HC Landsberg put up a good fight on the first play-off weekend of the Ice Hockey Bayernliga, winning its home game against TSV Peißenberg 3:2. The score in the play-off series (best-of-seven) is now 1:1.
The young Landsberg team had already sold itself extremely expensively in the away game in Peißenberg. The Riverkings managed to keep the game on a knife-edge throughout the second-placed team in the table thanks to their unbridled commitment. Benz even gave Landsberg a brief 4:3 lead in the final period before Murphy equalised for the home side. Pastachak then scored in overtime to give the favourites the decisive 5:4.
350 fans had already supported the Riverkings in Peißenberg, and two days later over 1400 spectators turned up at the Landsberg ice rink. They once again saw an intense and exciting game with great chances on both sides. After Hegner had given Landsberg an early 1:0 lead, Peißenberg initially turned the game around with two goals. However, the HCL never gave up and managed to make it 2:2 through Stauder in double overtime and 3:2 through Neal shortly before the end. With a lot of fighting spirit and commitment, the hosts even survived a double deficit in the last one and a half minutes and brought the much-acclaimed victory to the finish.
Goals for Landsberg in game 1: Wagner (2), Heß, Benz
Goals for Landsberg in game 2: Hegner, Stauder, Neal
Just in time for the start of the play-off phase of the Bavarian Ice Hockey League, HC Landsberg has strengthened itself with an old acquaintance: Markus Kerber joins the Riverkings for the final phase of the season.
The 36-year-old centre-forward comes from the team's own junior ranks, later played for Kaufbeuren in the juniors and in the DEL2, later also in Memmingen and from 2015 to 2020 for the Riverkings, scoring 152 points in 130 games. "Markus should give our game even more quality in depth. He is an experienced centre-forward who understands the game very well and can use his teammates well," says HCL vice-president Michael Grundei.
Markus Kerber will be wearing his traditional back number 55 for the Riverkings.
This was not necessarily to be expected: After the already surprising victory against the runners-up from Weilheim, the handball team toppled the next favourite in the Bezirksoberliga. In a thrilling game, they beat SG Kempten-Kottern 39:34 at home.
After a real lightning start with two seven-metre penalties saved by goalkeeper Dominik Keller, TSV Landsberg quickly went 7:2 ahead. The visitors from the Allgäu only gradually found their variable and technically good game and also changed goalkeepers, which allowed them to draw ever closer in the first half.
Kempten-Kottern went in at the break with a one-goal lead, and the visitors pulled away for the first time shortly afterwards (22:19). However, the SG had probably not reckoned with the team unity and the absolute will to defend that they were shown in Landsberg.
Kempten-Kottern was no longer able to assert itself with its individual class towards the end, whereas TSV managed almost everything, even when short-handed. The reward for their committed performance was a 39:34 win, which lifted the Landsberg side into mid-table.
Despite a good performance in the derby in Buchloe, HC Landsberg came away with a 3-1 defeat. On the other hand, the Riverkings picked up three points at home thanks to a strong final spurt in a 4:3 win against Schweinfurt.
The home side quickly took a 2:0 lead in the first period in Buchloe before Wagner scored for Landsbrg. After the first break, the Riverkings visibly increased the pressure, but failed to capitalise on good opportunities and hit the Buchloe post three times.
The home side then decided the game in a somewhat fortunate manner when Schorer hit the disc volley in the air in overtime to make it 3:1.
Two days later, luck was on Landsberg's side for once. Against a surprisingly strong last-placed team from Schweinfurt, they initially struggled considerably. Although they took the lead through Protcenko in the 6th minute, the visitors then stepped up and even took a 2:1 lead. The equaliser by HCL striker Grözinger was promptly replied to by Schweinfurt taking the lead again.
However, five strong final minutes were enough for Landsberg to keep the points at home after all. Stauder with a beautiful direct shot to make it 3:3 and captain Tobias Wedl with the 4:3 shortly before the end set the course for victory.
For the first time in the current season of the Ice Hockey Bayernliga HC Landsberg can celebrate a perfect weekend: they won both their home game against Schongau and in Amberg, taking six points from both games.
Frantisek Wagner scored after just 46 seconds to make it 1:0 against Schongau, but that was the end of the hosts' momentum for the time being, as Schongau then piled on the pressure and had several good opportunities to equalise.
Instead, Stauder scored to make it 2:0 for Landsberg after a fine assist from Grözinger; after that, the almost 900 spectators were treated to an open exchange of blows in which both teams gave each other nothing. After goals from Mosler and Hegner in the final phase, the Riverkings retained the upper hand with 4:1.
The game in Amberg was even closer. After the home team took the lead, Landsberg initially turned the game around with goals from Grözinger and Heß, before conceding a 2:2 equaliser while double short-handed. It was then up to Florian Reicheneder to make it 3:2 for the Riverkings in the powerplay, which they ultimately managed to hold on to despite furious attacks from the home side.
Thanks to the two wins, HC Landsberg are currently in fifth place with 19 points.
