BOLZANO. Another show of strength by HCB Alto Adige Alperia, who after defeating Linz 5-0 on Friday night, repeated their feat in the South Tyrolean derby against HC Val Pusteria: the final score was 5-2, with the red and whites definitely in better form and the Wolves only scoring in the final minutes, with the result already secured. MVP of the evening went to Cole Hults, who scored twice.
The news. Coach Glen Hanlon presents the same lineup as Friday night: only Miglioranzi and Halmo are out.
The match starts at a good pace, with the Foxes dangerous in powerplay and a Val Pusteria saved by an attentive Roy. The yellow and blacks are the first to try to raise the center of gravity, but Harvey says no first to Wesley and then, with a great intervention, also to Findlay. At minute 08:27 it is the home team that takes the lead, thanks to a shot from distance by Cole Hults, which finds the involuntary deflection of Zanatta, who ends up fooling his own goalkeeper. The goal galvanizes Bolzano, who raises the pace and produces a good series of opportunities: Frigo and DiGiacinto are hypnotized by Roy, then Helewka shoots out from a good position at the end of a breakaway.
Val Pusteria opens the central period with a powerplay and almost equalizes with Findlay, who hits the post from the slot. Despite being one man down, the red and whites manage to become dangerous and Christoffer fails to punish a yellow and black defensive error. Bolzano again, this time with DiGiacinto who, well positioned on the second post, finishes out on Valentine’s perfect assist. The home team increases the revs and at 30:28 they double: Spornberger opens for Gazley, puck in front of the net for Helewka who doesn’t miss. Now Bolzano is the master of the field and DiGiacinto first almost scores a third, then serves Seed a great puck with the defender hitting the inside of the post. Two consecutive powerplays allow Val Pusteria to try to react at the end of the period, but the red and white penalty killing makes block shots its best weapon and keeps the goal intact.
In the third period, Bolzano runs riot. At 46:39, Hults scores his second goal, shooting a slapshot from mid-range. 122 seconds later, the poker arrives: the Foxes are on the powerplay and Finoro finishes off the masterpiece action on the Christoffer-McClure axis. Tempers flare in front of Harvey’s goal, but shortly after, the red and whites are once again in numerical superiority and first see a goal disallowed by Bradley, then they make it 5-0 thanks to Frigo, who closes an intoxicating plot with Mantenuto and DiGiacinto. The game has nothing more to say, but the home team eases the tension and Val Pusteria fishes out two goals in the final that make the pill less bitter and ruin Harvey’s second consecutive shutout: first Lacroix finds the right angle from a tight angle, then Frycklund is glacial in the breakaway. The substance, however, does not change: the final 5-2 gives the three points to Bolzano.
Frank and his teammates will return to the ice on Friday, September 27, at 7:45 p.m., at the Sparkasse Arena against the Pioneers Vorarlberg.
HCB Alto Adige Alperia – HC Pusteria Valley 5 – 2 [1-0; 1-0; 3-2]
Rarely: 08:27 Cole Hults (1-0); 30:28 Adam Helewka (2-0); 46:39 Cole Hults (3-0); 48:41 Giordano Finoro PP1 (4-0); 52:46 Luca Frigo PP1 (5-0); 56:25 Cedric Lacroix (5-1); 59:24 Mats Frycklund (5-2)
Shots on target: 27-28
Penalty minutes: 16-14
Referees: Sternat, Zrnic / Mantovani, Rigoni
Spectators: 3.800
2024-09-23 13:15:06