The KAC is only one win away from reaching the finals of the Austrian ice hockey league. Already on Tuesday (7.30 p.m., live Puls 24) the Klagenfurt team can close the bag against Pustertal – and at the same time gain a big advantage for the final series.
Three games, three wins – the “best-of-seven” semifinal series in the ICE ice hockey league has so far been a clear affair for the KAC. In the most recent duel with HC Pustertal, the Klagenfurt team won 3-1 in front of their home crowd and can therefore move into the final on Tuesday (7.45 p.m.) in Bruneck for the first time since winning the title in 2021. In the second semi-final, defending champions Red Bull Salzburg took a 2-1 lead thanks to a 4-3 win against HCB Südtirol.
Manuel Ganahl had put the KAC in the lead on Sunday in the first power play (3rd), and in the middle of the final third the outsider from South Tyrol also managed to equalize in the power play through Alex Petan (49th). Austria’s record champions, the best team in the regular round, quickly countered. Matt Fraser (51st) and Thomas Vallant (54th) made everything clear and ensured a success with at least a two-goal lead in the third game of the series.
The most difficult victory
Head coach Kirk Furey then spoke of his Red Jackets’ “best game in the playoffs so far.” At the same time, however, he warned: “We know that the last win in a series is always the hardest.” If they succeed in early promotion, the Carinthians should go into the final series and thus into the fight for their 33rd title much more gently. The previous semi-final between RB Salzburg and HC Bozen was much more evenly balanced, with the score being 2-1 for the Austrians.
In the third duel between last year’s finalists, Salzburg avoided their second home defeat thanks to an outstanding middle third on Sunday. The Foxes from Bolzano led 3-0 after a strong and efficient first period thanks to goals from Pascal Brunner (3rd), Joshua Teves (9th) and Brad McClure (14th). In the middle third the Red Bulls showed a completely different face and really turned up the heat. Benjamin Nissner (27th), Mario Huber (29th/PP), Troy Bourke (32nd) and Drake Rymsha (34th) shot Salzburg into the lead with four goals within seven minutes. In the final third, the South Tyroleans found their way back into the game, but they could no longer beat goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen. (red./APA)
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