Release from 06.04.2017

Caps try to make history at Klagenfurt

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On Friday is played the fourth final in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga between the UPC Vienna Capitals and EC-KAC at Klagenfurt. The Caps could win as the first team the Championship without a defeat in the Playoffs. So far in the finals after a 3:0-series-lead the leading team always also won game 4 and got the title.

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The UPC Vienna Capitals have the chance to make history on Friday at Klagenfurt: After winning already the Quarterfinals against HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ with 4:0 and also the semis against HCB Südtirol Alperia with 4:0, Jonathan Ferland and Company miss now just one win to get a sweep also in the finals against EC-KAC! So far  in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (since 2003/04-season) no club managed to get the title without a defeat in the Playoffs! For the Vienna Capitals it would be the second title after the 2004/05-season, in those days under the lead of Head Coach Jim Boni! From the successful team from 2005 defenseman Philippe Lakos is still with the team. Also in those days their opponent were the „Red Jackets“ from Klagenfurt.
 
Twice the score was already 3:0 in the finals in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga after game 3. The leading club then always won also game 4 and got the title! Both times Vienna was involved: In 2012/13-season the Caps lost vs. EC-KAC and 2014/15 vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg. Another two years later the Capitals are in the leading position now and have the chance to get a perfect revenge against the Red Jackets from Klagenfurt. Last time Jonathan Ferland and Co. lost, was on February 19th at Klagenfurt. Since that day the team of Serge Aubin got twelve wins in a row! So far in the finals 2017 the Capitals were on Fire, scored already 16 goals in three games. „I expect another intense game. KAC has a strong team. We have another difficult game ahead of us, but we have it now in our hands!“, knows Head Coach Serge Aubin. The club organizes a public viewing from final game 4 in the ice Arena at Kagran.
 
EC-KAC is under big pressure in final number 4 against UPC Vienna Capitals at home: After three defeats in a row the "Red Jackets" must win now four times in a row to bring the title to Klagenfurt. Just once in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga a 0:3 in a series was turned around so far: In 2009/10-season the Black Wings Linz managed this in the semis against Vienna. But in the finals so far no club was able to make a comeback from a 0:3. The leading team then always won the Championship even with a 4:0-„sweep“! The Carinthians need to improve in the defense: The Red Jackets received already 16 goals in three games! Lately at Vienna they got even seven goals! On Friday the Austrian Record Champion has defenseman Steven Strong back after a 3-games-suspension. „We played sloppy in the defense. We have to stop this. The Capitals are a good team, but we already beat them this season“, knows defenseman Kevin Kapstad. So far in the year 2017 EC-KAC never lost four games in a row.
 
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 4. Final (best of seven):
Fri, 07.04.2017: EC-KAC (3) – UPC Vienna Capitals (1) – 20:15, ServusTV and SKY live
Referees: LEMELIN, SMETANA, Rakovic, Seewald.
Standing best-of-seven-series, VIC – KAC: 3:0