EC Red Bull Salzburg beat Swiss champions EV Zug 5-3 (3-1 0-1 2-1) in the semifinals of the Red Bulls Salute in Kitzbühel on Saturday and are now in the final. There Salzburg meet Mountfield HK on Sunday evening. The Czechs defeated Red Bull Munich 7-1 in the semifinals.
In front of 800 spectators, both teams showed a classy game, Dominique Heinrich (7th) and new signing Chay Genoway (9th / PP) gave Salzburg a 2-0 lead. After the Zug connection goal by Gregory Hofmann (12th), Florian Baltram (14th / PP) made it 3:1.
In the middle third, Hofmann (33rd) shortened again for the Swiss. Even after Troy Bourke (47′) made it 4-2, Zug came close again through Fabrice Herzog (53′). The decision was only made in the final minute when Peter Schneider hit the empty net. For Matt McIlvane it is his fourth participation as head coach in Salzburg, the first final in the invitation tournament.