Release from 27.01.2024

EC-KAC with first chance to qualify for playoffs in Linz

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On Sunday, EC-KAC has the chance to be the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the win2day ICE Hockey League, as the league leaders will face Steinbach Black Wings Linz on the road, which are fighting for the top 6. The game will be shown live on PULS 24 and JOYN from 5.05 pm.

Linz' direct rivals for the top 6 have road-games coming up, as the EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (#7) opens the gameday at EC Red Bull Salzburg already at 3:00 pm, HC Pustertal Wölfe (#8) travels to Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey at 5:30 pm. These two games will be streamed on www.live.ice.hockey (PPV).

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Win2day ICE Hockey League | 28.01.2024 | Schedule:
Sun, 28.01.2024, 3.00 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: RENCZ, STERNAT, Muzsik, Nothegger. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
Part two of the 45th round of the win2day ICE Hockey League begins in Salzburg, as the EC Red Bull Salzburg and the EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV will face off at 3:00 pm. The reigning champions are currently facing their longest losing streak so far this season: The "Red Bulls" lost three games in a row, scoring only five goals in the process – in the 37 games before that, they averaged three goals per encounter. To get back on track, the third-placed team is relying on its home strength, as Salzburg is the second-best home team in the win2day ICE Hockey League and has not lost in the Eisarena in five games. In addition to Peter Schneider (injured) and Thomas Raffl (sick), the defending champions will also be without Ryan Murphy. Chay Genoway (illness) is questionable.

Whilst Salzburg can move back into the top two with a win, EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV are fighting for the top six and thus direct qualification for the quarterfinals. The "Adler" are currently in seventh place - due to a goal difference that is still decisive for the ranking at this point in the season. On Friday, the Carinthians celebrated a clear victory over Graz and boosted their confidence for the clash with the champions, especially in attack: However, Villach had little to play for in Salzburg recently, with just one overtime win from their last eight games and losing their last five away games against the Red Bulls. The "Adler" have won both home games this campaign and are likely to be at their best.

Sun, 28.01.2024, 5.30 pm: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – EC-KAC
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Bedynek, Durmis. | >> PULS 24 <<
The EC-KAC has its first chance to qualify for the playoffs on Sunday. The leaders of the win2day ICE Hockey League will definitely be in the quarterfinals with a win at Steinbach Black Wings Linz after regulation. The "Rotjacken" could also qualify with two points (OT or SO win).

Klagenfurt suffered a shootout defeat (2-3) against Innsbruck on Friday, losing again after three wins in a row. The EC-KAC has not lost against Linz in four games and has also won four of its last five games in Upper Austria. Paul Postma suffered a minor lower-body injury in Friday's home game and is expected to be rested until the international break in February. The Klagenfurt’s line-up looks identical to the one on Friday. The Black Wings Linz have had to go into overtime in each of their last five league games, and in the most recent three even into the penalty shootout. On Friday, they lost 4-5 at HC Pustertal Wölfe, their fifth defeat in the last seven games.
Nevertheless, the Upper Austrians are right in the thick of the race for direct playoff qualification. The Upper Austrians still have some catching up to do in the special teams: After four games in a row without an overtime goal, they only rank tenth in the power play ranking (17.4 percent), while the penalty killing rating only shows them in twelfth place (76.0 percent).

So far, there have been 150 direct confrontations, 70 of which went to Klagenfurt and 80 to the Upper Austrians. The “Rotjacken” recent record is much better, with Klagenfurt coming out on top in ten of the last 14 encounters.

Sun, 28.01.2024, 5.30 pm: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HC Pustertal Wölfe
Referees: BERNEKER, SCHAUER, Mantovani, Rigoni. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The HC Pustertal Wölfe is also right in the thick of the battle for the top six: In eighth place, the South Tyroleans are just one point behind the two teams directly ahead of them, Linz and Villach - albeit with one more game to play. The Wolves, which will once again be without the suspended Dante Hannoun, will be looking to extend their four-game point streak in their clash with Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey. In the season so far, Pustertal have won both home games against Asiago, but remained goalless away from home in a 2-0 draw.

The "Stellati" are currently struggling with their form: With eight games to go, the Italians are 15 points short to tenth place - the chance of making the pre-playoffs is only theoretically possible. Asiago have recently been beaten four times in a row. Fazio, Gios and Stevan will once again be missing.