Match Summary
After a delay of about 30 minutes due to traffic congestion on the referees’ way to the game, Kitzbühel got off to a better start and created the first scoring chances. Davids Livsics gave the visitors a 0–1 lead (5th minute), while at the other end, Edvins Berzins hit the post with a shot (8th minute). Luca Haitzmann made several strong saves to prevent further goals before Alexander Höller extended the lead to 0–2 (11th minute). The Tyroleans remained dangerous with their quick transitions, and Erik Wittwer made it 0–3 (16th minute).
Kitzbühel opened the second period with a great scoring chance; shortly afterward, the Juniors had to defend while shorthanded for the first time. The penalty kill led by Haitzmann held firm, and afterward the young Salzburg team gradually found their rhythm and created several scoring chances; Tobias Koller hit the post (30th minute). In the closing minutes, the Red Bulls earned their first power play and pressed for a goal to cut the deficit. However, Kitzbühel capitalized on a quick counterattack while shorthanded, with Jan Lattner scoring to make it 0–4 (39th minute).
In the final period, the Juniors initially turned up the pressure, but a penalty stopped the Salzburg offense. Matic Podlipnik capitalized on the visitors’ power play with a shot from the blue line to make it 0–5 (45th minute). The Red Bulls responded through Paul Oberhauser, who cut the lead to 1–5 (48th minute) after assists from Jakob Schnabl and Luca Fischer; just 92 seconds later, Luca Krizanovic scored his first goal in the Alps Hockey League to make it 2–5 (49th minute) following setups from Tim Heimel and Lukas Greil. Kitzbühel responded with a goal by Mario Ebner to make it 2–6 (52:00), before the Juniors found themselves on the power play once again in the final minute. However, the Eagles capitalized on two more shorthanded counterattacks, with Clemens Krainz (60:00) and Erik Wittwer (60:00) sealing the 2–8 final score.
