Salzburg won 6–2 in the last game of the best-of-seven series against reigning champions Klagenfurt. It was the eleventh championship title overall.
Red Bull Salzburg complete their third ice hockey masterpiece in a row. The defending champions surprisingly retained the upper hand with a 6:2 (2:0.2:0.2:2) victory in the seventh and final game of the ICE Hockey League's “Best of Seven” final series at the KAC on Friday. In the third final between the two teams, Salzburg won for the second time and could call themselves champions for the eleventh time in the club's history. Reigning champions KAC missed out on their 33rd win.
The fans at the sold-out Klagenfurt Town Hall and the general public at the Benedictineermarkt were treated to a very one-sided final. Nicolai Meyer Brace (8th, 38th), Peter Hochköfler (17th), Thomas Raffle (21st), Lucas Thaler (43rd) and Benjamin Nissner (57th/EN) ensured clear conditions in favor of the guests. Corinthians only managed cosmetic results with Paul Postma (44th) and Rafael Herberger (53rd). As in the final series between the two clubs in 2009 and 2011, as in 2011, Salzburg won the best result and only won the seventh match.
Salzburg is very efficient
Salzburg enjoyed an almost perfect match in front of 4,407 spectators. After 7:26 minutes, Meyer quickly took off after a faceoff and fired the ball into the right corner. Peter Schneider failed to immediately follow up. Hochkofler made it 0-2 after 16:30 minutes by deflecting a shot past Robertson. Immediately after the restart, things continued in the same vein, with a backhand goal from Raf finally setting the stage for victory.
KAC always found one or the other chances, but it was the end of the line with goalie Atte Tolvan at the last. Even though the home side had a double majority after 26 minutes. Salzburg on the other hand shone with talent. Meyer added a fourth goal again. The 30-year-old Dane, who scored an emphatic Championship goal against Bozen last year, played a key role again this time around. His return campaign in February paid off completely.
At the beginning of the third period, Thaler made it 0:5 following the next KAC shock. Consolation goals from Postma and Herberger delighted the crowd at the Heidi-Horden-Arena, but they failed to bring any real excitement to the proceedings. As a result, Klagenfurt could no longer make a comeback in the series, having forced a seventh game with a 4-1 win in Salzburg on Tuesday. Then Benjamin Nissner (57./EN) scored into an empty net. In contrast to 2-1 at Bolzano 2023, Game Seven was a much clearer affair this time around. (APA)
