Game recap
The Red Bulls got off to a really good start in Feldkirch and were already leading 3:0 after 13 minutes. Ryan Murphy opened the scoring in the powerplay with a clean shot from distance (2.). A little later, Thomas Raffl got a free shot in the slot and converted a cross-ice pass with a one-timer for a 2:0 lead (7'). And Chay Genoway even increased the lead to 3:0 (13.), again in the powerplay, again Feldkirch goalkeeper David Madlener's view was obstructed. But the home side did not pull back and Steven Owre had his first solo chance in the 8th minute. And towards the end of the third period, the Pioneers struck twice in the power play. Guus van Nes (18th) put a rebound from an acute angle under the crossbar and Salzburg goalie David Kickert was also unable to make a decisive save on Michael Pastujov's one-timer right in front of goal (20th). However, the Red Bulls still led 3:2 at the break.
The game was more even in the second period, but the Red Bulls continued to have a slight advantage, repeatedly getting into position through a lot of running. However, Vorarlberg also established themselves in the offensive zone at intervals and produced bold but durable shots. The Red Bulls narrowly missed out on a number of 2-on-1 opportunities or were now unable to get past Madlener. The game went up and down at high speed until the second break, but the period remained scoreless.
The home side equalized at the start of the final period (44') when Michael Pastujov scored again in the powerplay, the disc unfortunately crossing the line together with Kickert. The game then became more intense, with both teams pushing forward. Just at this stage, the Red Bulls also capitalized on a power play for the third time, Thomas Raffl scoring for the second time that evening directly in front of goal on Florian Baltram's dream pass (51'). The Vorarlberg team tried everything and regularly forced David Kickert to make saves. But then Florian Baltram rewarded himself for his good play with the decisive goal (55'), having let the goalkeeper off with a hook beforehand. Shortly afterwards, David Kickert prevented a possible follow-up goal with his stick while lying down, before Dennis Robertson flicked the disc into the empty net from his own zone (59') to secure another clear 6:3 victory.