Red Bulls Salute· Season 2026
Biel 3-2 Pardubice (OT): EHC Biel-Bienne came from 2-0 down to beat Czech champions HC Dynamo Pardubice in overtime at the Red Bulls Salute semi-final in Zell am See.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
A goalless first period gave way to Pardubice's swift double-strike early in the second. Matěj Stránský opened the scoring in the 24th minute, burying Lukáš Sedlák's feed to give the Czech side the lead. Just 67 seconds later, Tomáš Vondráček doubled the advantage off an assist from Miloš Kelemen, and Pardubice looked in full control.
Biel halved the deficit late in the second period when Marcus Sylvegard found the net in the 36th minute. The Swiss side carried that momentum into the third, and captain Gaetan Haas levelled the score midway through the final frame to make it 2-2.
With the score tied after 60 minutes, the match moved to a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period under CHL rules. Pardubice were penalised in the extra frame, and Biel capitalised on the power play to score the game-winner, completing the comeback.
The Turning Point
Haas's equaliser in the third period. Pardubice had controlled the game for 25 minutes after their two-goal burst, but once Haas restored parity, the momentum swung decisively. Biel outskated a tiring Pardubice side through the remainder of regulation and carried that energy into overtime.
Key Performers
Gaetan Haas (Biel) — The captain scored the crucial equaliser that turned the game and anchored the penalty kill. His goal was the catalyst for Biel's revival.
Matěj Stránský (Pardubice) — Opened the scoring with a clinical finish in his second game for the club and was a constant threat alongside line-mate Sedlák before Biel's defence tightened.
Harri Säteri (Biel) — The Finnish goaltender, a two-time World Champion, stood firm after the early Pardubice barrage, making key saves in the middle frame to keep Biel within reach.
Roman Will (Pardubice) — The veteran goaltender, starting his fifth season with Dynamo, could do little about any of Biel's three goals, including the OT winner on the power play.
Team News & Context
Pardubice travelled to Austria at nearly full strength, missing only injured forwards Martin Kaut and Jakub Lauko (per HC Dynamo Pardubice official site). The Czech champions, who won the 2025/26 Extraliga title, started Roman Will in goal. Biel, coming off a 10th-place finish in the Swiss National League last season, featured several new summer signings including NHL-experienced players, though marquee summer addition Jeff Skinner was not in the lineup for this match.
What It Means
Biel advance to the Red Bulls Salute final on Saturday 22 August at 19:00 local time, where they will face the winner of the evening semi-final between EHC Red Bull Munich and EC Red Bull Salzburg. Pardubice drop into the third-place play-off on Saturday at 15:00 at the same venue.
For Pardubice, this was their second pre-season outing after a 3-2 win over Žilina on 7 August. Biel made it two wins from two pre-season games after a shootout victory over Ajoie.
Verdict
Pardubice controlled the middle frame and looked set for a comfortable win, but Biel's second-half response — sparked by Sylvegard and finished by Haas — exposed the Czech side's vulnerability when protecting a lead. The OT power-play goal was a just reward for Biel's relentless third-period pressure. Pardubice will need sharper game management in Saturday's bronze match.
Match Events
Biel and Pardubice have met 1 times — Biel won 0, Pardubice won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2021. Pardubice leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 6 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 6.00 per match (2 for the home side, 4 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–4 in 2021.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Sept 2026