ERC Ingolstadt secured a 3-2 come-from-behind road victory over HC Bolzano.

Bolzano entered the game trailing Ingolstadt by just one point in the standings and, for a while, it looked like they would overtake their German opponents and move above the Playoff cut-off line.

After 15 scoreless minutes, Bolzano’s top line of Shane Gersich, Dustin Gazley and Matthew James Bradley struck twice late in the opening period.

Gersich opened the scoring when a rebound came to him in the slot and he buried it on his backhand. Then, after killing off a penalty, Bolzano went up 2-0 with just 15 seconds remaining in the period. Gersich fought off a check in the attacking zone and found Bradley at the far post – lifting the stick of an Ingolstadt defender and tapping the puck into the open side.

However, Ingolstadt bounced back to tie the score with a pair of goals in the first half of the second period. The first goal was scored off the rush when Daniel Schmölz’s pass bounced in off the skate of Riley Barber, who was headed to the net. Then in the 29th minute, Philipp Preto’s blast from the high slot deflected off the stick of a Bolzano defender and went between the legs of Gianluca Vallini.

Ingolstadt took their first lead of the game with just under 15 minutes to play in regulation time. Edward Tropmann sent a harmless looking shot from the right-wing boards toward the net that Vallini blockered away, but Daniel Schmölz was right in front of the net to bury the rebound.

With their home fans urging them on, the Foxes searched for the equaliser and pulled Vallani for an extra attacker with 1:21 to play, but Ingolstadt held on the for the victory.

The loss leaves Bolzano with their work cut out for them next week.