2:4! Austria also very strong against Finland

Image information: Dominic Zwerger was named Austria's Player of the Game - Photo: GEPA pictures/David Bitzan

Austria's team are facing one challenge after another in their World Championship preparations. Following their strong performance in Vienna in the 0:1 defeat to Sweden in the opening game of the Euro Hockey Tour, the ÖEHV selection faced world number one Finland in Ostrava on Saturday, in the spirit of the classic Western "Twelve O'Clock High" - original title "High Noon". Finland were world champions in 2019, World Championship silver medallists in 2021 and became Olympic champions in Beijing in February. Like Sweden and Czechia, Finland are also opponents in Group B at the World Championship starting on 13 May.

At the media appointment in Vienna on Thursday, Head Coach Roger Bader had already expressed his anticipation for the World Championship game on 21 May at Tampere's Nokia-areena, which only opened in December 2021 and is said to be the world's most modern ice hockey arena at present: "This will be a game in front of 14.000 fans!"

Suomi are currently the benchmark in international ice hockey and, following the game against Sweden, provided another valuable test for the red-white-red team to adapt to the significantly higher pace and level at the top-tier World Championship. Austria started the game with goaltender David Kickert, while Head Coach Bader also made changes in attack and defence. Nico Feldner moved onto the top line alongside Manuel Ganahl and Lukas Haudum. The fourth line was completely reshuffled compared to the Sweden game, with Kevin Macierzynski paired with Alexander Rauchenwald and Simeon Schwinger. In defence, Gerd Kragl was deployed alongside Erik Kirchschläger.

Raffl and Co. were compact defensively from the outset and played boldly in attack. The Finns held a slight edge, but Austria matched their pace and created two very good chances through Nico Feldner (4th minute) and, shortly afterwards, Lukas Haudum. At the other end, David Kickert got into the game in the opening minutes with several Finnish shots and chances.

As the first period progressed, the Finns became increasingly dominant, but it took a power play to give the Olympic champions the 1:0 lead. With Dominic Hackl in the penalty box for Austria, Miro Aaltonen fired a sharp pass to Jere Innala, who only had to get his stick blade on it to deflect the puck (14th minute). Austria responded immediately, with Brian Lebler and Manuel Ganahl both having good chances to equalise. Barely two minutes after taking the lead, Finland extended it with a move similar to the first goal, as Harri Pesonen redirected a pass from Jere Sallinen into the net for 2:0, making it 2:0 (16th minute).

At the start of the second period, the ÖEHV team saw out the remainder of Gerd Kragl's two-minute penalty, but shortly afterwards gifted Finland an opportunity. Finland ruthlessly capitalised on a risky pass by Thomas Raffl in their own zone, with Jere Innala making it 3:0 (22nd minute). Shortly afterwards, Mikko Lehtonen struck the post, with David Kickert still getting his catching glove to the puck. The Finns continued to showcase their trademark quick transition game and their rotating play in the offensive zone, while Austria were mostly occupied with defensive duties.

A power play brought Austria back into the game. The red-white-red players applied pressure and created good chances. Seven seconds after the power play had expired, Dominic Zwerger beat Finland goaltender Frans Tuohimaa from close range to make it 1:3 (29th minute). A few seconds later, Kevin Macierzynski had the chance to pull another goal back on the backhand, but was denied by Tuohimaa.

Austria regained a better grip on their opponents during this phase and were once again winning battles. Following a determined drive forward, in which Austria's players fought fiercely for the puck, the second goal suddenly arrived: Dominic Zwerger set up Brian Lebler perfectly, and the goalscorer sent the puck into the net from close range to make it 2:3 (34th minute). Towards the end of the second period, Finland enjoyed a strong spell of pressure, but the Austrians threw themselves in front of every shot and, together with goaltender David Kickert, held on to the positive of winning the second period 2:1.

At the start of the third period, Benjamin Nissner was handed a controversial penalty after going skate-to-skate with a Finnish player. Austria, however, came through the penalty kill unscathed. The national team then again produced good moments in the offensive zone and competed fully with the world number one side. Finland made it 4:2 with a quick attack, which was also the final score.

Toni Rajala played a superb defence-splitting pass to Niko Ojamäki, who beat David Kickert (50th minute). Dominic Zwerger was named Player of the Game for the ÖEHV selection, having shone like Brian Lebler with a goal and an assist!

Head Coach Roger Bader saw, as against Sweden, a strong performance from his team: "Overall, across the entire game, we once again delivered a very good performance and played a very good game. We needed a little time to settle into the first period because the Finns are very secure on the puck and very compact, and they ruthlessly capitalise on every mistake and every puck loss you give them. But the longer the game went on, from around the 29th minute after our first goal, the better we got into the game, were able to keep up and create intensity, and it would not have been far-fetched if we had scored the 3:3 equaliser. But in the end, it is clear that we played against a world-class team and could no longer find the equaliser; they then scored the fourth goal. But we did many, many things very, very well today!"

Also Austria's player of the game with two points - Dominic Zwerger - was pleased with the game: "That was another very, very good performance from the team. We had a few problems in the first period, but after that we got into the game better, dared to do more, then the goals came and, ultimately, it was a very good game from the whole team!"

Austria will be back in action in Ostrava on Sunday. To conclude the Euro Hockey Tour, Red-White-Red will face hosts Czechia, who have already been test-match opponents twice during the current World Championship campaign. On 6 April, Austria suffered a 1:5 defeat in Znojmo, with Nico Feldner scoring the consolation goal. Two days later, Austria lost 1:4 to the Czechs in Linz. Erik Kirchschläger scored the equaliser to make it 1:1 in the first period. However, both teams will field new line-ups on Sunday compared with those previous tests.

Austria's final Euro Hockey Tour match against Czechia on Sunday will also be broadcast live on ORF Sport+. Next week, the national team will assemble for their final preparation camp in Schwenningen (GER), where the Red-White-Red selection will face neighbouring Germany in the ever-young derby on Sunday, 8 May 2022 at 17:00, in their final World Championship test, also live on ORF Sport+.

Euro Hockey Tour Ostrava, from 28 April to 1 May

Austria vs Finland 2:4 (0:2,2:1,0:1)
Sat, 30 April 2022, 12:00, Ostravar Aréna
Austria scorers: Dominic Zwerger (29th), Brian Lebler (34th)
Finland scorers: Jere Innala (14th/PP1, 22nd), Harri Pesonen (16th), Niko Ojamäki (50th)

1 May 2022, 16:00, CZE - AUT in Ostrava, live on ORF Sport+

Already played:

Austria vs Sweden 0:1 (0:0,0:0,0:1)
Thu, 28 April 2022, 19:00, STEFFL Arena Vienna
Sweden scorer: Linus Karlsson (46th/PP1)

Camp IV, Schwenningen

8 May 2022, 17:00, GER - AUT in Schwenningen, live on ORF Sport+

Already completed:

Camp I, Linz, from 2 to 8 April 2022

Austria vs. Czech Republic 1:4 (1:1,0:1,0:2)
Fri, 08 April 2022, 17:30, LINZ AG Eisarena, 1.850
Goalscorer for Austria: Erik Kirchschläger (12 min.)

Czech Republic vs. Austria 5:1 (3:0, 2:0, 0:1)
Wed, 06 April 2022, 17.30, Znojmo
Goalscorer for Austria: Nico Feldner (48 min.)

Camp II, Graz, from 11 to 16 April 2022

Austria vs. Poland 1:0 (0:0,1:0,0:0)
Sat, 16 April 2022, 16:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion
Goalscorer for Austria: Philipp Pöschmann (30 min.)

Austria vs. Poland 4:1 (1:0,0:0,3:1)
Thu, 14 April 2022, 19:00, Graz Merkur Eisstadion
Goalscorers for Austria: David Maier (7 min.), Simeon Schwinger (49 min.), Oliver Achermann (PP/57 min.), Sam Antonitsch (58 min.)
Goalscorers for Poland: Filip Starzynski (47 min.)

Camp III, Innsbruck, from 20 to 25 April 2022

Italy vs. Austria 2:1 (0:1/1:0/1:0)
23 April 2022, 17:30, Bruneck
Goalscorer for Austria: Ali Wukovits (at 20)

Austria vs. Italy 5:0 (2:0/1:0/2:0)
24 April 2022, 14:30, Innsbruck
Austria goalscorers: Nico Feldner (at 2), Benjamin Nissner (at 18), Benjamin Baumgartner (at 36), Dominic Zwerger (at 54), Thomas Raffl (at 59)

Sweden vs. Austria
Sat, 14 May 2022, 11:20, live on ORF Sport+

Austria vs. USA
Sun, 15 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Czech Republic vs. Austria
Tue, 17 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Norway vs. Austria
Wed, 18 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Latvia vs. Austria
Fri, 20 May 2022, 19:20, live on ORF Sport+

Austria vs. Finland
Sat, 21 May 2022, 15:20, live on ORF Sport+

Austria vs. Great Britain
Mon, 23 May 2022, 19:20, live on ORF Sport+