Pustertal comes today

The KAC motto in the semi-final: “Lei lafn lossn!”

Raphael Herburger and the KAC have to get in front of Pustertal's goal.(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

Clear the ring for the ICE League semi-finals! The Red Jackets welcome Pustertal's bad boys, who lead the penalty statistics, for the start of the series today, Tuesday. Coach Furey has ace striker Herburger back in the squad and wants to shake up the South Tyroleans' compact defense.

The saying "Lei lafn lossn" is well known in Carinthia and beyond - and will now become the KAC's motto in the semi-final. Because opponents Pustertal had to go the full distance in the pre-play-offs (three games against Ljubljana) and in the quarter-finals (seven games against Fehervar). And only had a two-day break after the tough battle against Fehervar. "You certainly lose strength there. We have to move them, shoot the disk deep and put a lot of pressure on them," says coach Kirk Furey.

"Have to get in front of their goal!"
But there's a lot of respect for the South Tyroleans: "They're really tough to break down defensively and would rather win 2:1 than 6:5. That's why we have to get between the bullpens in front of their goal - and really whirl around there. It will also be important that we play quickly again."

A tough battle awaits defenseman Clemens Unterweger and the KAC.(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

Herburger back in line three
Only Sablattnig (shoulder) is out - everyone in the forward line is fit, Hochegger and Gomboc have to sit in the stands. Center Raphael Herburger is back after his muscle injury. "Finally I can help! I might not be at 100 per cent, but I'm ready to give it my all," emphasized the 35-year-old, who will run in with Haudum and Kraus.

Debut for Pustertal
Experience could speak in favor of the Red Jackets: They have already contested 31 semi-final series in the club's history, winning 22 of them. And Klagenfurt have not lost a single (!) series at home since the best-of-seven series began. For Pustertal, however, it is their semi-final debut (since joining in 2021/22).

Matt Fraser and the KAC must not put up with anything again.(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

Countering is important
With the Italians come the bad boys today! Pustertal leads the statistics with 596 penalty minutes - but the KAC is also in third place with 553. For Herburger (147 play-off games), it's important to be physically tough: "Pustertal can be very tough at times, so we have to stand up for each other - just like in the quarter-finals."