Red Bull Salzburg are Austrian cham­pions 2024

EC Red Bull Salzburg made the stronger start to the match and had their first good opportunity when Peter Schneider broke down the right wing. However, Sebastian Dahm was still able to make the save. Then, in the eighth minute, the man for the big games once again delivered: Nicolai Meyer fired straight away after Drake Rymsha won a face-off in the offensive zone to make it 1:0 to Salzburg. It was already Meyer's third goal in his third Game-7 of his ICE career. Even after taking the lead, the visitors had more of the play and were rewarded with the 2:0 in the 17th minute, as Peter Hochkofler successfully deflected a shot from Dennis Robertson.

Johannes Bischofberger opened the second period with a glorious chance for KAC, but missed when one-on-one with Atte Tolvanen's net. Almost immediately at the other end, captain Thomas Raffl made it 3:0 with his eleventh playoff goal: Schneider set up Raffl in the 22nd minute and the leading scorer of the playoff campaign finished superbly with a backhander. EC-KAC subsequently pushed for their first goal of the evening, but the puck would not bounce the home side's way, while EC Red Bull Salzburg also blocked numerous shots. Klagenfurt were unable to get on the scoresheet even during a 100-second two-man advantage, in which Atte Tolvanen excelled. Haudum had the best chance during this spell of pressure, but he too was denied by the RBS netminder. Nicolai Meyer, meanwhile, remained on fire in big games: in the 38th minute, the 30-year-old Dane returned from the penalty box, was immediately set up by Schneider and made it 4:0.

Things got even worse for EC-KAC at the start of the final period: Lucas Thaler made it 5:0 in the 43rd minute to all but decide the contest. However, Klagenfurt did not give up: Paul Postma scored KAC's first goal of the evening shortly afterwards, before Raphael Herburger made it 2:5 in the 53rd minute to fill the Heidi-Horten-Arena with hope once again. Klagenfurt, who were already playing without goaltender Sebastian Dahm at that point, then had to accept the final blow with an empty-netter: Benjamin Nissner extended his scoring streak, made the final score 6:2 and sealed EC Red Bull Salzburg's ninth title – their third in a row.

Thomas Raffl is Playoff MVP

Red Bulls captain Thomas Raffl was named Playoff MVP. The 37-year-old veteran, who lifted the Champions Trophy for the seventh time today, scored eleven goals in the playoffs – more than any other player in the post-season of the win2day ICE Hockey League. Raffl also recorded seven assists.

win2day ICE Hockey League | 20.04.2024 | Finals – Game Seven | Result

EC-KAC – EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:6 (0:2,0:2,2:2)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., STERNAT, Nothegger, Riecken.
KAC goals: Postma (44.), Herburger (53.)
RBS goals: Meyer (8; 38.), Hochkofler (17.), Raffl (22.), Thaler (43.), Nissner (57.)