Game Summary
High pace, strong forechecking, hard battles – that's how the game in Linz began. Both teams played offensively, searching for the best scoring opportunity. This led to an end-to-end game, but both sides defended well and, despite the high intensity, allowed few serious shots on goal. The best chance of the first period fell to Florian Baltram, who was set up at the left post just before the intermission buzzer, but he fired the puck over the open net. The first period ended scoreless.
The second period started with lightning speed. A cross-ice pass from Brandon Coe to Michael Raffl, who fired the puck past goalie Thomas Höneckl into the far corner after just 25 seconds (21st minute). Salzburg then had the game well under control, but while shorthanded, Shawn St-Amant scored the equalizer after a long breakaway by skating past the Red Bulls' defense (27th minute). This brought Linz back into the game, which now increased significantly in intensity. Salzburg's goalie Atte Tolvanen was kept very busy, as Linz had plenty of time in the offensive zone and got off some good shots. The score was 1-1 after 40 minutes.
At the start of the final period, Tolvanen made a brilliant save, diving to catch the puck just in front of the goal line as it bounced over him (41st minute). Almost immediately, Dennis Robertson fired a shot from the half-high slot into the top corner to give Salzburg the lead (41st minute). The momentum briefly shifted to the Red Bulls, but the home team quickly responded in their quest for the equalizer. And they did equalize when Graham Knott, with a bit of luck, fired the puck into the net from close range, with Tolvanen getting a hand to it (52nd minute). Three minutes later, Knott even had a chance to put Salzburg ahead after a short solo effort (55th minute). The game became a back-and-forth affair with good shots from both sides. Just when overtime seemed inevitable, Thomas Raffl unleashed a monster shot from the right face-off circle, finding the net from a sharp angle (60th minute).
