Release from 24.01.2023

Caps make progress in the battle for quarterfinal spots

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The spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated an important success in the battle for quarterfinal qualification on Tuesday night. The sixth-placed Viennese managed a 6:4 home win over EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. Already with more than a leg up in the quarterfinals are HC TIWAG Innsbruck and EC Red Bull Salzburg, who increased the pressure on win2day ICE Hockey leaders HCB Südtirol Alperia with victories on Tuesday.

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Sharks get back on track for success

HC TIWAG Innsbruck returned to winning ways after three point-less defeats in a row, taking a big step towards home advantage in the quarterfinals. Against Steinbach Black Wings Linz - one of their direct competitors in this endeavor - the Sharks celebrated a 3:1 home win on Tuesday night. The Upper Austrians, on the other hand, missed the chance to extend their lead to seventh place and thus to the pre-playoff spots. Innsbruck first scored on the last of four powerplays in the first period to take the lead. In the middle period, Daniel Leavens increased the lead to 2:0 with a spectacular goal, before Stefan Gaffal managed to connect on the powerplay in the final period. After several missed chances for the empty netter, Lukas Bär finally ensured the decision in favor of the Sharks, who remain one point behind second-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg. Innsbruck, however, has already played two games more than the reigning champions.



Vienna keeps chaser at distance

The spusu Vienna Capitals celebrated a hard-fought victory over EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV to move forward in the fight for direct qualification for the quarterfinals. After their second win in the past three games, the lead over seventh-placed EC-KAC is now four points. VSV, on the other hand, had to admit defeat for the third time this season after five wins. The sixth success in a row remains denied to the VSV in further. However, the Eagles made it anything but easy for the Viennese. The Caps started the match efficiently and led 2-0 after the first period, but Villach quickly equalized with a brace within 37 seconds in the middle period. After the Viennese went ahead again and again, the Eagles managed to equalize two more times. Only the game-winning goal by Lukas Kainz in the 53rd minute was not answered by Rob Daum's team. The Caps finally prevailed 6:4 and thus have the certainty that they will still be among the top 6 teams after the match against the EC-KAC next Friday.



Salzburg increases pressure on leader Bolzano

EC Red Bull Salzburg remained sovereign as guests of HK SZ Olimpija and thus increases the pressure on leader Bolzano. After the 5-1 away win on Tuesday evening, the gap to the South Tyroleans, who, have played one game more, is now only three points. Interim coach Matic KRALJ - Mitja Šivic announced his resignation before the game due to the losing streak - could not yet bring about the turnaround in his ICE debut as head coach. For Ljubljana it was already the 13th defeat in the past 14 games. Salzburg took a 2-0 lead in the first period before the home side - after a goalless middle period - briefly cut the deficit in the final period. However, the reigning champions did not let themselves be rattled and made everything clear in the following minutes. In total, five different Bulls were on the scoresheet. Mario Huber had a three-point game with a goal and two assists.

win2day ICE Hockey League, 24.01.2023:

HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Steinbach Black Wings Linz 3:1 (1:0,1:0,1:1)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Riecken, Snoj
Goals HCI: Mackin (19./PP1), Leavens (36.), Bär (60./EN)
Goals BWL: Gaffal (53./PP1)

spusu Vienna Capitals – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 6:4 (2:0,1:3,3:1)
Referees: HRONSKY, SOOS, Kis-Kiraly, Konc | Live im PPV-Stream
Goals VIC: Wall (4.), Gregoire (19., 59.) Angeli (29.), Bradley (41.), Kainz (53.),
Goals VSV: Maxa (27.), Sabolic (28.), Desjardins (40./PP1), Rebernig (43.),

HK SZ Olimpija – EC Red Bull Salzburg 1:5 (0:2,0:0,1:3)
Referees: OFNER, RENCZ, Muzsik, Vaczi
Goals HKO: Kalan (42.),
Goals RBS: Loney (8.), Schneider (15./PP1), Stapelfeldt (45.), Huber (59.), Lewington (60./PP1)