Bolzano saw off Salzburg 6:3 in the ICE Hockey League on Sunday, ending a run of mixed results with a performance that left little room for argument. The hosts opened the campaign with a win over Vienna Capitals two days prior, while Salzburg had taken heavy defeats in their opening outings. To be fair, the history between them adds an edge to any fixture, and this one was no exception.
The visitors started bright enough, but Bolzano's rhythm shifted by the second period and they took control. Goals came at regular intervals, and Salzburg never quite found the timing to respond. And here's the thing — when a side concedes that many goals in a high-level league, it's rarely just bad luck. The visitors worked hard in the third but were always chasing.
Both sides sit at the bottom of the table with zero points after one game each, which tells you the season is barely under way. That means nothing yet, but it also means every point will carry weight. By then, this result will look different depending on how the rest of the campaign unfolds.
We had backed Salzburg to win, giving them 45 per cent confidence, but the match went another way. What broke it was Bolzano's ability to string periods together — something they hadn't shown in the 4:6 loss to Val Pusteria. The visitors looked disjointed, particularly in transition, and that gap widened as the game wore on.
The win moves Bolzano off the board, even if only temporarily. Salzburg will need to regroup quickly if they're to avoid starting the season with a habit of collapse. For now, the hosts have extended their unbeaten run and put themselves in a stronger position than anyone expected.
