Carinthian derby is followed by South Tyrolean derby

win2day ICE Hockey League | Schedule:
Fri, 28.10.2022, 19.15: Moser Medical Graz99ers - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: HRONSKY, RENCZ, Jedlicka, Vaczi | Live in PPV-Stream

With the Moser Medical Graz99ers and the ED iDM Wärmepumpen VSV two teams meet, which had to accept defeats on the national holiday. While the Styrians had to admit defeat to leader Bolzano, Villach suffered another derby defeat in Klagenfurt. In the standings, the two opponents are currently each in a pre-playoff spot, albeit at different ends. While VSV is only one point behind the top-6, Graz's lead to eleventh place - and thus to the first "non-pre-playoff place" - is just one point. The first meeting this season, however, was decided by the Graz side with a 2-1 win. Zintis Zusevics scored the game-winner in the final period. The Styrians are still struggling with their chances this season. Only 5.6% of their shots find their way into the goal - more than any other team. On the other hand, the Graz99ers can rely on goalie Christian Engstrand, who has the highest save percentage in the league with 93.6%. However, the Styrians have not yet been able to convince at home this season - they are the only team in the league that has not yet recorded a home win this season.

Fri, 28.10.2022, 19.15: EC-KAC - Hydro Fehérvár AV 19
Referees: OFNER, TRILAR, Bärnthaler, Miklic | Live in PPV-Stream

Both EC-KAC and Hydro Fehérvár AV 19 celebrated victories in penalty shootouts on Wednesday. While the Klagenfurter recorded the first win in the Carinthian derby in the new Heidi-Horten-Arena - and thus extended their derby home series - the Hungarians stopped the series of the spusu Vienna Capitals. The two teams will meet for the first time this season. In the preparation campaign in August, Fehérvár celebrated a narrow 4:3 home win. The Hungarians are currently just above the red line in the standings. However, with a Klagenfurt win, the KAC would leave its opponent behind. Fehérvár has yet to really get going this season, especially away from home: In five games, only seven of 15 possible points could be captured. For the home game against Fehérvár AV19, EC-KAC will have to do without defenseman Clemens Unterweger and forward Johannes Bischofberger, both of whom are suffering from upper-body injuries. Niki Kraus, on the other hand, has been back in full training since Wednesday and will also return to the lineup on Friday (as an additional striker). All other squad players are available, also Rok Tičar, who had to get stitches in his face after a foul in the game against Villach, will be in the game against the Hungarians.


Fri, 28.10.2022, 19.15: Steinbach Black Wings Linz - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: GROZNIK, REZEK, Bedynek, Zgonc | Live in PPV-Stream

The Steinbach Black Wings Linz are a bit out of rhythm again after their strong series and the short-lived lead in the standings. Most recently, they suffered two narrow defeats against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg and Hydro Fehérvár AV 19. Against the last team in the table from Asiago, they should now manage to win again. The newcomers to the league will definitely not be underestimated by the team from Linz, as Migross Supermercati Asiago has already proven several times this season that they can keep pace with the top teams in the league and even win. Thus the yellow-reds celebrated nevertheless only one week ago a victory against leader Bolzano. The Upper Austrians will meet Asiago for the first time ever. It should also be exciting in this duel, which style of play can prevail. While the average number of goals scored in matches involving Asiago is just under seven - the second-highest figure after Innsbruck matches - the average number of goals scored in Linz matches is just over five (the second-lowest figure after matches involving Graz). Friday's duel will be also a reunion. For two seasons, from 2018 to 2020, Troy Rutkowski played for the Black Wings. After that, he played for the EC Kassel Huskies for two more years, rather he moved to Asiago for the current season. Raphael Wolf will also make his comeback after serving his suspension for a check on an Innsbruck player. The Black Wings will have to do without Dennis Sticha, Daine Todd and Alexander Lahoda. The latter is back on the ice this week for the first time after his surgery.

Fri, 28.10.2022, 19.15: HK SZ Olimpija - spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: NAGY, ZRNIC, Kis-Kiraly, Snoj | Live in PPV-Stream

HK SZ Olimpija will meet spusu Vienna Capitals for the second time this season. In the first duel, the Slovenians prevailed in Vienna with 3:2. However, the Caps have been on a remarkable run since then, before their run was stopped in a penalty shootout in Fehérvár on Wednesday. The game against Ljubljana was the last encounter in which the Viennese failed to capture any points. The Caps thus hold the longest streak this season of games in which they scored (six games). A big part of the Vienna's run has been Canadian forward Matt Bradley, who extended his point-scoring streak to a remarkable eight games with an assist in the loss to Fehérvár. The Viennese also know how to convince in penalty killing this season. With 88.9% of shorthanded games survived unscathed, the Viennese not only have the second-best value in a league comparison, they are also one of three teams that have already scored two goals shorthanded. HK SZ Olimpija recently suffered a bitter defeat at home against Pustertal. After the 0:7 the Slovenians are looking for redemption with the home fans.

Fri, 28.10.2022, 19.30: BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC M., Seewald, Sparer | Live in PPV-Stream

BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg celebrated their first ICE away win in club history on National Day in Linz. HC TIWAG Innsbruck, meanwhile, got a little out of step after their impressive start to the season. In the past three games, only a single point could be recorded. Most recently, the Sharks lost clearly with 3:8 against HC Pustertal. In league play, the two teams meet for the first time in the western derby. In the preparation, however, the team from Feldkirch and Innsbruck crossed sticks twice. The Sharks celebrated two shutout victories - they have not yet managed to do so in the current season. However, the Sharks still have the most dangerous scoring duo. Adam Helewka and Brady Shaw collected a combined 31 points.

Fri, 28.10.2022, 19.45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - HC Pustertal
Referees: LEGA, VIRTA, Cristeli, Pardatscher | Live in PPV-Stream

HCB Südtirol Alperia invites on Friday to the already second South Tyrolean derby this season. After ending last season with a negative derby record, the Foxes were able to win the first encounter this season. At the beginning of October, the Wolves initially took the lead in their home game before Bolzano turned the encounter around with four goals in a row. HC Pustertal now wants to confirm its upward trend in the Ice Wave and push the Foxes to their first loss of points in their home rink this season. This worked at least in the past excellent, the wolves won their last three games in Bolzano. Most recently, Pustertal dethroned Bolzano for the first time in the offseason in the traditional Alperia Cup clearly with 6:0. This season, however, the Foxes are still perfect in their home arena. With 18 points from six games, they are also virtually unchallenged in the European comparison. (All information on this and more info on the derby can be found here). Pustertal showed a clear reaction recently after the separation under interim coach Phil Horsky. The 1:9 defeat against the spusu Vienna Capitals was followed by two landslide victories against HK Olimpija and HC TIWAG Innsbruck with a cumulative goal difference of +12 goals.