Release from 20.02.2017
D-Day in last round of intermediate round in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. In the qualification round it comes to the big show-down between the 99ers and the bulldogs for the remaining playoff tickets. But also Znojmo is not qualified yet and can miss the playoffs in the last second. The top-3 of the pick round has still chance for the two CHL-tickets.
KAC battles for CHL Ticket
For the LIWEST Black Wings Linz the fourth place in the pick-round is already fixed, for the EC-KAC everything between place one and three is still possible. The home advantage for the quarterfinals is after the win against the Caps already fixed. With another success and support of Bozen (in Salzburg) or Innsbruck (in Vienna) the CHL-ticket is still reachable. The KAC is the most successful team in pick-round. They booked seven wins out of nine games. KAC is also leading in the direct duels, the KAC won three consecutive times. Also Linz has some reason to start fully motivated into the game, first of all they want to capture the momentum for the playoffs and second they aim to prohibit a four game losing streak, which they didn’t have since two years.
Caps aim to bring win of pick-round home
In the last game before the playoffs the Capitals host the HC Innsbruck. With a win after 60 minutes they can fix the first place in pick round. Currently the Caps are on the second place because of the lower goal difference, but as they won the direct duel against Salzburg, they will overpass the Red Bulls if these two teams are even after the last game. So to the delight of head coach Serge Aubin it’s all in the own hands of Vienna. “It’s good to be responsible for your own destiny. We worked very hard for this chance. Now we have to be ready to take the first place.” For Innsbruck this game decides between the fifths and the sixths place, home advantage in the quarter finals is not possible anymore. After the game the Live-Pick takes place in Vienna broadcasted by sky. Sharks-Coach Rob Pallin is very relaxed about the decision and has no fear to be picked as first team. “I don’t care on which pick we are selected. We proofed that we are able to win against everybody. We are kind of a grab bag.”
Salzburg go for CHL-ticket
The EC Red Bull Salzburg host in the last game of the intermediate round the HCB Südtirol Alperia. On the one hand they aim to catch the momentum for the playoffs and on the other hand they want to qualify for the Champions Hockey League, be finishing the intermediate round on the first or second place. One point would be already enough for the Red Bulls to fix the CHL-ticket. The maximum for the HCB Südtirol Alperia is the fifth place after the pick-round. But the primary objective for Bozen is to keep momentum for the playoffs. They were able to win with 6:2 against Linz. Red Bulls forward Brett Olson is optimistic for the game. “We aim to control the game and win. We had a game off today, good time to recover physical and mentally.” The direct duels between Salzburg and Bozen are quite balanced. In regular season both teams won two games. The first duel in pick-round went to the Red Bulls.
Showdown for playoff-ticket
Medical Moser Graz 99ers against the Dornbirner Eishockey Club is the big show-down for one playoff ticket. The bulldogs won the last four do-or-die games and still have the qualification in their own hands. On Sunday they won with 4:2 against the HC Orli Znojmo and even kept the chance for the first place in qualification round. The 99ers have an advantage in the battle. If they capture at least one point, they can already fix the first place. Furthermore they didn’t lose at home in the qualification round so far. Recently they won against Fehervar AV19 with 3:1. Dornbirn can qualify out of the own strength if they win with at least three goals advantage. If the win with less than three goals, they are dependent from the result of the game in Znojmo. Till now, the bulldogs were not able to capture a single point this season in Graz. Of total five duels Dornbirn won only one so far, this season. It is a special game for Matt Siddall, as he played for Dornbirn till end of the last year.
Znojmo aims to pick up playoff ticket
The HC Orli Znojmo has very good chances to qualify for the playoffs, against HDD Olimpija Ljubljana. Three or two points are definitely enough for the eagles. But the Czechs would also qualify if the 99ers capture at least two points against the Bulldogs. If the 99ers take only one point, also Znojmo needs at least one point to take part the playoffs. If Dornbrin books a full win in Graz, Znojmo would need two points to qualify. Znojmo had already on Sunday the chance to qualify, but they got defeated by 2:4 against the bulldogs. Before that the won three consecutive games. In the intermediate round also Ljubljana celebrated good successes and already captured 11 points and handed the red lantern to Fehervar AV19. Recently they had to take a close loss against the VSV. In the last minute they received the tie and lost in overtime. The duels till know went to Znojmo except of the very first game, which decided Fehervar.
Final game of the season for VSV and Fehervar
Both the EC VSV and Fehervar AV19 already fixed their final places. Villach will end the season on the 10th place and Fehervar will definitely end the season on the last place. But still both teams want to have a positive end . The Hungarians won three out of five duels so far, but the game on Tuesday is about something else. „It’s tough to win a hockey game if you score only one or two goals. That has been our problem throughout the season. We are going to Villach and try to be proud of the jersey we wear and do our best, no matter what the circumstances are”, said Benoit Laporte before the game.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga | Pick-Round:
Tue, 21.02:2017: UPC Vienna Capitals – HC TWK Innsbruck “die Haie” (19:45) sky-live
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Nemeth, Rakovic
Tue, 21.02:2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg – HCB Südtriol Alperia (19:45)
Referees: NIKOLIC M., STOLC, Kontschieder, Pardatscher
Tue, 21.02:2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – EC-KAC (19:45)
Referees: GRUBER, NIKOLIC K., Ettlmayer, Seewald
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga | Qualification-Round:
Tue, 21.02:2017: EC VSV – Fehervar AV19 (19:45)
Referees: BERNEKER, KINCSES, Soos, Sparer
Tue, 21.02:2017: Moser Medical Graz 99ers – Dornbirner Eishockey Club (19:45)
Referees: LEMELIN, SIEGEL, Nothegger, Verworner
Tue, 21.02:2017: HC Orli Znojmo – HDD Olimpija Ljubljana (19:45) ServusTV-live
Referees: SMETANA, ZRNIC, Kaspar, Zgonc