First Vorarlberg derby between Lustenau and Bregenzerwald

Alps Hockey League:
Sat, 19.11.2022, 18:00: Rittner Buam SkyAlps - Hockey Unterland Cavaliers
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, VIRTA, Basso, Brondi | >> PPV-Livestream <<

While the Rittner Buam's winning streak came to an end in Salzburg on Thursday, Hockey Unterland recorded their sixth success in a row. The league newcomer defeated Gardena 5:1 at home and climbed to second place in the table. Unterland forward Santeri Haarala, who recorded a goal and an assist yesterday, leads the league-wide scorers' standings with 27 points. The Cavaliers, who won the first duel of the season 7:4 in front of their home crowd, are the second best away team in the league. However, the Rittners, who currently have the league's best power play (27.7%) available, have won four of their last five home games.

Sat, 19.11.2022, 19:30: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan
Referees: OREL, WUNTSCHEK, Puff, Wucherer | >> PPV-Livestream <<

Zell am See and Sterzing conceded defeats in their first game after the international break, both teams narrowly losing 1:2. Now the Salzburgers return to their home arena, where they have won seven of eight games this season. The Broncos, on the other hand, felt much more comfortable away than at home and are among the best road teams in the league with five wins from eight games. However, out of six AHL duels in Zell am See, the South Tyroleans could only win one. The first match-up of the season also went to the Polar Bears in mid-October.

Sat, 19.11.2022, 19:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: MOSCHEN, SORAPERRA, Cristeli, Pace | >> PPV-Livestream <<

Val Gardena have alternated between victory and defeat in their last five games, and on Thursday the currently eighth-placed "Fury" were beaten by Unterland. The Red Bull Hockey Juniors, on the other hand, celebrated their sixth win in a row with an overtime victory against Ritten and are in third place in the standings. Above all, Salzburg's offensive is currently causing a stir, with the Red Bulls scoring an average of five goals per game in the last five games.

Sat, 19.11.2022, 19:30: EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel - EC-KAC Future Team
Referees: KUMMER, MILOVANOVIC, Legat, Voican | >> PPV-Livestream <<

Kitzbühel suffered their third defeat in a row on Thursday, and it was a bitter one: after leading 5:2, head coach Marco Pewal's team lost 5:6 in Cortina and had to travel home without points. The KAC Future Team lost at home to the Steel Wings, it was the fifth defeat en suite for the Carinthians. Now both teams want to get back on the winning track. Although the AHL record of 13 wins from 17 meetings is clearly in favour of Kitzbühel, both sides have won three of the last six meetings. In the first duel of the season, the KEC had the upper hand away from home.

Sat, 19.11.2022, 19:30: EHC Lustenau - EC Bregenzerwald
Referees: KAINBERGER, RUETZ, Reisinger, Seewald | >> PPV-Livestream <<

On Saturday evening, the first Vorarlberg derby of the season will take place in the Rheinhalle Lustenau. It will also be about who will be the top Vorarlberg side. Both teams go into the upcoming derby with a sense of achievement. Bregenzerwald earned a 4:3 shootout victory at home against Fassa on Wednesday. EHC Lustenau defeated Wipptal Broncos 2:1 on the road on Thursday. In the standings, only one point separates the two teams with 15 games played each. In the power play statistics, the Wälder have the better values, Lustenau is number one in the entire league in penalty killing. The EHC won the last three direct encounters.

Sun, 20.11.2022, 17:30: S.G. Cortina Hafro - Steinbach Steel Wings Linz
Referees: EGGER, REZEK, Javornik, Murnik | >> PPV-Livestream <<

In the only Sunday game, the Steel Wings will be playing in Cortina, both teams have been tanking with self-confidence lately. The fifth-placed Italians ended their losing streak with a 6:5 home win over Kitzbühel - after already trailing 2:5. Last-placed Linz kept the upper hand in Klagenfurt, their second win in a row. The Upper Austrians celebrated their first ever AHL victory in October 2019 against Cortina, who won the other eight meetings. In the first duel of the season, the Italians won 1:0.

Jesenice in Continental Cup action
HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice are in third round Continental Cup action this weekend. The AHL runners-up will face Zemgale Jelgava (LAT) in their opener on Friday. In the other two games, the Slovenians will play against host Cardiff Devils (GBR) and Angers Ducs (FRA). The top two teams will advance to the final tournament.

Photo: EHC Lustenau, Andreas Fitz