Zeller Eisbären defend top spot with shootout win over Rittner Buam

EK Zeller Eisbären defended their lead at the top of the table after a hard-fought game against Rittner Buam. Following a scoreless opening period, the hosts from Ritten took the lead when Adam Giacomuzzi made it 1:0 in the 26th minute. Philip Putnik replied for the Eisbären in the 34th minute. Neither side was able to find a winner in the final period. After a scoreless overtime, Robin Johansson converted the decisive penalty to secure the win. The Zell side not only kept Rittner Buam at bay, but also fended off Kitzbühel Adler's challenge for top spot.

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel continued their successful run on Thursday evening, celebrating their fifth consecutive victory to climb to second place in the standings. The Adler claimed a 4:2 home win over top-5 side SIJ Acroni Jesenice. However, the visitors from Slovenia took the lead in the first period. The hosts equalised shortly before the end of the period. A hard-fought middle period ended scoreless. The Adler stepped up a gear in the final period, with two goals in three and a half minutes putting them on course for victory. Jesenice did manage to pull one back, but could not force overtime.

KHL Sisak, who had previously suffered a run of six defeats, celebrated their second full victory in the space of three days. In Wednesday's game against HK RST Pellet Celje, the league newcomers recorded a convincing 5:1 win. Carson Briere was the key man behind the success, opening each period with a goal to complete a hat-trick. HK RST Pellet Celje did pull one back in the middle period, but the Slovenians were unable to keep pace with the Croatians thereafter.

In the South Tyrol derby, Hockey Unterland Cavaliers celebrated a 4:3 overtime win over HC Meran/o, who remain bottom of the table. Initially, it looked set to be a straightforward affair for the Cavaliers, who had built a 3:0 lead by the 29th minute. However, Meran/o fought back goal by goal in the final period until Skate Skalde equalised in the 52th minute. Kristians Samitis ultimately sealed the win for the Cavaliers in overtime.

Alps Hockey League:

Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel vs. SIJ Acroni Jesenice 4:2 (1:1,0:0,3:1)
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HK RST Pellet Celje vs.  KHL Sisak 1:5 (0:1,1:1,0:3)
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Rittner Buam SkyAlps vs. EK Die Zeller Eisbären 1:2 after penalties (0:0,1:1,0:0,0:0,0:1)
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Hockey Unterland Cavaliers vs. HC Meran/o Pircher  4:3 after overtime (1:0,2:0,0:3,1:0

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EC Bregenzerwald vs. S.G. Cortina Hafro 3:6 (0:3,2:2,1:1)
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