Halfway point of intermediate round

Alps Hockey League, Master Round:
Sa, 22.02.2020, 18.00 Uhr: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice – S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LESNIAK, PODLESNIK, Miklic, Weiss.
After three consecutive losses HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice closes the first leg of intermediate round with a home game against S.G. Cortina Hafro. While the Slovenian side is currently bottom-placed in the Master Round, the Italians sit on third spot with two out of four. Past gameday Cortina defeated Asiago after a huge final frame 3:1 to remain perfect in home games of the intermediate round. On the road, Cortina lost the past three games in Alps Hockey League, while Jesenice got defeated twice in the past two home games. Both previous season meetings were decided after overtime rep. shootout with each team taking a win. Overall, Jesenice won seven out of eight meetings against Cortina.

• Losing-Streak JES: 3
• H2H AHL: 7:1 (JES)

Sa, 22.02.2020, 20.00 Uhr: Rittner Buam – HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: BENVEGNU, FAJDIGA, Basso, Snoj.
Master Round’s second-ranked Rittner Buam host HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana. While Ritten kept second spot after regular season phase one, the reigning champions dropped to fourth place in standings, after losing three out of four with only scoring nine goals, losing on Thursday 0:2 at home against leader HC Pustertal. In Alps Hockey League the “dragons” have a 4-games winning streak available against the “Buam”.

• H2H AHL: 4:9 (HKO)

Sa, 22.02.2020, 20.30 Uhr: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey – HC Pustertal Wölfe
Referees: STEFENELLI, WIDMANN, Holzer, Rigoni.
With Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey hosting HC Pustertal Wölfe, Master Round’s best team on powerplay welcomes Master Round’s best penalty killing team. While the Italian side converted 44,4% of the powerplay occasions, the South Tyrolean cleared all eleven occasion of being shorthanded. Pustertal is still undefeated in the round of the top-6 and tries to take revenge for the loss in the final of Scudetto two weeks ago. Both AHL meetings in the running season were won by the “wolves”, which conceded only five goals in four intermediate round games. Asiago did not lose at home for the past four games, while Pustertal won the past two on the road.

• Winning-Streak PUS: 4
• H2H AHL: 5:9 PUS

Alps Hockey League, Qualification Round A:
Sa, 22.02.2020, 15.00 Uhr: EC-KAC II – Red Bull Hockey Juniors
Referees: BAJT, OREL, Markizeti, Matthey.
Saturday’s gameday in the Qualification Round A opens in the afternoon, as undefeated leader Red Bull Hockey Juniors take on EC-KAC II on the road. With 18 goals scored and only seven goals conceded the Salzburg side impressed on both ends to lead group A with six points. Last time they faced each other in regular season phase one, as the leader took a 8:0 blowout win to grab the sixth win straight at Klagenfurt.

• Winning-Streak RBJ: 5
• H2H AHL: 3:11 (RBJ)

Sa, 22.02.2020, 19.30 Uhr: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan – Vienna Capitals Silver
Referees: GAMPER, GIACOMOZZI F., Giacomozzi P., Slaviero.
After two wins in row the Vienna Capitals Silver start their road trip by visiting the Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan. League’s newcomer posted two shutouts including a 6:0 home win against the Broncos, which trail six points to the last remaining playoff ticket. Sterzing’s form curve points downwards, as the South Tyrolean grabbed only two out of the last nine points but they convinced lately on home ice, winning five straight.

• Winning-Streak VCS: 2
• H2H AHL: 2:1 (WSV)

So, 23.02.2020, 17.30 Uhr: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it – Vienna Capitals Silver
Referees: BENVEGNU, PINIE, Pace, Puff.
The Vienna Capitals Silver finish their road-trip on Sunday facing HC Gherdeina valgardena.it, which had to take two consecutive home defeats in the past. Both previous meetings were won by the home teams.

• Winning-Streak VCS: 2
• H2H AHL: 1:1

Alps Hockey League, Qualification Round B:
Sa, 22.02.2020, 19.30 Uhr: VEU Feldkirch – SHC Fassa Falcons
Referees: LEGA, PAHOR, Bergant, Javornik.
With the VEU Feldkirch hosting the SHC Fassa Falcons Qualification Round B will have an early showdown for the remaining playoff spot. While the Italian side leads group B with 16 points, the Austrians are ranked second with 12 points but two games less played. Feldkirch remains unbeaten in the first three games of intermediate round including a 4:3 victory against Fassa in the first meeting. While the VEU conceded only one goal on average, the “falcons” had to accept three per game so far, struggling on the defensive end.

• Winning-Streak VEU: 2
• Winning-Streak FAS: 2
• H2H AHL: 6:3 (VEU)

Sa, 22.02.2020, 19.30 Uhr: EK Die Zeller Eisbären – EC “Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: HOLZER, LAZZERI, Bedynek, Reisinger.
The EC „Die Adler“ Stadtwerke Kitzbühel have the chance to take revenge on the EK Die Zeller Eisbären after the tight derby loss (2:3). Both teams are chasing the top duo with little chances to reach playoffs. The “polar-bears” trail eight points, the “eagles” nine – with six games left. In the Qualification Round both teams won two out of four.

• H2H AHL: 9:4 (EKZ)

Sa, 22.02.2020, 19.30 Uhr: EC Bregenzerwald – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: LOICHT, VIRTA, Legat, Riecken.
Bottom-placed Steel Wings Linz hit the ice twice on the upcoming weekend, as league’s newcomer take on EC Bregenzerwald. The “Wälder” won all three previous encounter against the Upper Austrians, which are still on a 33-game losing streak.

• Losing-Streak SWL: 33
• H2H AHL: 3:0 (ECB)

So, 23.02.2020, 18.00 Uhr: VEU Feldkirch – Steel Wings Linz
Referees: LEGA, LOICHT, Legat, Riecken.
Linz continues on the road, facing the VEU Feldkirch on Sunday, which has to home games coming up on the weekend after Saturday’s game against the SHC Fassa Falcons. To remain in the race for a playoff spot the Vorarlberg side need to grab three points against the bottom-placed league’s newcomer. Last time they faced each other, the Steel Wings grabbed one point, losing 2:3 after shootout.

• Winning-Streak VEU: 3
• H2H AHL: 2:0 (VEU)