Release from 23.12.2017
The whole team of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga wishes you and your family Merry Christmas. The Championship continues with six games on Tuesday.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, round 32:
Tue, 26.12.2017: HC Orli Znojmo – Vienna Capitals (17:30)
Referees: BALUSKA (SVK), KINCSES (HUN), Nemeth, Soos.
Tue, 26.12.2017: EC VSV – KHL Medvescak Zagreb (17:30)
Referees: PIRAGIC (CRO), ZRNIC (SLO), Nothegger, Seewald.
Tue, 26.12.2017: Dornbirn Bulldogs – HCB Südtirol Alperia (17:30)
Referees: GAMPER (ITA), STOLC (SVK), Pardatscher, Sparer.
Tue, 26.12.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:30)
Referees: BERNEKER (AUT), K. NIKOLIC (AUT), Schauer, Tschrepitsch.
Tue, 26.12.2017: Fehervar AV19 – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (18:45, M4 live)
Referees: BABIC (HUN), SIEGEL (AUT), Gatol, Kaspar.
Tue, 26.12.2017: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC (19:15, SKY Sport Austria and Streaming SKY Ticket live)
Referees: GRUBER (AUT), SMETANA (AUT), Kontschieder, Verworner.
Tue, 26.12.2017: HC Orli Znojmo – Vienna Capitals (17:30)
Referees: BALUSKA (SVK), KINCSES (HUN), Nemeth, Soos.
>HC Orli Znojmo hosts Vienna Capitals in the east-derby on Tuesday. The Champion won the first two season-meetings.
>Both teams were defeated in their last game before Christmas: The Czechs dominated EC VSV (52:15-shots), but lost at home with 0:2. The Vienna Capitals returned from Klagenfurt without points, lost with 5:7. For the first time this season the best defensive received more then four goals. Besides the Leader lost for the second time this season three games in a row. Four defeats in a row the Caps did not suffer so far unter the lead of Head Coach Serge Aubin 2017/18.
>HC Orli Znojmo will play their last home-game in the year 2017. In front of their fans the „Red Eagles“ collected so far nine wins (27 points) from 16 games. The Capitals on the other side will play their last road-game. On the road the Leader convinced in most of the games this year. In this season the Champion got 32 points (ten wins) from 15 road-games, which is top. But lately the Champion had some problems on the road. The Caps lost at Dornbirn and Klagenfurt and received totally ten goals.
>One point at Znojmo would be already enought for the Vienna Capitals to start for sure as the Leader into the year 2018.
>Petr Mrazek of HC Orli Znojmo is the only player, who could score a goal in both east-derbys so far this season.
Quotes:
Petr Mrazek, Forward HC Orli Znojmo: „We must keep working hard and don´t let our heads drop down. We are not effective in front of the net, but I think our style of play should not change. We must skate hard, forecheck and when a chance comes, it is essential to convert it into a goal. It doesn´t matter if we play Capitals or any other team, we need points!“
Serge Aubin, Headcoach Vienna Capitals: „To many penaltys costed us the game at Klagenfurt. We received four goals in shorthanded situations. So we have to stay out of the Penaltybox. 5-on-5 we play good hockey.“
Tue, 26.12.2017: EC VSV – KHL Medvescak Zagreb (17:30)
Referees: PIRAGIC (CRO), ZRNIC (SLO), Nothegger, Seewald.
>EC VSV welcomes KHL Medvescak Zagreb in their last home-game 2017 on Tuesday. The Bears on the other side will be in action for the last time on the road 2017. Both teams will face then in their last two games before New Year the Moser Medical Graz99ers and EC-KAC.
>The Croatians try to end their bad run at Villach. The Bears lost their last nine games and fall down in the ranking to place eleven. The Carinthians on the other side had a good run lately. The Eagles beat HC Orli Znojmo (2:0) and die Dornbirn Bulldogs (2:1) and made a jump forward in the ranking to place 7. The Austrians showed an effectiv performance and goalie Lukas Herzog was on Fire, he had 92 saves in the last 120 minutes.
>With Villach and Zagreb the worst home- and the worst road team will face.
>EC VSV (7) and KHL Medvescak Zagreb (11) are separated by four places, but just two points. This means, the Croatians could overtake the Eagles with three points.
>The last ten meetings between this two teams were won by the home-team. The Croatians got their last win at Villach in a friendly game on August 18th 2012 or 1.953 days ago.
Quotes:
Nikolas Petrik, Captain EC VSV: „I hope we can keep playing in the same way we did (vs. Znojmo), we are a young team with many local players and I believe we can move up the table a bit now. We certainly have the fighting spirit and I feel our performance is getting better and better with every game. We want to continue in the same way.“
Connor Cameron, Headcoach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „After this defeats we can't really afford any rest. We will continue with training, even in time of feasts, there is no break. We must work hard and prepare ourselves for better play in our next game. We have no more opportunities to make mistakes.”
Tue, 26.12.2017: Dornbirn Bulldogs – HCB Südtirol Alperia (17:30)
Referees: GAMPER (ITA), STOLC (SVK), Pardatscher, Sparer.
>Dornbirn Bulldogs welcome HCB Südtirol Alperia on Tuesday. The Austrians are aware of the Foxes, who won their last four games. Besides the Bulldogs had an up and down in their last seven games... Lately the Vorarlberger got three points at Zagreb.
>Both teams will face then in their last two games before the start of the year 2018 HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ and EC Red Bull Salzburg... The Austrians need points to secure their Top 6 spot. The Foxes need points to get closer to place 6. With 13 games to go the Italians miss just nine points for place 6.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia played strong defense lately. Goalie Pekka Tuokkola received just three goals in the last three rounds. On Friday against Graz he even celebrated a Shut Out.
>Since Kai Suikannen took over at Bozen, the Power Play started to run. Michael Angelidis and Company scored at least one Power Play goal in the last five rounds, totally they made seven from 17 goals in this period from a Power Play.
>The first two season-meetings were won by the home-team. Bozen and Dornbirn were successful at home 4:1.
Quotes:
Martin Grabher Meier, Forward Dornbirn Bulldogs: „Bozen started to play better and got some wins latey. But they are on the last place, so we should beat them. We will be ready for them after Christmas!“
Anton Bernard, player HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We played good as a team latley. It needs the same at Dornbirn!“
Tue, 26.12.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:30)
Referees: BERNEKER (AUT), K. NIKOLIC (AUT), Schauer, Tschrepitsch.
>Fans can expect many goals between HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg. In the first two season-clashes were made totally 22 goals. Both times Salzurg left the ice as the winner, the Red Bulls won 6:3 and 8:5.
>With Salzburg (SE: 10,91%) and Innsbruck (SE: 10,4%) the two teams with the best scoring-efficience will meet. The Red Bulls made 107 goals from 979 shots on goal and the Sharks were successful 99 times from 952 shots on goal.
>EC Red Bull Salzburg is the only unbeaten team in December, the Mozart Citizens won all seven games.
>Raffl and Harris of EC Red Bull Salzburg are the only two players, who scored in both season-meetings so far.
>With Innsbruck (437 PIM) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (366 PIM) the wo most penalized teams will face. The Sharks spend in average 14 minutes per game in the penalty box, Salzburg 12.
Quotes:
Rob Pallin, Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „The only thing I’m thinking about is our next game against Salzburg at home, we’re very good at home. Salzburg has four lines, they won all games in December and I believe we have a very good team and we’ll have Wahl back, which is good news
Greg Poss, Headcoach EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We want to win also at Innsbruck and make a step forward in the ranking.“
Tue, 26.12.2017: Fehervar AV19 – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (18:45, M4 live)
Referees: BABIC (HUN), SIEGEL (AUT), Gatol, Kaspar.
>It is already tradition, that Fehervar AV19 and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz face on December 26th! The two clubs faced on this day also 2016, 2015 and 2014. Linz won 2014 and 2016 3:1 and 4:1, Fehervar AV19 was successful 2015 - 4:1.
>Both clubs had close games lately. The Hungarians last six games ended by just one goal difference. Three times the Devils had the better end. Lately Fehervar AV19 got a 3:2-win over Innsbruck. The Black Wings won six from their last eight games. Lately the Upper Austrians lost against Salzburg at home 1:2.
>Linz is third. The Hungarians are ranked on place 10, but miss just six points for a Top 6 place, which would mean the Playoff Qualification already after 44 rounds.
>The Black Wings won the last three meetings with Fehervar AV19.
>Brian Lebler and Fabio Hofer (3x) - bth of Black Wings Linz - are the only two players, who could score in the first two season-meetings.
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „We are really happy to start the holidays with a win. Hopefully, our players can have some rest and they come back with full of energy. I expect us to work hard, and then we will have a chance to win our next game.”
Andreas Kristler, Forward EHC LIWEST Black WIngs Linz: „We are in the leading group and can beat each time!“
Tue, 26.12.2017: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC (19:15, SKY Sport Austria and Streaming SKY Ticket live)
Referees: GRUBER (AUT), SMETANA (AUT), Kontschieder, Verworner.
>Moser Medical Graz99ers welcomes EC-KAC on Tuesday. The Styrians showed two face so far: Strong at home, … on the road. Lately the Mur Citizens lost at Linz 1:3 and Bozen 0:4. But at home the 99ers won their last two games or totally eleven from 15 matches.
>But take attention: The last five clashes between Graz and Klagenfurt ended with a road-win.
>EC-KAC fights against their bad road-run at Graz. The Red Jackets lost their last three road-games and scored just five goals.
>EC-KAC is second, the 99ers are ranked on place 8. In this moment the Styrians miss five points for a Top 6 spot, which would mean the direct Pay off Qualification after round 44.
>Jon Rheault of EC-KAC is the only player, who could score a goal in both „Pack“-derbies so far.
Quotes:
Doug Mason, Headcoach Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We must take better advantge from our scoring-chances and from our Power Play opportunities. Eight teams are in a a fight for two places in the Top 6 together with Vienna, Linz, Klagenfurt and Salzburg. It will be a close fight until the end, each point is important!“
Christoph Brandner, Assistant Coach EC-KAC: „Our Power Play was powerful against Vienna. We take the positive things out of this successful match and want to be successful also at Graz.“