Caps try to catch up KAC-record in round 4 at Bozen

>>With EC Red Bull Salzburg and EC-KAC two bottom-clubs will face on Sunday-afternoon in the Mozart City: The Red Bulls, who are still waiting for their first points this season, are on the twelvth and last place. And Klagenfurt is with one win (three points) from three game on place ten in this moment.

>>The bad season-start can also be a good omen for EC Red Bull Salzburg: In the 2015/16-season the Mozart Citizens also lost their first three games in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga against Dornbirn Bulldogs, HC Orli Znojmo and the Vienna Capitals and then became Champion in the end! In those days the Mozart Citizens returned on the winning-street in round 4 with a Shoot Out home-win.

>>EC Red Bull Salzburg and EC-KAC were opponents in the semifinals last season. In those days Klagenfurt made it into the finals after beeing back in the series 0:2 with four wins in a row.

>>The Red Bulls lost 13 from their last 14 games. Their last victory in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Matthias Trattnig and Company celebrated on March 17th 2017 against their next opponent from Klagenfurt.

>Both - EC Red Bull Salzburg and EC-KAC – had problems to score goals so far 2017/18: The Mozart Citizens scored three Power Play goals in round 1, but are now already 124 minutes without scoring. EC-KAC scored in three games six goals so far.

Quotes:
Thomas Raffl, Forward EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We will come back, but it needs all of us! We all can play hockey!“
Thomas Koch, Forward EC-KAC: „We must play with full speed from the start!“

Injuries:
Daniel Jakubitzka (RBS) and Manuel Geier, Jamie Lundmark (both KAC)

 

Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Schauer, Verworner.
>>KHL Medvescak Zagreb is guest at Dornbirn for the first time since 1.738 days on Sunday.
>>The club from Croatia won so far all four meetings with the Bulldogs.
>>It is an intense weekend for KHL Medvescak Zagreb: Just 22 hours after playing at Innsbruck the Bears are in action again on Sunday at 17:30 at Dornbirn.
>> David Brine and Nathan Perkovich (both MZA) and Olivier Magnan and Stefan Häussle (beide DEC) are the only four players, who played for their clubs already in the last meeting on January 20th 2013. In those days the Croatians won at home 5:2, with Perkovich scoring twice!
>>Dave MacQueen was Head Coach at Dornbirn already, when the two clubs meet last time. 
Quotes:
Stefan Häussle, Forward of  Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We do not know exactly how strong Medvescak is, but we expect a hart game. We will be ready for the match and we will fight for the three points!“

 

>>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and EC VSV will face in a persecutor-clash on Sunday. The meeting between the two neighbours in the standing can be followed live and also for free at www.servushockeynight.com.

>>The Upper Austrians had a great season-start, they got points from all three games so far. Lately the Black Wings won twice in a row and so they also overtook Villach in the ranking.

>>EC VSV makes his second road-game 2017/18 at Linz. So far the Eagles are without points on the road, they even did not score. The Carinthians lost on Friday at Szekesfehervar 0:3, even they had 39 shots on goal. The Upper Austrians on the other side won their home-game so far.

>>Corey Locke,  last season with 77 points Topscorer of EC VSV, welcomes with EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz for the first time his former team-mates from Villach. Besides the Black Wings cracks Mario Altmann, Rick Schofield and Andreas Kristler have played already for Villach in the past. Markus Schlacher on the other side played before his return to Villach 2015 from 2007 to 2011 four years at Linz.

>>The last two clashes between Linz and Villach won the road-team.

Troy Ward, Headcoach EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We are happy with some parts of our games, others must improve and need work.“
Greg Holst, Headcoach EC VSV: „On Sunday, we are going to Linz, which will be a difficult game for us and on Tuesday we play at home against Klagenfurt, our rival, and one more game awaits us on Thursday against Salzburg. I think we will have a difficult but exciting week!“ 
Injuries:
Andreas Kristler (BWL) and Hickmott, Winkler, Jennes and Kromp (all VSV)

 

>>With Fehervar AV19 and HC Orli Znojmo the two best international teams face on Sunday. Both clubs collected five points (two wins) from the first three rounds and are in the Top 6. The Czechs have the better goal-difference (8:5) then the sixth placed Hungarians (8:12).

>>The game is broadcasted in Hungarian TV (M4).

>>Both - Fehervar AV19 and HC Orli Znojmo – celebrated already one Shut-out-win this season. The Czechs beat EC Red Bull Salzburg in round 2 at home with 4:0 and the Hungarians beat EC VSV on Friday at home in round 3 with 3:0 with goalie Miklos Rajna having 39 saves and Jeff LoVecchio scoring twice.

>>HC Orli Znojmo makes his second road-game of the season on Sunday at Szekesfehervar. The first road-game the „Red Eagles“ lost on Friday at Klagenfurt 1:3 after winning before twice at home.

>>Colton Yellow Horn is with five points (2G/3A) the Topscorer of HC Orli Znojmo. The Canadian played 2013/14 also one season for Fehervar AV19. Best scorer of the Devils is youngster Tamas Sarpatki with three points (2G/1A).

Quotes:

Benoit Laporte, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „I think our penalty killing was really good, but our powerplay wasn’t. Villach did a great job, and we still have to improve our five on five game. We gained a lot of confidence in the last two matches. We played very good, especially in the defensive zone. Rajna Miklós did a great job, and we can build on this performance. Against Znojmo we have to play more aggressive in the offensive zone. I think that we were a little bit passive, Znojmo is a very good hockey team and there are excellent individual players.’
Marek Schwarz, goalie HC Orli Znojmo: „At Fehervar we want to show our performance from the first two rounds. We want to skate stronger nd have success!“

 

Referees: BERNEKER, LEMELIN, Nothegger, Seewald.
>>HCB Südtirol Alperia is the next team, that tries to stop the Vienna Capitals on Sunday. The Italians build their hopes on their home-advantage. In front of their fans the Foxes beat Dornbirn Bulldogs on Friday and got their first three points!
 >>The Vienna Capitals travel with much confidence on Sunday to Bozen. The Champion is also this season top, leads the ranking with the maximum of nine points and a goal-difference of 17:2! Besides the Caps won the last eight clashes with the Foxes, inter alia the semifinal-series 2016/17 with 4:0.
>> The Vienna Capitals, who won including the last season their last 16 games, have the chance to equalize the record of EC-KAC, who won in the 2010/11-season even 17 games in a row.
>>The best Penalty Killing will face the best Powerplay: The Foxes have a PK% of 100%, received so far no goal from 15 shorthanded situations. The Vienna Capitals on the other side have a PP% of 64,3%, they scored nine goals from 14 Powerplays!
>> MacGregor Sharp, Jerry Pollastrone and Taylor Vause return with the Vienna Capitals to their former club.
Quotes:
Chris Carlisle, player HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We find together as a team more and more and the trust grows. The match against Vienna will be a big challenge, but we will be ready for it.“
Patrick Peter, defenseman Vienna Capitals: „Bozen has many new players. We expect a hart game there.“
Injuries:
Jacob Smith (HCB)