Clear affair

Showdown between KAC and Salzburg starting at 19:30

Nicolai Meyer (second from right) gave Salzburg an early 1:0 lead.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

That was it! In the final thriller of the Ice Hockey League, the all-decisive game seven between KAC and Salzburg took place today, Friday. And after just 40 minutes, the Bulls were already 4:0 up in the Klagenfurt Arena. In the end, the team from Mozartstadt celebrated their ninth championship title, their third in a row, with a 6:2 win.

With a 4:1 win in Salzburg on Tuesday, the KAC was able to fend off the first match puck of the Bulls at 2:3 away and force the seventh duel in their own arena. Now it's all to play for.

The captains in a duel: Thomas Hundertpfund (KAC) and Thomas Raffl (Salzburg).

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Bulls lead the way
The first few seconds were already hectic and back and forth, Schneider tested KAC goalie Dahm straight away, but he saved. In the third minute, Haudum created the first power play for the Red Jackets with a super run. However, this did not result in a goal. In minute eight there was the first celebration - on the Salzburg side. Rymsha won the face-off and Meyer tucked the puck into the far corner to make it 1:0 for the Bulls. Shortly afterwards, Schneider failed again after a solo run.

Hochkofler increased
At the other end, Bischofberger was dangerous for the first time - but his concealed shot landed in the catching hand of the visitors' goalie Tolvanen. At the other end, the Bulls were ice-cold again: a shot from defender Robertson and striker Hochkofler deflected the puck in to give the visitors a 2:0 lead. That was also the first time they went into the dressing rooms.

Niki Kraus and the KAC could hardly threaten Salzburg goalie Tolvanen for two periods.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Meyer again with the 0:4
And it was to get even worse for the Red Jackets: First Bischofberger shot over the cross corner alone in front of goal, then it rang again at the other end. Schneider served Thomas Raffl in the middle and he backhanded the puck into the far corner. The Red Jackets then had a great chance to tie the scores during a 103-second double overtime spell. But Haudum, Ganahl and Unterweger failed to put the puck in the net (28'). The KAC then killed off the next powerplay - and immediately after it expired, Meyer came off the bench, got the puck from Schneider and increased the lead to 0:4 with a finish through Dahm's legs!

Thaler deflects the puck
And it got even worse! Thaler deflected a Murphy shot unstoppably to make it 0:5 (43'). But the Red Jackets refused to give up: Mursak laid off for Postma, who hammered a shot into the near corner to make it 1:5 (44'). Coach Furey then took goalie Dahm off - and it promptly worked in the overtime game: Hundertpfund shoots on the bar, Herburger dusts it off seven minutes before the end to make it 2:5. KAC continued to try without a goalie, Tolvanen thwarted a great Fraser chance (56').

And three minutes before the end everything was finally clear: Benjamin Nissner shoots Salzburg into happiness with an empty-net goal, 6:2! Salzburg thus clinched their ninth championship title. Nevertheless: The Red Jackets fans acknowledged a strong KAC season with a standing ovation.