The Rittner Buam put an end to Gherdëina's win streak

Selva di Val Gardena, November 25, 2021 - Second victory in the second match of a fiery week, in which the Rittner Buam are engaged in three matches. On Thursday night, in the match of the 19th round of the Alps Hockey League, Santeri Heiskanen's team asserted itself 5:1 against HC Gherdëina and took revenge after the defeat suffered at home in September. Simon Kostner and his teammates also caused the first loss of the "furies" after nine wins in a row.

The Rittner Buam cannot present the best possible line-up in the derby against HC Gherdëina. Coach Heiskanen has to do without Pechlaner, Spinell, Quinz and Ivo Prast. In the beginning of a balanced initial period, the house masters are more active and, in some occasions, put in trouble their former teammate Jake Smith, for example with Glück and Oberrauch (2nd). In the course of the game, the Rittner Buam increased their control over the adversaries and, two and a half minutes before the first intermission, managed to score. Sullmann has just taken double minor for a hard foul on Simon Kostner, when Kevin Fink deflects a shot of Osburn making it unreachable (0:1). Shortly afterwards, the Renon team went into the locker room with a measurable advantage.

Even in the second period of the game, the quality of the match remains high, with many occasions on both sides. At the beginning, the Rittner Buam gained a slight advantage, but the goal came from the other side. After a penalty of 2 minutes +2 cashed by Kevin Fink, Samuel Moroder, on the powerplay, fakes a shot and passes the puck to McGowan, who puts it in the Rittner Buam's goal without any difficulty (29'51"). With this goal the number 77 of the Gherdëina scores in the sixth game in a row. But the guests are not shocked by the draw, on the contrary. After only three minutes Osburn brings Heiskanen's team ahead with one of his fearsome slap shots. A little time passed and Giacomuzzi had the third goal on his stick, but he got nervous in the duel with Furlong. On the other hand, at the 39th minute, Marzolini wins over the Gardena goalkeeper with a precise wrist shot.

In the final period the goals of Robert Öhler (44'17") and Manuel Öhler (46'45") close the game before time. The "furies", on the other hand, were unlucky when Nocker hit a post (48th). At the end, however, nothing can prevent the twelfth victory of the Rittner Buam in 14 duels in the Alps Hockey League. The three points obtained are also important in view of the IHL-Series A playoffs. The Rittner Buam will be engaged at home on Saturday, November 27. The match against HC Merano will start at 6 pm.

 

HC Gherdëina valgardena.it - Rittner Buam 1:5 (0:1, 1:2, 0:2)

Goals: 0:1 Kevin Fink (17'25" /PP), 1:1 McGowan (29'51" /PP), 1:2 Zach Osburn (32'59" /PP), 1:3 Marco Marzolini (38'18"), 1:4 Robert Öhler (44'17"), 1:5 Manuel Öhler (46'45")

Photo: Max Pattis