Despite a severely depleted roster due to illness and injury, the Vienna Capitals secured a 5-3 victory over the VSV Villacher Sportverein on saturday night . The hard-fought win,propelled by a strong performance from goaltender Evan Cowley in his 19th consecutive start,strengthens the Capitals’ position in the Austrian hockey League standings as they contend for a playoff berth . The game, played in front of a lively home crowd at the Wiener Stadthalle, saw several lead changes and a final empty-net goal to seal the result .
The Vienna Capitals secured a hard-fought 5-3 victory over the VSV (Villacher Sportverein) on Saturday, overcoming a resilient performance from their opponents. The Capitals were significantly shorthanded for the contest, missing seven players due to illness and injury, but managed to pull out the win in a back-and-forth affair. Goaltender Evan Cowley started his 19th consecutive game for Vienna.
The first scoring chance came just 26 seconds into the game, with Dylan MacPherson firing a shot that Cowley handled comfortably. Vienna struck first in the fourth minute, as Linden Vey found Cole Hults, who set up Felix Koschek for a goal past VSV goalie Rene Swette. Nikita Scherbak tested Cowley shortly after, but the Capitals’ netminder was up to the challenge. Arturs Kulda also challenged Cowley two minutes later, but was denied. Moments later, Koschek fed a pass to Vey, only to be stopped by Swette. Erik Kirchschläger unleashed a shot from the high slot in the eighth minute, again denied by Swette. Alex Wall, a former Capitals player, had an opportunity in the tenth minute but couldn’t capitalize.
The middle period saw a flurry of action. Dominic Hackl fired a shot from distance in the 15th minute that sailed wide, and Simon Bourque followed suit a minute later. Nick Hutchison attempted to beat Cowley in the 17th minute, but the Capitals’ goalie secured the puck. Vienna was then assessed a penalty for having too many men on the ice, with Koschek serving a two-minute minor. The VSV power play yielded a chance for Armin Preiser, but Swette made the save. Maximilian Rebernig also had a look, but Cowley stopped him.
The VSV leveled the score in the 23rd minute when Paul Sintschnig deflected Brett Ritchie’s pass past Cowley. Cowley initially made the save, but Sintschnig pounced on the rebound to tie the game at 1-1. The Capitals responded quickly, as Carter Souch scored just a minute later, assisted by Zane Franklin, who was celebrating his birthday. However, the tie didn’t last long, as Nick Hutchison answered for the VSV just a minute after Souch’s goal. Mitch Hults then tried a backhand shot that went over the net. Late in the period, Scherbak had a clear path to the net but missed the target. A flurry of penalties followed, with Vey and VSV’s Adam Helewka both heading to the penalty box. Ritchie also tested Cowley from distance, with the Capitals’ goalie making the save.
Vienna regained the lead early in the third period, just seven seconds in, but Bourque’s attempt was stopped by Swette. Swette then denied Nelson Nogier’s shot from distance. In the 47th minute, Randy Gazzola delivered a diagonal pass to Wallner, who buried it to put the Capitals ahead 3-2. Scherbak had another opportunity a minute later, but couldn’t convert. The Capitals extended their lead in the 53rd minute after Raphael Wolf, playing as a forward, delivered a crucial check on Kulda, forcing a turnover that led to a goal by Vey. Hutchison had a chance from the slot, but Cowley made a spectacular glove save. Gazzola fired a shot on net, but Swette was there to make the stop.
With just over two minutes remaining, the VSV pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Ritchie was then penalized for cross-checking, giving the Capitals a power play. Bourque tested Swette from distance, but the VSV netminder remained solid. The Capitals, content to protect their lead, couldn’t convert on the power play. Swette returned to the bench briefly before being pulled again, and Mitch Hults sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 17 seconds left, making the final score 5-3. Cowley finished the game with a save percentage of 93.94%. The win solidifies the Capitals’ position in the standings as they push for a playoff spot.
