Release from 16.12.2017
Sun, 17.12.2017: Moser Medical Graz99ers - EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz (16:00)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, TRILAR, Bärnthaler, Seewald
- With yesterday's home win against Zagreb the second-placed Black Wings have a five-game winning streak (last time they had such a run was between October and November 2016
- Graz, who rank 8 with only a two-point deficit to the upper half of the table, lost four of their last five games
- With 98 goals scored the Black Wings from Linz have the best offense available and can be the first team to score 100 goals this season
- Linz decided both season meetings with Graz to their favour and now the teams will meet twice within only three days (on Tuesday the 99ers come to Linz)
- The 99ers have won ten out of 14 home games this season but have a very bad record against the Upper Austrians who won the last seven games in Graz
Doug Mason (Coach Moser Medical Graz99ers): „I'm really pleased that our power play has worked better lately. The games before we were not efficient enough.“
Troy Ward (Coach Liwest Black Wings Linz): „I expect us better than in the Zagreb game. After Jake Dowell's injury (he's out for the remainder of the season) other player will get the chance.“
Sun, 17.12.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC VSV (16:00)
Referees: BABIC, STOLC, Nemeth, Pardatscher
- The 4:3 overtime win in Klagenfurt was Salzburg's fourth successive victory
- Villach ended their losing streak with a 4:3 win in Dornbirn and climbed to 10th place again
- In the previous two season meeting the away teams took the points - early November Villach came back from an early 2:0 deficit to win 5:3 at Volksgarten
- Miha Verlic scored in both games against the Red Bulls this season
- In the previous two meetings the PK units were very successful: In 14 power play's just one goal was scored (Dominique Heinrich in a 3:1 road win for Salzburg)
Greg Poss (Coach EC Red Bull Salzburg): „Last time Villach came to us they hit us on some breakaways. We have to play more solid and avoid these situations.“
Absentees: Dominique Heinrich, Matthias Trattnig, Layne Viveiros, Alexander Rauchenwald, Alexander Pallestrang and Daniel Jakubitzka
Markus Schlacher (EC VSV): „Our defense will be the key. We have to be focussed and give everything to beat them.“
Absentee: Kyle Beach
Doubtful: Valentin Leiler
Sun, 17.12.2017: EC-KAC - HC Orli Znojmo (17:30)
Referees: LEMELIN, SIEGEL, Kaspar, Rakovic
- On Friday KAC also lost the fourth season meeting with Salzburg (3:4 after overtime at home) but remain on third place
- With two narrow victories against Villach and Graz the Czechs earned two successive wins again (last time in early October)
- The Carinthians won both season meetings with Znojmo (3:1 at home, 3:2 away)
- On the road Znojmo has only beaten the three teams who are behind them in the standings
- Klagenfurt won the last seven games against Znojmo who have not had three wins in a row this season
Marco Richter (EC-KAC): „We really like to play Znojmo but won't underestimate them. We had to fight hard for our last 3:2 win and they surely will be ready again.“
Absentees: Regehr und Neal
Adam Miller (HC Orli Znojmo): „I'm happy about my first three goals. That's why the club signed me. It will not be easy to make the top six, we have to steadily earn points.“
Sun, 17.12.2017: KHL Medvescak Zagreb - HCB Südtirol Alperia (17:45, servushockeynight.com, Video33.it and HRT live)
Referees: GRUBER, PIRAGIC, Ettlmayr, Zgonc
- After the 4:3 overtime defeat in Linz Zagreb is six games without a win
- Bottom-placed club Bolzano faces medvescak 24 hours after today's game in Szekesfehervar
- In the previous two season meeting the home teams took the points
- In the 7:3 win Zagreb's Mahbod, Morley and Zanoski each scored a brace
Connor Cameron (Coach Medveascak Zagreb): „We played a good gamein Linz, we just had too many mistakes at the wrong time.“
Luca Frigo (HCB Südtirol Alperia): „We have to support each other for scoring goals because without scoring you can't win games.“
Absentees: Anton Bernard, Mat Clark, Austin Smith, Matt Climie and Chris Carlisle
Mon, 18.12.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - Fehervar AV 19 (19:15)
Referees: BERNEKER, LEMELIN, Nothegger, Verworner
- Despite outshooting the leader Vienna 39:18, Innsbruck conceded the second defeat in a row on Friday
- Fehervar has one day off after today's home game against Bolzano before facing the sharks
- Innsbruck has won the previous two season meetings 4:2 each
- Innsbruck's Andrew Clark (3 goals) and John Lammers (2) as well as Fehervar's David Gilbert (2) have scored in both games