CHL opener

KAC wins, Salzburg concedes a narrow defeat

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

ICE champions RB Salzburg have started the Champions Hockey League with a narrow home defeat, losing 3:4 (0:1,2:2,1:1) to Swedish title contenders Skellefteå. The KAC, on the other hand, won their first match against the Rouen Dragons 4:2 (2:0,2:1,0:1) on Friday.

Klagenfurt will also play their second match on Sunday against Färjestad Karlstad away, while Salzburg will play Sönderjyske from Denmark at home.

Powerplay double strike
Skellefteå took the lead in the eighth minute in front of 2,000 spectators at the Volksgarten in Salzburg. Peter Schneider (25th) equalized in the middle third in overtime, a powerplay double strike by the Swedes (27th/28th) turned the game back in the direction of last year's finalists. However, Salzburg stayed in contention and captain Thomas Raffl (32') made it 2:3, also in overtime. Lucas Thaler (44') equalized in the final period. After Salzburg had failed to capitalize on two overtime opportunities, it was the Swedes who scored the decisive goal in the 58th minute to make it 4:3. Last year, Salzburg had lost the opening game against Skellefteå 0:4.

The KAC got off to an ideal start at the French champions in Rouen in front of 3,000 fans with goals from Matt Fraser (4th) and Nick Petersen (11th). In the middle period, Senna Peeters (27.) even increased the lead to 3:0 in the powerplay. The French team scored the first goal right away, but shortly afterwards Johannes Bischofberger (28.) increased the lead to 4:1. In the last period, only one goal was scored, Rouen reduced the deficit to 2:4 (44.).