Final phase of regular season starts with full round

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 14.02.2023 | Schedule:
Tue, 14.02.2023, 7.15 PM: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HC Pustertal Wölfe
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Seewald. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
A probably pre-decisive duel for a place in the pre-playoffs of the win2day ICE Hockey League will take place on Tuesday in Styria, as the Moser Medical Graz99ers (#10) host the HC Pustertal Wölfe (#11). The table neighbors have each played 43 games and are separated by only three points. Graz is tenth with 48, Pustertal eleventh with 45. Especially for the South Tyroleans, which have won all three season games against Graz, this game is of great importance. In the event of a defeat, last year's quarter-finalists would have to pick up two more wins than Graz from remaining four games. The Styrians, which have the entire squad available except for Andrew Yogan and can also fall back on Patrik Kitting from cooperation club EK Die Zeller Eisbären, have always scored at home in their last five games, while the "Wolves" have only ended two of their last nine road games victoriously. Pustertal struggled with offensive power in the last two games, scoring only one goal.

Tue, 14.02.2023, 7.15 PM: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: FICHTNER, NIKOLIC M., Hribar, Nothegger. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
While EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV became the fourth team to secure a spot in the 2023 playoffs on the final gameday before the national team break, Hydro Fehérvár AV19 needs a brilliant finish in the Regluar Season to avoid the pre-playoffs. The reigning runners-up are currently in eighth place, nine and seven points behind their direct rivals for the top six Klagenfurt (69), Linz (69) and Vienna (67) with one game less (42). A win over the "Adler" would bring the Hungarians back within striking distance of their rivals. To do so, however, Villach's winning streak must be broken, as VSV has now been without defeat for four games. At home, the Carinthians have not yet lost a game in 2023, winning all six home games. On the other hand, the team from Szekesfehervar has won its last three games in Villach. In the last meeting Janos Hari & Co turned around a 1-3 deficit in the final frame. Layne Viveiros will make his debut for Villach, Simon Despres will take a break.

Tue, 14.02.2023, 7.15 PM: spusu Vienna Capitals – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Bedynek, Gatol-Schafranek. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The duel between spusu Vienna Capital and Steinbach Black Wings Linz is also about the top 6. The Viennese are currently in seventh place, two points behind the sixth-placed Upper Austrians. Both teams still have five games to play and a tight remaining schedule: While Vienna still has to play the best three teams of Regular Season, Linz has to face Klagenfurt and Fehérvár twice in direct duels for the top six. Before the break, both teams struggled with their form: The "Caps" won two of their last five games, the "Black Wings" only one. Vienna has won two of the three duels so far this season, scoring at least once on powerplay in each duel. The Linz team, which has won only one of its last seven games at the STEFFL Arena, has the entire squad available except for Gerd Kragl and Dennis Sticha, who is ill. Vienna has to substitute Sascha Bauer, Yannic Pilloni, Dominic Hackl, Christof Kromp and Alexander Maxa in this duel.

Tue, 14.02.2023, 7.30 PM: BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie
Referees: HUBER A., NIKOLIC K., Martin, Sparer. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
Also before the fourth and last West Derby of the season the balance of power is clearly distributed, as HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie travels as the clear favorite and aims for the season sweep over the league newcomer, which recently gave away quite a few players. The previous games partly clearly won. But the "Pioneers" have shown morale in their last home games and scored in four of the last five games on their own ice. Innsbruck, which continues to fight for the top-2 and thus home advantage in a possible semifinal, has landed two wins before the IIHF break and wants to open the final phase of Regular Season with momentum. Head Coach Mitch O'Keefe has the entire squad ready, also Adam Helewka, with 25 goals equal to Max Zimmer (VIC) the best scorer in the league, is ready for action again after almost a month of injury.

Tue, 14.02.2023, 7.45 PM: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: GROZNIK, PIRAGIC, Pardatscher, Zgonc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey currently has an advantage of three points (over tenth-placed Graz) and six points (over Pustertal) in the battle for a place in the pre-playoffs and still has one more game to play. In the upcoming duel with EC Red Bull Salzburg, there is a long way to go for the league newcomers, which have always been defeated in the previous three games. But at home the Italians have recently presented themselves very strong, the last five home games were won, the last three sovereign. Making his debut for the Stellati will be Samson Mahbod, who replaces the injured Nick Saracino. Salzburg wants to defend its lead in the standings with a win, duels at the top with Bolzano and Innsbruck for the top position, which guarantees home rights until a possible final series and also participation in the upcoming CHL season. The "Red Bulls" plan with the comeback of Dominique Heinrich, Peter Hochkofler, Chay Genoway and Philipp Wimmer, but are missing Bourke, Meyer, Loney, Robertson and MacWilliam.

Tue, 14.02.2023, 7.45 PM: HCB Südtirol Alperia – HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: BERNEKER, TRILAR, Rigoni, Snoj. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
HCB Südtirol Alperia is the clear favorite in its first game after the national team break, welcoming HK SZ Olimpija, who recently also let Rok Kapel go for the decisive championship phase. The "Foxes" want to get back on the winning track at home immediately: After nine wins in a row, they suffered another home defeat on February 3 (2:5 vs. VSV). The first home game this year against Ljubljana was clearly won by the South Tyroleans, who can take another step towards the top 2 with a win (4:1). Both duels in Slovenia - but with a clearly different line-up of the "Dragons" - went to Ljubljana. Bozen has the complete squad available.