From 32 teams down to four, the Semi-Finals of this year's Champions Hockey League got underway, with an all Red Bull matchup in. Red Bull Munich played host to Red Bull Salzburg in the first leg, with both sides looking to get an advantage before next week's second leg.

In front of a sold-out crowd at the Olympia-Eisstadion, the visitors had a strong start. The physicality nearly cost them early on, and after killing an early penalty they continued to press hard but couldn’t find a way past Munich netminder Danny aus den Birken.

Neither side could open the scoring through the opening 10 minutes, with both netminders standing strong. After being on the back foot for most of the period, Munich started to grab a hold of the game with some good zone time just after the midway point, a shot out in front looked to cause some trouble, but after a quick video review it was confirmed as no goal.

Aus den Birken was the busier of the two netminders through the opening 20 minutes, stopping all 13 shots he faced, keeping his side in the contest as best he could and showing why he was named the Olympics best goaltender in 2018, while Steve Michalek at the other end came up with some big saves when called upon but didn’t see out the entire period, as the blade of his skate popped out of his skate as he made a save against Maximilian Kastner, making way briefly for Lukas Herzog.

After a scoreless first, both sides returned hoping to break the deadlock. After an early penalty kill, Munich started the stronger of the two teams, continuing the physical play from both sides that was present in period one, but getting the puck towards the net a lot more.

Yasin Ehliz nearly opened the scoring with a fantastic tip in front that Michalek saved despite it knowing much about it, but despite their best efforts they still couldn’t solve the Salzburg netminder who pulled off a miraculous save in the middle period, just getting a toe on the shot to keep it scoreless heading into the final period.

Still searching for the first goal, Munich again came out strong, forcing Michalek to make yet a string of saves early on, and as Munich finally got the puck past the goalie, Dominique Heinrich made a crucial play at the goal line to stop Munich from lighting the lamp.

Munich should have had a big opportunity with a four-minute powerplay, but Salzburg kept possession fantastically to stop any chance for the hosts, eventually drawing a penalty of their own to open up the ice as both sides skated four on four.

With the open ice, Salzburg burst down the left wing with intent to try and open the scoring, finally firing a shot past aus den Birken, but luckily for the German international his goal post was there to deny a heavy shot by Alexander Pallestrang to keep it at a stalemate, which was confirmed after a very quick video review.

With time ticking towards the 60th minute, both goaltenders continued to stand on their heads and the shots kept coming. Some great end to end hockey by both sides was met with even better defensive work, which kept it at a scoreless tie at the end of the first leg, only the second time it’s happened in the knockout rounds, making it all to play for when the teams meet again in Salzburg next week.