stop of the road trip to the East, the wolves are guests in Vienna. The aim is of course to take the momentum from the last games with the three wins and also score points in the Austrian capital. However, the Caps have recently upgraded their personnel and have won five of the last seven games. Coach Vuorinen has to do without Catenacci, Schofield and Althuber and relies on the same lines as in the last game.

The Wolves start with concentration and quickly dominate the game. The home team slowly found their way into the game, but then they had the best opportunity with a long-range shot from Weinger (4th minute). After confidently surviving a shorthanded game (2 minutes against Berger), the HCP increased the pressure and was rewarded. ikonen passes to the left, where Kasastul comes free to finish and circles the puck into the far top corner (12th minute) – 1-0 for the Wolves and the second goal en suite for the likeable Norwegian.

The Caps’ reaction culminates in a great chance for Weinger (13th minute), but Bernard cannot be defeated. On the other side, in the 17th minute, Petan and Hannoun had a great chance to make it 0-2, but Wraneschitz outgrew himself and held on brilliantly.

In the second section, the wolves initially march on. Deluca narrowly failed with a pawn trick (22nd minute), a little later the Black and Yellows played a strong power play, but were unable to score. The narrow deficit also gives the hosts a boost and they come dangerously close to the Bruneck box a few times.

But both newcomer Franklin (all alone; 27th) as well as Heinrich (31st) and Weinger (32nd) find their match in Bernard. On the HCP side, Morley (28th) and Mantinger (32nd) also found decent scoring opportunities, but were equally unsuccessful. When Hannoun finally has to go into the box because of a bench penalty, the Caps equalize: Preiser is served centrally in the slot and can finish under pressure, the puck fits exactly – 1:1 after 39 minutes. However, the Wolves react immediately: Frycklund fights for the goal offensively on the boards and immediately passes sharply in front of the goal, where Hannoun, standing alone, scores the goal to make it 1-2 (40th minute).

In the final third, the Wolves managed their narrow lead and tried to counter quickly again and again. Symbolically the 46th minute: the Caps fail with a good opportunity, in direct response Hannoun is up and away and is illegally taken off his feet. The number 19 was just unable to use the penalty due.

So time ticks by until Frycklund has to go to the penalty box for two minutes in the 55th minute. A little later Kasastul follows him, so that the Wolves have to defend with 3 against 5 when they are outnumbered. First Bernard saves with a big save against Stefanson, then Franklin scores on the rebound. But the referees refused to recognize the goal after Coaches Challenge. The hosts still manage to equalize: Cheek sinks the goal nicely to make it 2-2 (57th min.).

So the game goes into extra time, where the Wolves are slightly superior on the field, but neither team can take the decisive trick. This means that after a long time it will once again be decided after a penalty shootout. And here the HCP has the better end for itself: Hannoun and Frycklund convert confidently, while on the Caps side only veteran Ticar scores. The Wolves leave the ice in Vienna with a win.

Things continue on Saturday when the wolves travel on to Hungary.

At 5:30 p.m. they will be guests at Fehervar AV19 in Székesfehérvár and will try to bring home points from there too.

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2024-01-13 07:54:34
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