Something goes wrong with the Rittner Buam away from home

Zell am See, November 6, 2021 - For the third time in a row on Saturday nights, the Rittner Buam came off the ice losing an away game. In the fifteenth day of the Alps Hockey League, at the end of a turbulent final phase the blue-reds have been defeated 2:1 by EK Die Zeller Eisbären.

SUMMARY: In Zell am See the Rittner Buam have to again, be without five key players. Lasse Uusivirta, Jario Sailio, Markus Spinell, Alexander Eisath and Stefan Quinz are absent. The opening period becomes immediately pleasant and fast, at the end of this game only the goals are missing. The Rittner Buam are more active in the initial phase, then the house masters take the rudder, but in the final minutes the blue-red come back to dictate the rhythm, also advantaged by a power play starting from the 18'22" minute. In the first period the best chances for the Rittner Buam came from Sharp (2nd), Simon Kostner (12th) and Osburn (17th), but Zimmermann was always at his place. Treibenreif, on the other hand, is tested by Putnik (6th), Rajala (8th) and Tschernutter (15th).

Also in the second third at the ice stadium of Zell am See the fans wait in vain for a goal. Heiskanen's team started again determinedly, but it was closer to the goal on the other side of the field when, after a counterattack, Frandl did not get the better of Treibenreif. Narrowly Sharp is beaten by Zimmermann, then Frei seems to have the 1:0 goal on his stick, but he too is beaten by the goalie of the "polar bears". Twice in the second period the Rittner Buam have to play with one less skater, but they can rely on Treibenreif between the posts, especially in the second power play for the Salzburg team.

The first goal of the match finally arrives in the 50th minute, when Philipp Kreuzer is the fastest to shoot in front of the Renon team's goal. Afterwards, the guests pressed for an equalizer and were rewarded with 57 seconds left before the siren sounded. With a sixth man on the ice Frei passed to Sharp who scored the 1:1. But the 60 minutes of the game still had something else in store. Only 28 seconds later, in fact, Zell am See scores the 2:1. In possession of the puck, the Rittner Buam suffer a counterattack and on the rebound Kreuzer scores the victory goal. The author of the double goal is not named man of the match, but goalie Max Zimmerman, who stoppen 41 attempts of the Rittner Buam.

The Rittner Buam will be engaged again in the Alps Hockey League in ten days. On Tuesday 16th November they will face at home the leader Jesenice.

EK Die Zeller Eisbären - Rittner Buam 2:1 (0:0, 0:0, 2:1)

Goals: 1:0 Philipp Kreuzer (49'26"), 1:1 MacGregor Sharp (59'03"), 2:1 Philipp Kreuzer (59'31")

Photo: Max Pattis