Crucial 24 hours for those chasing the play-off and pre-play-off places

win2day ICE Hockey League, Fri, 19.1.2024:
Fri, 19.1.2024, 19:15: EC-KAC - Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: GROZNIK, HLAVATY, Durmis, Konc | >> live.ice.hockey <<

EC-KAC, the current league leaders, saw their lead over Salzburg and Székesfehérvár shrink to one point last weekend after suffering a 4-1 defeat to the defending champions on Sunday. This defeat ended a run of six wins and a total of 14 games with points. At the other end of the table are the Moser Medical Graz99ers. What is striking, however, is that the Styrians have celebrated six of their eleven victories away from home. The KAC have won two of their season duels with Graz so far. While the Styrians will be without Taylor Matson on Friday and for the rest of the season - he has accepted an offer from Finland and has been released by Graz - Jan Muršak, who has been ill recently, will return to the EC-KAC line-up. Klagenfurt's Marcel Witting and Luka Gomboc, who will miss the home game against the bottom team in the table, have not been on the ice recently due to illness.

Fri, 19.1.2024, 19:15: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - HC Pustertal
Referees: HRONSKY, SIEGEL, Bedynek, Puff | >> live.ice.hockey <<

The game between EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV and HC Pustertal is one of the very hot direct duels for a place among the top 6 teams. The Adler currently have a five-point lead over the Wolves. While Villach successfully completed its "homework" last weekend and won both games against the ninth and tenth-placed teams, the South Tyroleans recently had to end their four-game winning streak in Székesfehérvár. That was also the first defeat - in the fifth game - for neo-head coach Kasper Vuorinen, who has since been confirmed as head coach for the rest of the season. VSV, on the other hand, recently announced a prominent departure: Anthony Luciani scored just 13 points in 25 games this season. Villach have come out on top in two of the three matches between these two teams so far this season. Most recently, the Carinthians won 6:3 after trailing 3:0. After the Pusterians surrendered the lead, their collaboration with Tomek Valtonen came to an end. As things stand today, VSV head coach Marcel Rodman will be able to call on his entire squad on Friday. Marco Richter, who was recently injured, is also fit to play again.

Fri, 19.1.2024, 19:15: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC K., Eisl, Pardatscher | >> live.ice.hockey <<

HC TIWAG Innsbruck has had a successful few weeks in the fight for a direct playoff spot. With seven wins in the last eight games, the Sharks have climbed up to fifth place in the table - level on points with fourth-placed Villach. In the last ten games, only league leaders KAC have gained more points. Nevertheless, the pursuers are breathing down Innsbruck's neck, and on Friday none other than the reigning champions will be visiting the TIWAG Arena. EC Red Bull Salzburg, who are currently in second place, have alternated wins and defeats in their last four games. Most recently, however, the Red Bulls managed an important victory in the top game against league leaders EC-KAC. The gap to the leaders is now just one point. The Tyroleans have celebrated two victories in the duels between Innsbruck and Salzburg so far this season. In the last encounter, the Sharks came from 3:0 down to win 3:2.

Fri, 19.1.2024, 19:30: BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg - spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: OFNER, SEEWALD, Sparer, Wimmler | >> live.ice.hockey <<

The duel between the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg and the spusu Vienna Capitals is a crucial game for the pre-playoffs. For the Viennese, this could be one of their last chances to catch up with the top 10. The gap between Vienna and Vorarlberg is currently seven points. While the Pioneers have been unable to pick up any points in their last three games, the Viennese have been able to pick up points in all of their last three games - albeit only winning one. Reid Stefanson has scored in recent games for the spusu Vienna Capitals, as has defenseman Seamus Donohue, who has points in five consecutive games, and Zane Franklin also scored his second goal for the Capitals. Lukas Piff, meanwhile, will be playing in his 200th game for the Caps. The three meetings so far this season have all been won by the Viennese. If these two teams were tied on points at the end of the basic round, the Viennese would already have the "direct duel" in the bag. Vienna's new signings in particular have impressed in recent encounters.

Fri, 19.1.2024, 19:45: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: SCHAUER, TRILAR, Fleischmann, Rigoni | >> live.ice.hockey <<

HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana's performances in recent weeks have given them a comfortable cushion in the race for the top 10. After five wins in the last seven games, they are already eleven points ahead of eleventh-placed Vienna. But Migross Supermercati Asiago in twelfth place should not be written off either. They are just eleven points off a top 10 place and 15 points behind the Slovenians. However, the northern Italians still have a total of twelve games to play and a maximum of 36 points up for grabs for Asiago. The three duels so far this season have been pretty clear-cut affairs for the Slovenians, who have a goal difference of 14:3 in these encounters.

Fri, 19.1.2024, 19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - Hydro Fehérvár AV 19
Referees: BERNEKER, ZRNIC, Snoj, Zgonc | >> live.ice.hockey <<

HCB Südtirol Alperia has now entered a weak phase after a strong few months. The team from Bolzano has recently suffered five defeats in its last six games, dropping to seventh place. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 seem to have already ended their weak phase, winning twice again last weekend after five defeats in a row. In the two duels between these two teams so far this season, the South Tyroleans have prevailed twice. The last time these two teams met was just ten days ago. Daniel Frank led his team to victory with his first career hat-trick.

win2day ICE Hockey League, Sat, 20.1.2024:

Sat, 20.1.2024, 19:45 Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC K., Mantovani, Rigoni | >> live.ice.hockey <<

After the difficult game at HCB Südtirol Alperia, the road trip for Hydro Fehérvár AV19 continues directly to the Vicentine Alps in Asiago. Asiago, which hosts Olimpija 24 hours earlier, Fehérvár has prevailed in all three season duels with Asiago so far. In mid-November, the Hungarians even managed a 10-2 victory in which both Tim McGauley and Josh Atkinson scored a hat-trick. This was only the second time in the league's 24-year history that two teammates scored a hat-trick in the same game.

Sat, 20.1.2024, 19:45 HCB Südtirol Alperia - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Pardatscher, Sparer | >> live.ice.hockey <<

For EC Red Bull Salzburg, the Tyrol road trip continues via Innsbruck to Bolzano. While the Salzburg team will be aiming to take the lead in the standings during these 24 hours, the South Tyroleans, who face Hydro Fehérvár the day before, will be looking to get back into the top six. This clash is the fourth and, for the time being, last rematch of last year's final. As in the previous season's finals, these two teams have had nothing to give each other. The home team has prevailed in all three duels so far.

Sat, 20.1.2024, 19:45 HC Pustertal - spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: FICHTNER, OFNER, Riecken, Seewald |>> live.ice.hockey <<

This game marks the end of an enormously important 24 hours for both HC Pustertal and the spusu Vienna Capitals. While HC Pustertal is four points behind the top 6 ahead of this weekend, the Caps are seven points off the top 10 ahead of their double-header on Friday and Saturday. The Wolves have won each of the three previous duels. In the last duel, however, Pustertal had to go to the penalty shootout.