The Black Wings Linz are in the quarterfinals of the ICE Hockey League. The Upper Austrians celebrated a deserved 3-0 home win against the Graz99ers in the decisive third game of the pre-play-offs on Sunday and won the “best-of-three” series 2-1. Brian Lebler (25′), Shawn St-Amant (25′) and Logan Roe (57′) scored the goals in favor of the Black Wings. In the quarter-finals, Linz will meet HCB Südtirol.
The winner of the regular season had the right to pick first on Sunday evening. Last year’s final is repeated between champions Salzburg and Fehervar, in the Carinthian derby, VSV and KAC compete for a ticket for the round of four. The Vienna Capitals meet the Haie from Innsbruck. The quarter-finals will be held in “best-of-seven” mode and will start on Tuesday.
In Linz, the guests from Graz were initially unable to use a majority. With persistence, however, the Black Wings took command, but a hit did not want to succeed. That should change quickly in the second half of the game. After a pass from Gaffal, Lebler took the shot and the disc landed slightly deflected in the left corner (25′).
A little later, outnumbered, St-Amant rounded the guest keeper and pushed the puck into the goal (31st). The 99ers then increased the pressure, but were unable to create any high-profile opportunities. In the final third, Roe scored again on the power play to make it 3-0 (57 ‘).