Adler Kitzbühel win – Bregen­z­er­wald and Sterzing complete quarter-final line-up

Three teams had the chance to finish second on the final day of the Master Round, but Rittner Buam SkyAlps ultimately secured the spot. The reigning AHL champions prevailed 5:2 at Cortina. The visitors took the lead through Diego Cuglietta after just 25 seconds, but Cortina turned the game in their favour by the 25th minute. After Ritten levelled the score in the middle period, the South Tyroleans ultimately decided the game in their favour in the third period. Cuglietta and Mads Larsen scored within eight seconds, while Manuel Öhler sealed the final score with an empty-net goal.

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel secured third place, with the Tyroleans winning 3:0 in Jesenice. In an even first period, Anthony DeLuca gave the visitors the lead in the 19th minute. The narrow advantage remained until the third period, when Sebastian Labori (49th) made it 2:0. Labori added an empty-net goal to complete the scoring, while Alexander Schmidt recorded a shutout with 28 saves.

Two decisive Pre-Playoff match-ups were also on the schedule on Tuesday. EC Bregenzerwald reached the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year, with the Vorarlberg side winning their home game against Gröden 4:3. Roberts Lipsbergs gave the home side the lead after just 22 seconds, but the South Tyroleans turned the game in their favour during the first period. ECB did level the score in the middle period, but Brad McGowan (45') put the visitors ahead again. However, just 21 seconds later, Manuel Metzler made it 3:3. Two minutes before the end of regulation time, Gröden took their first penalty of the game and Yannik Lebeda decided the game with a power-play goal.

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan were already 0:1 behind in the series against Celje. The South Tyroleans then won the away game and advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4:1 victory in game three. Thomas Galimberti gave the home side the lead as early as the third minute, while Adam Capannelli made it 2:0 before the first intermission. Shortly after the restart, Connor Sanvido added the third goal. Celje did reduce the deficit through Jure Povse on the power play, but Capannelli quickly restored the three-goal lead. The score remained unchanged until the end of the game.

The Playoff Pick will take place on Wednesday at 9:30. In a video conference, the top-3 teams after the Master Round will select their opponents. The fourth-placed team is not available for selection and will face the team that was not chosen in the pick.

Alps Hockey League:

Master Round:

HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice vs. Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel 0:3 (0:1,0:0,0:2)
>> Goalscorers and statistics

S.G. Cortina Hafro vs. Rittner Buam SkyAlps 2:5 (1:1,1:1,0:3)
>> Goalscorers and statistics

Pre-Playoff:

Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan vs. HK RST Pellet Celje 4:1 (2:0,2:1,0:0)
>> Goalscorers and statistics
Final score in the “best-of-3” series: 2:1

EC Bregenzerwald vs. HC Gherdeina valgardena.it 4:3 (1:2,1:0,2:1)
>> Goalscorers and statistics
Final score in the “best-of-3” series: 2:1