Release from 28.09.2017
In Friday's three games the bottom teams Fehervar AV19, Dornbirn Bulldogs and Moser Medical Graz99ers have home advantage. With a win all of them could come close to the pick round places. On Saturday there is one more game with HC TWK Innsbruck hosting HC Orli Znojmo.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, Round 7, 29.09.2017:
Fehervar AV 19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg (M4 live)
Dornbirn Bulldogs - EC VSV
Moser Medical Graz99ers - HCB Südtirol Alperia
30.09.2017:
HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - HC Orli Znojmo
Fr, 29.09.2017, 18:45: Fehervar AV 19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg (M4 live)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, TRILAR, Kaspar, Schauer
- While Fehervar lost the last three games and dropped to the bottom of the league, EC Red Bull Salzburg has managed a turnaround with three successive wins
- The Red Bulls won their last three games in Hungary with having a stunning 18:4 goal difference
- It's the first of three games within five days for Salzburg (two championship games and on Tuesday they meet Wolfsburg in the Champions Hockey League)
- Fehervar's Csanad Erdely will play his 100th Erste Bank Eishockey Liga game
- Salzburg's new arrival Peter Mueller will make his debut
Benoit Laporte (Coach Fehervar AV19): „After the Innsbruck game, the mentality was good, which we brought to Bolzano, but we forgot to play. After the first period, we played better. It was not a 7-2 game, it was like the game against Vienna, where all the pucks went it. The attitude is very good now, they really believe in this group and I believe in this group, they players are together and they really want to give a good performance. We have a big opponent on Friday, everybody is very motivated. On paper, Salzburg is the best team of the league, we have to destroy their game because they are fast, they have good individuals and stay out of the penalty box because their powerplay is very good“.
Absentee: Daniel Koger
Peter Mueller (EC Red Bull Salzburg): „It's important that I have had some training sessions with my new team before playing the first game. Certainly I don't know anything about the Hungarians but I know that Erste Bank Eishockey Liga is a tough league.“
Absentees: Daniel Jakubitzka, Daniel Welser, Alexander Pallestrang (concussion) and Matt Generous
Fr, 29.09.2017, 19:15: Dornbirn Bulldogs - EC VSV
Referees: BABIC, LEMELIN, Nemeth, Soos
- After suffering two defeats EC VSV had a bye-week for regeneration. Dornbirn is already waiting for a win for five games
- Three of the last eight meetings in Dornbirn went into overtime
- Villach's current top scorer Miha Verlic (6 goals, 1 assist) scored in the last two games against Dornbirn
- Dornbirn lost both home games this season 4:3 after overtime
- New VSV captain Niki Petrik returns for the first time to Dornbirn, where he played the last five seasons
Jamie Arniel (Dornbirn Bulldogs): „I expect a better performance than in the last two weeks. It's early in the season and we are finding together better and better“
Niki Petrik (EC VSV): „It will be a funny feeling to play against Dornbirn but I'm looking forward to see old friends again. It's an important game for both. After a long bus ride we have to play smart especially in the first.“
Absentee: Christof Kromp
Fr, 29.09.2017, 19:15: Moser Medical Graz99ers - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: FICHTNER, GRUBER, Gatol, Hribar
- Graz (10th) and Bolzano (9th) are neighbours in the standings with both having six points out of six games
- While Bolzano had a sense of achievement (7:2 win over Fehervar) lately, the 99ers lost their last two games
- In four meetings last season, each side could win two games
- Oliver Setzinger found the back of the net in the previous two home games against Bolzano
- Bolzano's new arrival Austin Smith is fourth in the scoring charts with eight points (2 goals, 6 assists)
Doug Mason (Coach Moser Medical Graz99ers): „We have some new players who adapt to the new league better and better. It's a process. I was satisfied with our last game in Vienna even if we lost. I know our potential.“
Pat Curcio (Coach HCB Südtirol Alperia): „Graz is very good team, with a great powerplay. We need to be concentrate for 60 minutes and stay out of the penalty box. It will be a very important test for us.“
Absentee: Anton Bernard
Sa, 30.09.2017, 19:15: HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - HC Orli Znojmo
Referees: BABIC, LEMELIN, Nemeth, Soos
- With Innsbruck (3rd) and Znojmo (2nd) the persecutors of leader Vienna meet on Saturday
- Znojmo (7) has conceded by far the second fewest goals against (Capitals - 7)
- Innsbruck (22) has scored the second most goals (Capitals - 27)
- Jesse Mychan's tryout contract was not extended, the Canadian leaves Tirol on Friday
- On Sunday both teams are in action again (Innsbruck in Klagenfurt and Znojmo in Bolzano)
Jeremie Blain (HC TWK Innsbruck): „Third place is a nice interim result but honestly we can still play better. Our goalies have done a great job and saved some points. Now the skaters have to follow. It would make us much more dangerous if we could get the power play on."
Roman Šimíček (Coach HC Orli Znojmo): „We had a good start but it only was the first step. I have to pick goalie Marek Schwarz out, he has played a great season so far. The games within 24 hours are a challenge but it's the same for alll over the season. We must fight hard.“