The home advantage remains a good omen for decisive games. In the history of the league there have now been 16 times a “Game Seven” and 13 times the hosts have had the better end for themselves. Also in the fight for the title are Red Bull Salzburg (4-0 once morest Znojmo) and Fehervar (4-0 once morest Pustertal), who had previously won their series with ease and can therefore go into the semi-finals rested. The “bulls” will face Vienna on Thursday, the Hungarians with VSV.
The Caps had to do without nine permanent staff due to numerous corona cases and injury-related absences. It was positive that goalie Bernhard Starkbaum and defender Matt Prapavessis were able to test themselves free a few hours before the game following positive rapid antigen tests thanks to negative PCR tests. That was a very important factor, as Starkbaum was a very strong support from then on and also secured the victory with a save at the end.
Luke Moncada let the Viennese cheer for the first time following just over six minutes. After a double strike from Lukas Haudum (9th) and Thomas Koch (27th), the game seemed to be going in the more expected direction. But the Caps braced themselves once morest the defeat and took control once more. First James Sheppard (43rd) managed to equalize, then Matt Bradley (51st) caused ecstasy in the hall. The KAC storm in the finish was no longer crowned with success, which is why the Viennese once once more play a role in the semi-finals.
They beat Klagenfurt for the second time following the 2005 final in a seventh game. They have already forgotten four home defeats once morest KAC this season. The Viennese fixed the triumph without head coach Dave Barr and assistant coach Christian Dolezal, who were also unable to be present due to the corona. Philipp Ullrich (head coach of the Vienna Capitals Silver farm team) and Peter Schweda (sports director of the Vienna Capitals Silver and head of the Vienna Capitals Hockey Academy) were responsible for them behind the gang.
The Villachers also won the third decision game since the league was re-established in the summer of 2000, which was played in front of their home crowd. This had previously happened in 2003 in the quarter-finals once morest Vienna (2-0) and in 2006 in the semi-finals once morest Innsbruck (6-4). John Hughes (4th) and Scott Kosmachuk (8th) laid the foundation for victory early with a double strike. However, since Daniel Murphy (8th) answered immediately, there was a lot of tension.
Late in the middle third, Rick Schofield restored the old two-goal lead on the power play. The Canadian had previously been able to put himself in the limelight with an assist. Anton Karlsson provided the final point with an empty net hit (60th) shortly before the end. The VSV triumph prevented the Slovenians from making a strong turn, having only won the decisive game two times before.
