Game report
With an almost complete line-up - only Florian Baltram was missing, for Chay Genoway, Phillip Sinn and Lucas Thaler it was the first game of the season in the domestic championship - the Red Bulls started the game and immediately showed their mettle with a deflected shot off the stick by Nash Nienhuis (2.). Four minutes later, Troy Bourke put the Red Bulls ahead with a neatly taken goal from the half-high slot (6). The Pustertalers were only really dangerous on the powerplay, which they immediately capitalized on. The puck bounced off the boards straight to the feet of Cedric Lacroix (11) and goalkeeper Atte Tolvanen was powerless. After Ali Wukovits' shot from the bar (13'), Niki Kraus put the Red Bulls ahead again with his first league goal from the slot (14'). Peter Schneider then tucked the disc into the opposing goal behind Olivier Roy for a third time from the left face-off circle five seconds before the break to make it 3:1 at the interval.
Salzburg were caught cold in the second period, Gustav Bouramman scored from a tight angle to make it 2:3 for the visitors (22'). Shortly afterwards, the Red Bulls took over again and dictated the game for the most part, although the Pustertalers were now playing dangerously towards goal more often than in the first period. Like in the 29th minute, when Alex Petan shot his short solo past the goal. The Red Bulls created chance after chance, but they were unable to break through the Pustertal defense. The visitors were different. In the 34th minute, Jason Akeson took a shot from the half-high slot and equalized. The Red Bulls remained in control of the game, but were unable to add to their tally before the second break against the visitors, who got into their stride.
The Red Bulls continued to press and again created good chances. But it was no longer so easy, the visitors were now even closer and were regularly dangerous on the counter-attack. Atte Tolvanen was on hand to stop Matthias Mantinger's short solo run (46'). Chay Genoway then missed the top chance with a follow-up shot (50'), but shortly afterwards Peter Schneider converted a rebound with his second goal to regain the lead (51'). The Red Bulls then secured the preliminary decision with a double strike. Peter Hochkofler scored in the powerplay (55'), perfectly prepared by Troy Bourke. And Lucas Thaler followed up just 14 seconds later (55'). Dennis Robertson finally put the lid on the 7:3 victory with a powerplay goal (59.), which somewhat belies the course of the game.