Release from 02.03.2023

Graz and Fehérvár can advance to quarterfinals

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On Friday, Moser Medical Graz99ers and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 have the opportunity to reach quarterfinals in the win2day ICE Hockey League, as the two teams are leading 1-0 in the "best-of-3" series of the pre-playoffs. Another win means qualification.

If both series end Friday night, the quarterfinal pick will be completed immediately after. The top three teams of the Regular Season, starting with HCB Südtirol Alperia, will choose their quarterfinal opponents from EC-KAC, spusu Vienna Capitals and the two winners of the pre-playoffs. Fourth-ranked EC iDM Wärempumpen VSV will be drawn the remaining team. If the pick cannot be shown on PULS 24 for broadcasting reasons, the pairings will be presented via press release and on all league outlets.

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Win2day ICE Hockey League | 03.03.2023 | “best-of-3” Pre-Playoffs | Schedule:
Fr, 03.03.2023, 19.30 Uhr: Moser Medical Graz99ers – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PIRAGIC, Bärnthaler, Seewald. | >> LIVE AUF PULS24 <<
The Moser Medical Graz99ers took the lead in the "best-of-3" pre-playoff series against the Steinbach Black Wings Linz with a 4-2 comeback win on Tuesday. After a weak first period, the Styrians, with back-up goalie Nicolas Wieser (41 saves) stood up, followed two very strong periods and turned the game around. Daniel Woger and Sam Antonitsch scored again and underlined their excellent form. Overall, Graz showed great discipline, for only the fifth time this season they had to take only one penalty. Linz, which found plenty of chances offensively, lacked the last jag of penetrating power - they also seemed to run out of steam a bit. And their top goal scorers are currently missing out, as Graham Knott scored only twice in the last ten games, Michael Haga scored two goals in the last eight games. The Upper Austrians will have to improve in this area if they don't want to miss the playoffs for the third time in a row. Graz could qualify for the quarterfinals again for the first time since the 19/20 season (abandoned after quarterfinal three) and for the twelfth time. The 99ers have won seven of their last nine games against Linz in Graz.

Fr, 03.03.2023, 19.45 Uhr: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 took a commanding win in their first meeting with Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey and deserved to win 4-0 in the end. The Hungarians were superior to the Italians in all aspects in this game, as they had more shots on goal (32:19), took no penalties and converted one of their three powerplays. With four goals, Kevin Constantine's team, which had always struggled with its offensive productivity, scored well above its average (2.56 in the Regular Season). To land their second win on Friday and lock up promotion, Fehérvár will need to break Asiago's home winning streak: the Italians have gone unbeaten for four home games. During this remarkable streak, they have scored an average of 5.5 goals. Further, the ICE newcomers have lost only one of their last eleven league home games. The Italians also won both of their round-robin matches, with Allan McShane & Co dominating the last 4:0.