Release from 21.01.2017

Hosts of Qualification Round games under early pressure

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On Sunday the second game day of Intermediate Round is next up on the agenda. After losing the opener, the three bottom-placed clubs of Qualification Round are under early pressure in their home games. In Pick Round EC Red Bull Salzburg and HC TWK Innsbruck step into action.

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VSV hits the road for Szekesfehervar
The game against Villach will be a matter of life and death for Fehervar in the run for the playoff spot. Benoit Laporte’s team lost 5-2 against Graz in the first round while Villach won clean against Ljubljana. Sofron and co. are in a very difficult situation as the best team in the qualification round is coming to visit in Szekesfehervar. Benoit Laporte knows they need to find a way to use their chances: “The difference between the two teams in Graz was scoring the chances. Graz, along with Villach has a lot of goal scorers who do what they know best: score goals. We know that Villach won their last game, and the key on Sunday will be a good start. We have to play a very intense game, just as we did in Graz. The only thing we need to be better at now is finding a way to score more than two goals per game.” In a 8:2 win against Ljubljana the injury of goalie Olivier Roy was the only bad news for Villach who will start with Lukas Herzog tomorrow. „It's going to be a hard game. They play different hockey at home than away. We have to focus on our defense. If we play solid in our defensive zone I think chances are going to come. We have to be ready from first second. I think if we play solid defensive game we can count on a good game and hopefully 3 points“, so Jan Urbas, who scored four goals last night.
 
Znojmo needs another points from Hala Tivoli
Bad start to the qualification round for Olimpija with a trashing in Villach. Now they hope to rebound at home vs. Znojmo with whom the dragons played more even during the season. „In Villach we just made too many mistakes to give ourselves a chance. The game's behind us but we've learned from that. Now it's back home and Znojmo is coming. We have to play better, follow our system like we did before and just keep it simple“, reports Luka Ulamec. The Czechs almost messed up their starting into Qualification Round, too. But thanks to a strong third period they beat Dornbirn at home. „The first two periods were really bad, the team was worried. The players do not have much confidence at the moment. We have to do some mental work“, knows Roman Simicek.
 
DEC hosts Graz in ServusTV live game
Dornbirner Eishockey Club set the tone in Friday's away game in Znojmo for 40 minutes but suffered a tough 6:2 defeat in the end. After this setback they have a six-point deficit to Graz and a playoff spot. On Sunday the teams meet in the ServusTV live game. "We have to forget about the last game and do a good job against Graz. They have a good team but there is not reason to hide for us", knows Dominic Haberl. The Styrians won their opener against Fehervar, having a lot of self-confidence now. "It will be a tough fight in Dornbirn. They have three good attacking lines who can always score. After a tough start into the season they became much stronger lately", says Doug Mason. The 99ers won three of four games against Donrbirn, losing once on the the road, though.
 
Red Bulls start Pick Round in Bolzano
The Red Bulls' opening game is in Bolzano and presents the first major challenge, since HCB Südtirol Alperia have always been strong against Salzburg on home ground. Nevertheless, after losing the first two games the Red Bulls went on to win the next two against the South Tyroleans. For Bolzano coach Tom Pokel a good placement in Pick Round is very important: „Three years ago a good starting position for palyoffs was the key for our championship title. Since starting Pick Round, the champions has been always among the first teams with home advantage“. For all teams it’s not only about home advantage but also a spot in Champions Hockey League. Salzburg coach Greg Poss is preparing his team for a challenging phase: „I think a lot of the games will be close. We need to get used to that. Until now we've always played with four lines and used the entire team, so in that respect we're in good shape. But we will need to raise our game again for the Pick Round." Back on board captain Matthias Trattnig, while Daniel Welser is less than a hundred percent and questionable for Sunday. Definitely still absent will be the convalescent Brett Olson as well as Florian Baltram.
 
Caps try to end three-game losing streak in Innsbruck
After having a bye-week on Friday, HC TWK Innsbruck enters Pick Round action against Vienna on Sunday. „The break was good for us. Now we are back to competition mode, fourth place is our goal“, says coach Rob Pallin who has all players available apart from Fabio Schramm. In Vienna there was a meeting today with head coach Serge Aubin talking to his team after yesterday’s 5:0 home defeat against Klagenfurt. „I expect an answer tomorrow, three defeats in a row are enough. We have to go back to the basics and work even harder“. The Caps, who are without Ali Wukovits, Benjamin Nissner and Phil Lakos, have won three of four season meetings with the sharks.
 
KAC and Linz want to prolong winning streak
Klagenfurt surprised with a 5:0 road win in Vienna yesterday. Now the fourth-placed Carinthians await Linz for their first home game in Pick Round. "Every player gave his best against Vienna, it was a team win. We have established a basis and focus on Linz", tells us coach Mike Pellegrims. After losing the first two games against Linz this season, the record-holding champions fought back and decided the last two meetings to their favour. The Black Wings started with a hard-fought 4:2 home win over Bolzano. "I'm happy but we can do better, though. It was important to get off with a win as there are some tough games ahead", says Rob Daum. The Black Wings still have the best pp available and also their pk belongs to the best within the league.
 
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2nd game day Pick Round:
So, 22.01.2017: EC-KAC – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (17:30)
Referees: STOLC, TRILAR, Kaspar, Rakovic.
 
So, 22.01.2017: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:30)
Referees: GAMPER, M. NIKOLIC, Pardatscher, Sparer.
 
So, 22.01.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – UPC Vienna Capitals (17:30) 
Referees: BERNEKER, K. NIKOLIC, Seewald, Verworner.
 
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 2nd game day Qualification Round:
So, 22.01.2017: HDD Olimpija Ljubljana – HC Orli Znojmo (16:15)
Referees: BABIC, LEMELIN, Angerer, Nagy.
 
So, 22.01.2017: Dornbirner EC – Moser Medical Graz99ers (17:00, ServusTV live)
Referees: KELLNER, PIRAGIC, Ettlmayr, Zgonc.
 
So, 22.01.2017: Fehervar AV19 – EC VSV (18:15, M4 live)
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Gatol, Nemeth.