The Vienna Capitals and, surprisingly, the Dornbirn Bulldogs are well on their way to the semi-finals of the ICE ice hockey league. The Viennese won 3-2 at Fehervar on Sunday and took the lead 2-0 in the “Best of seven” quarter-final series. Vorarlberg also celebrated their second victory, defeating RB Salzburg 6: 3. The VSV with a 6: 3 derby win against the KAC and HCB Südtirol (7: 2 against Bratislava) managed to equalize 1: 1.
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The Caps had difficulties starting in Szekesfehervar, but with goalkeeping veteran Bernhard Starkbaum they had secure support. Eleven seconds before the first break, Ty Loney, who scored twice in the first game, gave the Viennese the lead. After the equalizer (29th), Darren Archibald (30th) and Benjamin Nissner (40th) each ensured the ultimately decisive 3-1 lead in a power play.
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In contrast to the 6: 1 on Friday, the Caps had to really fight for the second victory after the connection goal (45th). “The game was exactly what we expected the whole series to be and the way it will continue. A close game in which one or two moves decide. We’re now 2-0 in the series, but that doesn’t mean anything. Every game will continue to be fiercely competitive, ”said Capitals coach Dave Cameron.
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While the leadership of the Viennese does not come as a surprise, that of Dornbirn is. After the 2-0 away win, the Bulldogs got started right away in the exhibition hall at home and were 3-0 up after a good seven minutes. For Salzburg goalkeeper JP Lamoureux, the working day ended early, making way for Jesper Eliasson. The Bulls were far from a turnaround, however, also because in the final third Anthony Luciani restored the three-goal lead to 2: 4 just 24 seconds after the Salzburg goal. Dornbirn now has a good chance of winning a play-off series for the first time since entering the league in 2012. Salzburg, on the other hand, has to improve significantly in order not to miss the semi-finals for the first time in nine years.
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In Villach, the Eagles fought back against the KAC in an intense and successful derby. The VSV were ahead 2-0 after five minutes, after the KAC equalized (10th), Jamie Fraser quickly brought the home team back into the lead (13th). The Villachers finally went into the final third with a one-goal lead, in which both sides had very good chances to score. Jordan Caron finally used a power play to make it 5: 3 (52nd) and sealed the deserved success of his team. “Our team has certainly not shown what it is capable of. We are successful when we work as a five-man unit, that was not the case today and that should be a lesson for us with regard to Tuesday, ”analyzed KAC coach Petri Matikainen.
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HCB Südtirol, the top team after the regular round and the intermediate round, turned a 0-1 deficit into a 5-1 lead in Bratislava within eight minutes (32nd).
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