HC Inns­bruck only fall to Lukko Rauma in over­time in the CHL!

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie also made a strong impression in the second leg of the round of sixteen against Finnish top side Lukko Rauma.

The Austrians fell behind after just 69 seconds when Ponthus Westerholm (2.) deflected the puck beyond Evan Buitenhuis. As the match progressed, the Innsbruck netminder once again rose to the occasion, making 45 saves in total to keep his team in the game.

Combined with a strong defensive display, this prevented Lukko Rauma from adding another goal – and in the end, the “Sharks” rewarded themselves with a goal of their own: Nicholas Albano fired home on the power play (57.); the puck was deflected and bounced in off the post. 

The seventh-placed team in the win2day ICE Hockey League failed to capitalise on an immediately ensuing power-play opportunity. Innsbruck then started overtime too offensively and conceded the decisive goal after just 19 seconds.

Innsbruck's first Champions Hockey League campaign therefore came to an end in the round of sixteen. The Tyroleans won three of their eight competitive matches and drew one. The “Sharks'” leading scorer was ICE MVP Brady Shaw, who recorded six goals and four assists overall.

Champions Hockey League

Round of sixteen, second leg:

Lukko Rauma vs. HC Innsbruck 2:1 n.V. (1:0,0:0,0:1,1:0)
Lukko Rauma scorers: Ponthus Westerholm (2.), Tarmo Reunanen (61.)

HC Innsbruck scorer: Nicholas Albano (57./PP1)

First leg:

HC Innsbruck vs. Lukko Rauma 2:2 (0:2,1:0,1:0)
HC Innsbruck scorer: Braeden Shaw (40., 55.)
Lukko Rauma scorers: Brayden Burke (12.), Sebastian Repo (18.) 

Lukko Rauma advanced to the quarter-finals with an aggregate score of 4:3 and will face Dynamo Pardubice.