Adler Kitzbühel reach the Alps Hockey League play­offs

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel have reached the Alps Hockey League playoffs. The fourth-placed side secured a clear 8:0 win at fifth-placed S.G. Cortina Hafro on Sunday and can therefore no longer be displaced from the top 5. The Tyroleans led 3:0 after the first period against an Italian side severely depleted by absences, having beaten Ritten 5:4 in overtime in IHL Serie A final one on Saturday.

The “Adler” added two more goals in the second period and scored three times in the final period. Jayson Ren was the only player to score twice.

Hockey Unterland Cavaliers also won their second meeting with KHL Sisak within 24 hours. Following their 5:2 victory on Saturday, the South Tyroleans narrowly prevailed 4:3/SO this time. Seventh-placed Sisak had at one stage already led 2:0.

After Unterland equalised at 2:2, the Croatians took the lead once more, but ninth-placed Unterland again had the right response. Daniels Murnieks scored to make it 3:3 in the 39th minute. The centre also converted the decisive penalty in the shootout.

In the third game of the day, third-placed SIJ Acroni Jesenice won 3:2 in overtime away to HC Gherdeina valgardena.it. It was the Slovenians' first victory after two consecutive defeats. Bottom side Gröden, meanwhile, suffered their third straight league defeat. The home side made a flying start in an evenly matched game.

Henri Mustonen gave Gröden the lead after just 42 seconds. The score remained unchanged until the 16th minute, when Jesenice turned the game around within a minute through two goals from Jaka Sturm. Nothing happened thereafter until shortly before the end, but Simon Pitschieler equalised for Gröden with 54 seconds remaining. In overtime, however, the Slovenians secured the extra point, with Jaka Sturm again on target. It was the forward's first hat-trick of the season.

Alps Hockey League:

KHL Sisak vs. Hockey Unterland Cavaliers 3:4 SO (2:1,1:2,0:0,0:0,0:1)
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S.G. Cortina Hafro vs. Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 0:8 (0:3, 0:2 0:3)
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HC Gherdeina valgardena.it vs. SIJ Acroni Jesenice 2:3 OT (1:2,0:0,1:0,0:1)
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