ÖSM AHL semi-final: Lustenau cele­brate 3:2 home win over RB Juniors

It was Lustenau's first win over the Red Bull Juniors this season. The teams made a furious start to the game. The visitors capitalised on their first power play of the game to take a 1:0 lead. Five minutes later, Lustenau were penalised again. Shortly before the penalty expired, Ryan Hayes levelled the scores at 1:1 while shorthanded.

Just a few minutes later, Philipp Sinn put the Juniors back in front. Christopher D´Alvise equalised for the hosts before the break, with Lustenau proving masters of efficiency – two goals from six shots, while the visitors tested Erik Hanses no fewer than 14 times and the puck crossed the line twice.

A further 26 shots followed before the end of the game, but it was Lustenau who celebrated. The Vorarlberg side, who managed “only” 22 shots on goal in 60 minutes, took the lead for the first time through Ryan Hayes in the 29th minute, and it proved to be the game-winning goal.

Erik Hanses secured the home win for his team and, with it, a slight advantage for Saturday's return leg.

Austrian Championship Alps Hockey League semi-final

Best-of-2 format (Champions Hockey League format)

Play-off first leg

EC Bregenzerwald vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären 0:5 (0:3, 0:2, 0:0)
Wed, 11 January 2023, 19:30
EK Die Zeller Eisbären goalscorers: Aleksi Hämäläinen (7th / 10th), Cornelius Kaschnig (18th), Christian Jennes (33th), Philip Putnik (37th)

EHC Lustenau vs. Red Bull Hockey Juniors 3:2 (2:2, 1:0, 0:0)
Thu, 12 January 2023, 19:30
EHC Lustenau goalscorers: Ryan Hayes (11th / 29th), Christopher D´Alvise (18th)
Red Bull Hockey Juniors goalscorers: Sten Fischer (6th), Philipp Sinn (14th)

Play-off return leg

Red Bull Hockey Juniors vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 14 January 2023, 19:15

EK Die Zeller Eisbären vs. EC Bregenzerwald
Sat, 14 January 2023, 19:30