2024-03-21 00:30:12
BOLZANO. It opens with a smile semifinal series for theHCB Alto Adige Alperia, who won 2-0 at EC Red Bull Salzburg thanks to goals from Ford and Gazley. The Pusteria instead it falls in Klagenfurt, where it suffers a heavy 7 to 1.
For the Foxes, the solid defensive performance made the difference: a memorable shutout for Sam Harvey, who saved all 45 of his opponents’ shots, while the penalty killing made him 5 out of 5.
The news. Coach Glen Hanlon has to give up the injured Miglioranzi, Halmo and Frank. The lineup also includes Gherdeina youngster Matteo Luisetti.
The Red Bulls start with their foot firmly pressed on the accelerator and Raffl and Thaler immediately give the Foxes shivers. On the other hand, Mantenuto and Frigo were the first to try, but it was McClure who had the best chance face to face with Tolvanen, who saved the result. At the first powerplay of the evening, at 06:59, Bolzano takes the lead: it is in fact a counterattack action that passes through the sticks of Frigo and Vandane, with Ford scoring with his backhand. The Red Bulls try to react, also thanks to two numerical superiorities, but Harvey takes the lead, monumentally over Nissner, Rymsha and Huber.
The plot of the match did not change in the central period, with the guests defending in an orderly manner and Salzburg trying to push forward. The red and whites try to attack with counterattacks and it is above all the third line, the one made up of the Frigo-Mantenuto-Miceli trio, that creates the most important opportunities. While Harvey continues his excellent performance helped by his defenders, 16 seconds from the siren Bolzano doubles their lead: extraordinary action by Frigo who defends the puck alone against the Salzburg defense, he passes to Vandane whose shot finds the rebound of Tolvanen, who nothing can do on Gazley’s two-step touch.
In the third straight, Bolzano does not lose its composure. He withstood the impact, resisted two Austrian powerplays and continued his perfect game. The Red Bulls are looking for a solution, but without being able to make a dent in the red and white rearguard, who in the end still call themselves a shutter version of Harvey. And game 1 belongs to the Foxes.
Game 2 will take place on Friday 22 March at 7.45pm at the Sparkasse Arena in Bolzano and for which over 3,000 tickets have already been sold. Pre-sales are open tomorrow and Thursday from 11am to 1pm and from 4pm to 6.30pm, and on Friday from 1pm to 2.30pm and from 5.45pm onwards.
EC Red Bull Salzburg – HCB Alto Adige Alperia 0 – 2 [0-1; 0-1; 0-0] – Serie: 0-1
Rarely: 06:59 Connor Ford PP1 (0-1); 39:44 Dustin Gazley (0-2)
Shots on goal: 45-22
Penalty minutes: 4-10
Referees: Huber, Smetana / Bedynek, Riecken
Spectators: 2.699
2024-03-21 00:30:12