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KAC stretches for first match puck in Salzburg

Salzburg celebrate their victory.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The final series between KAC and Salzburg is entering the hot phase! And in the fourth duel in the city of Mozart, the Red Jackets started like a fire engine, leading 2:0 after the first period thanks to Hundertpfund and Haudum. The Bulls turned the game around completely in the middle third, the KAC came back in the final period and conceded the equalizer again. The score was 5:5 going into overtime - where Salzburg had the better end in minute 82 (!).

In each of the last two duels, the Bulls had taken an early lead - but this time Klagenfurt came out of the locker room really strong. After less than two minutes, captain Hundertpfund buried the rebound after a Fraser hammer. And the attacks continued: Petersen failed from close range (3rd), as did Bischofberger (4th). Haudum then ignited the turbo in the first powerplay: He got the puck at the boards, passed a total of three Salzburg players and tucked the puck high into the far corner - a dream goal for a 2:0 lead. After that, the visitors had everything under control, survived a short-handed situation unscathed and went into the dressing room with this lead for the first time.

KAC captain Thomas Hundertpfund scored in the second minute to make it 1:0.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Salzburg equalize in the powerplay
But then the game turned! Salzburg's Murphy luckily got to the puck and scored through the legs of KAC goalie Dahm to make it 1:2 (23'). And just a few seconds later, Klagenfurt's van Ee checked Salzburg's Nissner from behind into the boards and was given a five-minute penalty plus added time. Just two minutes later, the team from Mozartstadt were celebrating again: Hochkofler deflected the puck in front of the goal and it rolled off Strong's skate into the net to equalize. Murphy then hit the crossbar again.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Bulls ahead thanks to a lob
A five-minute penalty (plus playing time) was also reviewed against KAC star Haudum - who checked Thaler with his head against the boards - but the referees then revised it to two minutes. This overtime remained without consequences - but shortly afterwards the home side celebrated again. Sinn lobbed a rebound just over the crossbar into the net and the Bulls suddenly took the lead. In the final phase, Kraus shot from an acute angle, but Tolvanen made a save.

Rollercoaster ride on Salzburg ice
In the final third, however, the KAC came back with a bang! Matt Fraser got the Red Jackets back on track with a deflection after a Strong shot - 3:3 (43'), the Bulls replied immediately with Robertson's 4:3 (46'). But Fraser equalized again in overtime, putting the disc into the left cross from close range (47).

And a powerful shot from David Maier just 67 seconds later put Klagenfurt back in front. The 5:4 was Maier's first ever play-off goal on his 33rd attempt. And the Bulls also had one more in the quiver: Troy Bourke equalized again at 5:5 with the help of Herburger's skate six minutes before the end. And Paul Huber missed a huge chance for the Bulls to win shortly before the end - so it went into overtime.

And there Salzburg prevailed - after a goalless first 20 minutes - only in three-on-three. Troy Bourke scored the decisive goal in minute 82!