Chasing duel in Linz

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 4.11.2022 | Schedule:
Fr, 4.11.2022, 7.15 pm: Moser Medical Graz99ers – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: HRONSKY, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Jedlicka. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The Moser Medical Graz99ers have the chance again on Friday and since September 22nd to advance into the top-6 of the win2day ICE Hockey League. To do so, the Styrians need a home win against Hydro Fehérvár AV19. Johan Pennerborn's team won the previous meeting in Hungary 2-1 after overtime. The game-winner was scored by Zintis Zusevics (2G|8A), who is also featured in the current edition of "nICE to hear you", the official league podcast. Both teams have been scoring consistently lately: Graz took seven points from three games, Fehérvár the same number from four games. The 99ers, again without Ograjensek, Bouramman, Fladeby and Zalewski, have only one win at home and have the weakest home record of all teams (0.83 points per game). Of the last five home games against the Hungarians, Graz has won four always with at least a two-goal difference. The runners-up play a home game against Innsbruck the following day.

Fr, 4.11.2022, 7.15 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie
Referees: RENCZ, SIEGEL, Muzsik, Vaczi.
For the first time this season, the spusu Vienna Capitals and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie face each other. For the Tyroleans it is the first game of their road trip, on Saturday they will play in Székesfehérvár. Both teams are currently ranked in the top-6: While Innsbruck has never been ranked lower than fifth since the beginning of the season, the Viennese advanced to one of the coveted places for the first time on October 23rd. On the last gameday, both teams showed a victory: the "Haie" defeated KAC away, the "Capitals" turned their home game against Graz in overtime. For Vienna it was the third home win in a row. Vienna's home record against the Tyroleans is also remarkable: the last eight games were won, only one point was surrendered (6:5 SO victory on January 16, 2021). The last victory of Innsbruck in the Austrian capital dates from March 18, 2018 (2:1). The "Sharks" continue to have the best powerplay in the league, converting 39.6% of their overtime games into a goal. For the "Caps" it is only 16.7% (#10). HCI captain Jan Lattner could start again after overcoming an injury.

Fr, 4.11.2022, 7.15 pm: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: HLAVATY, HUBER A., Bärnthaler, Seewald. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The chasing duel between third-placed Steinbach Black Wings Linz and second-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg will take place in Upper Austria. Both teams are on 29 points – with Salzburg having played three games less – and are three points behind leader HCB Südtirol Alperia. The team from Linz defeated the leader thanks to two goals from Brian Lebler (9G|4A) and celebrated their second win in a row. Salzburg’s streak is more shining, for five league games the champion is unbeaten. The championship with Salzburg also won Brian Lebler in the spring, who thus meets his temporary ex-club. The "Bullen" currently show the best penalty killing in the league, surviving nine out of ten box plays without a goal against. All four comparisons in the past season went to the seven-time champions without a loss of points (goal difference: 19:5). Linz has lost its last seven home games against Salzburg, only picking up a point on November 3rd, 2019 (2:3 SO defeat). Linz's last home win dates back to November 16th, 2018 - 4:2 thanks to a Lebler hat-trick. Linz will be missing in the duel with the champion Alexander Lahoda, Dennis Sticha, Daine Todd and also Gerd Kragl. Salzburg misses Loney, Raffl, Schreier, Bourke and Predan. The "Black Wings" will collect donations for homeless people at this home game. Three signed original jerseys will be raffled among all participants.

Fr, 4.11.2022, 7.15 pm: HK SZ Olimpija – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: NAGY, SOOS, Kis-Kiraly, Snoj. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
At the Tivoli, those two ICE teams with an ongoing losing streak will meet each other, as HK SZ Olimpija lost its last four games in a row, thus slipping to 11th place in the table. The BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg are without success since three games, are currently on the last place. While Ljubljana has shown defensive problems and conceded an average of five goals per game during the four defeats, the Pioneers are struggling with their offense and have scored only one goal per game. The only comparison between the two teams so far in Vorarlberg was won by the "Dragons" 4:1, with an early 2-goal lead paving the way for the Slovenians to win away. The ICE newcomer will have to do without its captain Alexander Pallestrang. The game is also a charity event for a 3-year old boy Urban, the first child in Slovenia to be diagnosed with a genetic disease - CTNNB1 syndrome. This is why he needs an extremely expensive gene replacement therapy. This therapy is crucial because it will not only help Urban, but all children with the CTNNB1 syndrome. HK SŽ Olimpija will donate all gate money so that Urban can get his therapy as soon as possible. Urban will be also a special guest at the game and will – together with his parents - make a puck drop.

Fr, 4.11.2022, 7.45 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: EGGER, GIACOMOZZI, Bedana, Brondi. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
HCB Südtirol Alperia, the league leader which lost in Linz, returns home to the Sparkasse Arena and there the team from Bolzano is still without defeat: Glenn Hanlon's team has won all seven home games after regulation. In total, the Foxes have conceded only nine goals at home, only once more than two goals. This time the guests are Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey, which recently recorded two wins - and left the bottom of the table. The league newcomer won the first meeting of these two teams this year with 4-3. Anthony Salinitri scored the game-winner 17 seconds left. However, the Italians have suffered five straight defeats away from home recently. Bolzano will have the entire squad at its disposal, with the exception of Diego Glück, who has been injured for a long time.

Fr, 4.11.2022, 7.45 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – EC-KAC
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Basso, Pardatscher. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
After four home games in a row, the EC-KAC will play away again on Friday, hosting HC Pustertal Wölfe. The South Tyrolean team has stabilized in the meantime and with four wins from the last five games, they have also moved up to a potential pre-playoff spot (10th place) for the first time since the end of September. Pustertal's offensive line is currently performing: Five goals scored on average in the last five games, Aaron Luchuk (5G|5A), Olivier Archambault (6G|12A) Filip Ahl (8G|5A) scored at least once in four of those five games. The trio accounted for 13 of the 25 goals. In addition, for the "Wolves", Daniel Catenacci could be fit again, Emil Christensen is still missing, the special teams have also seen an upswing, with 27.9% PP and 84.9% PK they are second in both categories. The "Rotjacken" have scored only five points from their last six games also because some players were absent due to injury. Unterweger, Koch, Obersteiner and Bischofberger will miss this game. Instead, Rihards Bukarts might be available for the first time, as he arrives Thursday in Klagenfurt. The last three games against each other were won by the "Wolves", only the first game on October 10th was secured by EC-KAC with 4:1.

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 5.11.2022 | Schedule:
Sat, 5.11.2022, 5.30 pm: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie
Referees: FICHTNER, RENCZ, Durmis, Riecken. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
On Saturday Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie have to play again, the Hungarians played on Friday evening in Graz, the Tyroleans in Vienna. The first meeting of the season in mid-October, the "Sharks" turned, despite a 0-2 deficit after the first period still clearly in their favor, won in the end with 5-2. In Székesfehérvár, the fourth in the table remained without points in his last appearance, in the six games before there were always countable, four of them were won.