Release from 04.02.2021

Bolzano can freeze top spot

Short text 648 CharactersPlain text

On Friday, bet-at-home ICE leader HCB Südtirol Alperia can freeze top position in standings with any point win in the home game against EC GRAND Immo VSV and moreover clinching a spot in Champions Hockey League’s coming season. Further, the EC-KAC can secure second position with a win at Vienna after regulation.

If the Dornbirn Bulldogs win in Graz, the maximum number of bonus points (8) for the Qualification Round can no longer be taken away from the Vorarlberg team. The iClinic Bratislava Capitals and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie are fighting for a good starting position for the intermediate round too with both teams have a home game.

Press release 6172 CharactersPlain text

Bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | Friday, February 5th 2021:
Fr, 05.02.2021, 7.15 pm: iClinic Bratislava Capitals – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: BALUSKA, SOOS, Durmis, Vaczi. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

  • The game is especially important for the iClinic Bratislava Capitals: The Slovaks, currently eighth, still have the possibility to start top seeded in the Qualification Round - they can still occupy any of the places between six and nine after the end of regular season phase one.
  • EC Red Bull Salzburg will definitely start the Pick Round from fifth place, they have no chance to improve their ranking in the remaining games.
  • The ICE newcomer’s form curve points upwards recently, winning its last three games. The Slovaks are also without defeat at home for three games.
  • RBS, on the other hand, lost its two games at home on Tuesday and Wednesday 2:4 each.
  • The last duel on January 22nd in Bratislava the home team won narrowly with 1:0, the two games in Salzburg were won by the "Red Bulls".
  • At BRC the return of Lukas Bohunicky is pending, Matt Finn and Filip Ahl are still missing.
  • In Bratislava, RBS will be missing convalescents Taylor Chorney, Yannic Pilloni, Paul Huber and Jack Skille, as well as some arrivals. Some players of the Red Bull Hockey Juniors will move up.

Fr, 05.02.2021, 7.15 pm: Moser Medical Graz99ers – Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: OFNER, PIRAGIC, Bärnthaler, Miklic. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

  • The Dornbirn Bulldogs have their first opportunity to secure sixth place at their pursuers Moser Medical Graz99ers. With each point win, the Vorarlberg side is assured of this place - thus they would also start into the Qualification Round with the maximum number of eight bonus points.
  • But chaser Graz still has the minimal chance to reach the bonus point maximum, but first needs a win after 60 minutes.
  • DEC has won all three season meetings with G99. The 2:1 in the first duel was followed by a 2:0 and 6:2. The "Bulldogs" have never won four consecutive games against the 99ers.
  • G99 is without defeat at home for two games, DEC has lost its last two road games.
  • Graz has won 25 of 43 duels.
  • William Rapuzzi (11G|19A), Dornbirn's top scorer, has scored in each of the last three games.
  • Vitaljis Pavlovs is expected to make his ICE debut at DEC.
  • Except for Dominik Grafenthin (injured) and Charlie Dodero (suspended), G99 should have the full squad available.

Fr, 05.02.2021, 7.15 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – EC-KAC
Referees: NAGY, STERNAT, Kis-Kiraly, Riecken. | >> SKY SPORT AUSTRIA <<

  • EC-KAC still has a minimal chance to win regular season phase one in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. To do so, the Klagenfurt team would have to win both of its remaining games after regulation, while HCB Südtirol Alperia, which leads the league with five points, would have to lose both games after 60 minutes.
  • With a win after regulation in Vienna, the EC-KAC is at least finishing second. For the spusu Vienna Capitals no ranking improvement is possible anymore.
  • While VIC got a win in Villach on Tuesday, the KAC` winning streak snapped after six victories in Bolzano.
  • EC-KAC has always scored in the last twelve duels with VIC, winning nine of them.
  • After VIC's OT win in the first duel of the season, the KAC won the last two (1:0 @VIC and 5:3, respectively).
  • The KAC now leads in both PP (20,27%) and PK (87,94%) scoring.
  • It is the 137th duel against each other, the KAC has won 72 of them.
  • Clemens Unterweger will play his 150th league game for the KAC against the Caps.
  • The “Rotjacken” are missing David Fischer and Niki Kraus, for the encounter in Vienna is also Rok Tičar questionable, who is slightly ill. Sebastian Dahm is back.

Fr, 05.02.2021, 7.15 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC GRAND Immo VSV
Referees: BULOVEC, ZRNIC, Pardatscher, Rigoni. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM << | VB 33

  • HCB Südtirol Alperia can secure the win of regular season phase one - and can grab a ticket for the upcoming season in the Champions Hockey League too. One point is enough for the South Tyroleans in the two remaining games.
  • For EC GRAND Immo VSV, the tenth will play the Qualification Round, no rank improvement is possible anymore.
  • The HCB is the best home team in the league, got 45 of 57 possible points so far and lost only twice after regulation. Currently, Bolzano has gone three games without defeat at the Palaonda.
  • Bolzano also has an impressive home streak going against VSV, winning all of their last seven games. The last VSV road win in this duel dates back to October 15th, 2017 (4:3). Current HCB player Mike Halmo recorded two assists and one goal in that defeat.
  • It is the 40th duel between these two teams, Bolzano (26) has won exactly two third of all duels.
  • Both teams struggle when shorthanded: VSV (#8 | 80,5%) and HCB (#10 | 78%)
  • VSV has conceded five goals in each of its last three games. New goalkeeper Jakub Sedlacek will not make his debut against his ex-club - he played in Bolzano for six games in 2017/18.
  • VSV continues to be without Patrick Bjorkstrand, Christof Wappis, Philipp Kreuzer, Daniel Wachter, Benjamin Lanzinger, Jordan Caron and captain Jamie Fraser.

Fr, 05.02.2021, 7.15 pm: HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie – Steinbach Black Wings 1992
Referees: SCHAUER, SMETANA, Sparer, Tschrepitsch. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

  • HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie still have the chance to reach seventh place ahead of the last two gamedays of regular season phase one - and thus take six points for the Qualification Round.
  • To do so, the Tyroleans need a win against bottom-placed Steinbach Black Wings 1992.
  • The HCI has dominated each of the three season encounters so far. In the last win (4:1 @BWI), the "sharks" scored three goals while shorthanded. Both HCI top scorers Daniel Ciampini (22G | 24A) and Braden Christoffer (16G |22A) have scored in each season encounter with BWI.
  • Ciampini and Brian Lebler (21G) are the two ICE top scorers facing each other in this duel.
  • HCI has won three of its last four games, while BWI surprised with a 4:2 road win in Salzburg on Tuesday.
  • HCI has never won four consecutive games against BWI.
  • BWI won 64 out of 103 meetings with HCI.