The playoffs, also known as the “fifth season”, began in the ICE Hockey League on Tuesday. Villacher SV challenged Klagenfurter AC in the Carinthian Derby. It was KAC who were able to present in the eighth minute of the quarter-finals. After a wonderful combination, Schwinger served Lessio with a cross pass. Lessio just had to slide into the empty goal. The Klagenfurt team was able to further increase their lead after 14 minutes. Ticar put the disc into the Villach goal after a cross pass, with VSV goalkeeper Lamoreux looking unhappy.
The Vienna Capitals made a guest appearance at the Innsbrucker Haie to kick off the “best-of-seven” series. The hosts celebrated a perfect start and were put in the lead by Feldner after just two minutes. After six minutes, the Viennese had to accept the next setback. Jakubitza increased to 2:0. In the 13th minute, Zimmer reduced the lead to 1-2, bringing the Caps back on track. In the second half, Zimmer scored twice and equalized the deficit of the Vienna Capitals (28th). The joy of the equalizer lasted only a few minutes, because Shaw put Innsbruck back in front in the 32nd minute. Six minutes later, Mackin restored the Sharks’ two-goal lead.
But then the Caps played the third of the day. By the 49th minute, the Viennese were 2:4 behind in third place, but then four Caps hits followed within 10:06 minutes. Maxwell Zimmer was mainly responsible for the success with three goals, including the equalizer to make it 4:4 (57th). Then Matt Bradley (58′) and Radek Prokes scored into the empty goal (59′). “This is a group of players who believe to the last second that they can win games and series,” said Caps coach Dave Barr.
Red Bull Salzburg was able to beat Fehervar in the final of last season’s series. Thaler put the Bulls ahead before Terbocs scored to put Hungary back in the game to make it 1-1. Schneider was able to give the Bulls the lead again in the second period. Genoway followed up on the power play in the last third and made it 3-1. Kuralt’s goal did not change anything in the 3:2 victory of the defending champion. In South Tyrol Cole Hults decided the game almost single-handedly, he scored in the 14th and 39th minute. The second games of the “best of seven” duels are played with swapped home rights.