Release from 21.01.2023
HCB Südtirol Alperia has the chance on Sunday to become the first team of the win2day ICE Hockey League to book the first quarter-final ticket by their own efforts. In addition, five other exciting duels in the race for the playoffs or pre-playoffs are on the schedule. One of them is the PULS 24 live match between EC-KAC and HC TIWAG Innsbruck, in which a lot is at stake.
22.01.2023 win2day ICE Hockey League | Schedule:
16:00 HCB Südtirol Alperia - Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: NIKOLIC M., REZEK, Pardatscher, Sparer | LIVE in PPV-Stream
Only since Tuesday HCB Südtirol Alperia is on top of the win2day ICE Hockey League. However, the lead was taken at exactly the right time. On Sunday, the South Tyroleans have the chance to qualify for the quarterfinals as the first team of the win2day ICE Hockey League this season. With three points against Hydro Fehérvár AV19, the Foxes can no longer be mathematically ousted from the top-6. With less than three points, the early quarterfinal qualification would be postponed for the time being. Despite the promising starting position, there is more at stake for Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The Hungarians are back in the race for the top six thanks to their recent successes - Fehérvár won three of their last four games - and are also looking for one of the six "direct tickets" to the quarterfinals. Currently, the gap between the Devils and the sixth-placed Viennese - with the same number of games - is three points. The Hungarians also have good experience against Bolzano, as they were the only team to beat the South Tyroleans in the last eleven games. Istvan Terbocs provided the decision two weeks ago in the final period.
17:00 BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: PIRAGIC, VIRTA, Snoj, Wimmler | LIVE in PPV-Stream
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz lost three of the last four games and lost some of their cushion on the seventh place - and thus on a pre-playoff place. Currently, the Upper Austrians still have a five-point lead, but with Fehérvár and KAC, two teams are already lurking there, still peaking at a top-6 finish. With the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg the bottom of the table is waiting on Sunday, but the league newcomer will certainly not be underestimated by the Black Wings. The Vorarlberg team fought on Friday only against the EC-KAC in the Penaltyshootout. In the last duel between these two teams, Linz celebrated a clear 5-0 victory, but the two encounters before that were tough duels, in which the Pioneers were able to prevail once. Most recently, the Upper Austrians lost the road game against Villach in overtime.
17:30 spusu Vienna Capitals - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: GROZNIK, HUBER, Konc, Zgonc |
The spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated an important victory over HC TIWAG Innsbruck on Friday. After three losses in a row against HC Pustertal and Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, the much-needed success came against the supposedly strongest team. Father of the success was defenseman Ben Finkelstein, who recorded three goals and one assist in the 6:5 away win. With this victory, the Viennese managed to keep the two fiercest competitors in the fight for the top 6 at a distance. In the middle of the tussle for the top-10, on the other hand, is Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey. The yellow-red team won its last two games and is putting pressure on tenth-placed Pustertal and ninth-placed Graz. The gap to these two teams is now only one and two points respectively - and this despite the fact that the newcomer has played three games less so far. The most recent success came against the Caps, who now, three days later, are demanding revenge. On Thursday, Giordano Finoro and Allan McShane provided two points through successful penalty shots.
17:30 ED iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: HRONSKY, RENCZ, Durmis, Vaczi | LIVE in PPV-Stream
While EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV seems to be cemented on the fourth place in the table, HK SZ Olimpija is threatened with the red lantern. The Slovenians did not win any of their last four or only one of their last twelve league games. The lead over the Pioneers Vorarlberg is only two points and the pre-playoff places have moved into the distance in recent weeks. Things have been much more successful for the Eagles recently, who have won their last four games to secure fourth place in the table for the time being. The top three still seem to be out of reach, but the aim now is to keep the chasers at bay in order to secure home advantage in the quarter-finals. Villach recently beat the Moser Medical Graz99ers. VSV celebrated two victories against Ljubljana in the three meetings so far. Only in the last meeting - which, however, took place almost two months ago - the Dragons prevailed.
17:30 HC TIWAG Innsbruck - EC-KAC
Referees: BERNEKER, SMETANA, Martin, Riecken | LIVE on PULS 24
From December 9 to January 17, HC TIWAG Innsbruck was continuously on top of the table. But then, for the first time since October, the Tyroleans suffered two defeats in a row. This teeny drop was immediately exploited by the pursuers from Bolzano and promptly ousted the Sharks from the top position. EC-KAC had to accept four defeats in a row before the Redcoats fought their way to victory in a penalty shootout against the league's bottom team on Friday. In the standings, however, the Klagenfurters remain below the red line - the gap to the sixth-placed Viennese, who played one game less - is three points. The Sharks are now four points behind leader Bolzano and still have a credit of two points on EC Red Bull Salzburg. Even if the quarter-final qualification cannot be fixed on Sunday, the top six seem to be as good as safe, despite the two defeats in the past days. For the Sharks, however, it is now a matter of finding their way back to the track of success in order to earn a long home advantage in the postseason. The Klagenfurter could not win any of their three meetings with the Innsbruckers this season. The past two duels were lost by the narrowest of margins, 1:2 in each case. The match will be broadcast live on PULS 24 and in a free stream on https://www.puls24.at/eishockey.
18:00 HC Pustertal - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Eisl, Seewald | LIVE in PPV-Stream
HC Pustertal meets EC Red Bull Salzburg in Sunday's game. While the reigning champions, currently in third place, are still in the thick of the race to win the first round, the Wolves are in the fight for the top 10. The South Tyroleans currently have a one-point lead over league newcomers Asiago, but have already played three games more than the Yellow-Red. Salzburg's gap to second-placed Innsbruck shrank to two points in the last two rounds, but the defending champions have played two games fewer. Looking at the points per game, only league leader Bolzano is currently just ahead. Salzburg has only lost to VSV in the last ten games. In eight of the nine victories, the Red Bulls even managed to score the full number of points. Against Pustertal, the team from Mozartstadt is still without defeat, but had to go into overtime in two of the three season duels so far.
23.01.2023 win2day ICE Hockey League | Schedule:
19:30 BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Riecken, Snoj
In the only Monday match, BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg will face Hydro Fehérvár AV19. For both teams, it is the second match within 24 hours. The previous three meetings between the two teams were clear-cut affairs for the Hungarians, who have not surrendered a point against the Pioneers so far and have an overall score of 12-2.