ICE Newcomer and KAC Secure Wins, Salzburg's False Start is Perfect

On the second matchday of the win2day ICE Hockey League, the Black Wings Linz lost 0:4 against HC Milano.

The Black Wings actually started solidly in their home opener against the league newcomer, but destroyed their own game rhythm through unnecessary penalties.

Pietroniro capitalized on this by sliding in between two Linz players and burying the puck precisely into the top corner (16.).

Penalties Come Back to Haunt Them

In the second period, a hooking penalty on Romig proved to be the Black Wings' undoing. On the power play, everyone gathered in front of the Linz goal, obstructing goalie Wells' view, allowing McLaughlin to calmly find a gap and score (26./PP).

Linz's hopes for a comeback in the final period didn't last long. McLaughlin made it 0:3 with a powerful shot, further extending the Italians' lead on the power play (43.). Hannoun's 0:4 (46.) was merely cosmetic.

League newcomer Milano thus secured its second win in its second game, while the Black Wings remain without a victory.

Red Jackets Scramble Despite 3-0 Lead

Meanwhile, in Klagenfurt, KAC defeated HC Pustertal 3:2.

The clash between the record champion and last year's finalist was on a knife's edge for a long time. Goalkeepers Pasquale and Dahm kept their nets clean for an extended period, with the scoring drought finally breaking in the second period.

On the Klagenfurt power play, Nickl shot the puck from the blue line, which a Pustertal defender then impossibly deflected into his own net (31.).

Despite clear on-ice superiority, the Red Jackets needed some time to score their second goal. It was only in the final period that Sablattnig passed across to Fraser, immediately got the puck back, and tapped it into the semi-empty net (47.).

Fraser himself made it 3:0 (53.), and the game seemed decided.

Pustertal Makes it Exciting

But the Pustertal players mounted a comeback. Bardreau scored the 3:1 alone in front of KAC goalie Dahm (55.), and a minute and a half later, Purdeller lifted the puck from close range over Dahm's pads into the net (56.).

However, a furious late offensive by Pustertal went unrewarded, as KAC secured the narrow lead.

Salzburg Comes Away Empty-Handed in Bolzano

EC Red Bull Salzburg lost 3:6 against HC Bozen.

Ratcliffe gave the Bolzano local heroes an early lead at the Eiswelle, scoring after just over a minute.

Initially, Salzburg managed to limit the damage. Shorthanded, Poisson converted the rebound after Nissner's shot to equalize at 1:1 (6., SH), and Nienhuis even gave the Bulls the lead on their own power play.

After the first period break, however, the hosts took control. Gazley scored the 2:2 equalizer on the power play (22.), and McClure put HCB back in front after nearly 29 minutes.

The "Foxes" would not relinquish their lead for the remainder of the game. Elson increased it to 4:2 on the power play (34.), and Remolato added the 5:2 (36.).

Kalynuk gave the "Ice Bulls" renewed hope with a slapshot precisely into the top corner (49.), but Elson's empty-net goal definitively sealed the game in favor of the South Tyroleans.