ICE returns with five games

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 15. November 2022 | Schedule:
Tue, 15.11.2022, 7.15 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: FICHTNER, SIEGEL, Durmis, Konc.
The spusu Vienna Capitals and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 have weakened ahead of the International break, as both teams picked up just five points from their past five games. Vienna won two games, the Hungarians one. This victory was the 2-1 win after shootout in the lone direct duel between these two teams so far this season. It was Fehérvár's third win in a row against the Capitals, but the vice-champion has always had a hard time in Vienna recently: the Hungarians won only three of the last ten games in the STEFFL Arena, one after shootout. Vienna is the team that takes the most penalties per game (12.7 PIM/G), but a solid PK (80.7% | #6) prevents worse so far. The guests from Hungary parted ways with Ben Betker (3A) and Patrick Newell (4G|5A) during the break.

Tue, 15.11.2022, 7.15 pm: EC-KAC – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Arlic, Hribar. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The EC-KAC countered its three-game losing streak on the last gameday before the international break and celebrated a dominant home win against the spusu Vienna Capitals. The Moser Medical Graz99ers lost their point streak, at 2-4 at home against Linz the Styrians remained without points after four games before. However, the "99ers" have scored points in each of their last three road games and also in Klagenfurt things have worked out quite well in the recent past: Before the 2-4 defeat in the last road game at the beginning of January, the Styrians won five games in a row. In the only seasonal duel between these two teams so far, Klagenfurt only prevailed in a shootout despite leading 2-0 after 40 minutes. This season, Graz benefits from an increasingly stable and compact penalty killing (84.5% | #2) and has the best goalie in the league in Christian Engstrand (94.1%) in terms of save percentage. In the duel with the KAC, the Styrians can also rely on their newcomer Andrew Yogan for the first time, he was signed in place of Petr Kolouch. With Bouramman, Zalewski, Oberkofler and Alagic, four players return to the 99ers line-up too. The re-start after the international break in November was usually very successful for the EC-KAC in the past years: In three of the last five seasons, the "Rotjacken" returned from this break with at least five wins in a row. Clemens Unterweger returns to the line-up for Klagenfurt, and Thomas Koch and Thomas Hundertpfunde, who have been ill recently, are also available again. Jesper Jensen Aabo, Johannes Bischofberger, Daniel Obersteiner, Kele Steffler and Matt Fraser are out.

Tue, 15.11.2022, 7.15 pm: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: GROZNIK, TRILAR, Miklic, Zgonc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV welcomes HCB Südtirol Alperia after the break, the first time these two teams face each other. In five of the last six meetings, the winner crystallized only after overtime (3) or shootout (2). In the 43 encounters between these two teams so far, the home team has prevailed 30 times and Villach has currently won four of its last five games in the Stadthalle. The league leaders from South Tyrol, which are strong at home, are showing some defensive weaknesses on the road: At home, the "Foxes" concede only 1.3 goals, away 3.25 per game. The "Adler", which take the fewest penalties of all teams (6.4 PIM/G), have recently found their power play strength: In the last four games, they scored at least once in numerical superiority, a total of five goals from eight PP occasions. VSV head coach Rob Daum, who has reshuffled his lines, still has to do without the long-term injured Julian Payr, Maximilian Rebernig and Elias Wallenta. Bolzano can start completely, Diego Glück should make his season debut. For him, one of the nine Italian national players will take a break.

Tue, 15.11.2022, 7.15 pm: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: NIKOLIC K., VIRTA, Rinker, Wimmler. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The forms of the two teams before the international break could not be more different: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie, Head Coach Mitch O'Keefe should be able to have the full roster availabel, won his last three games, has always scored in the last five games. The BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg, on the other hand, are without a win for four games, are at the bottom of the table. The Vorarlberg side have only managed one success on the road so far (3-2 @BWL), the Tyroleans have failed to score only once in their seven home games. The first official comparison this season was won by the "Haie", they prevailed away, despite trailing, 3-2. Innsbruck's current success is largely due to their powerplay strength: 38.9% is the absolute top value in the league and is also the best percentage compared to all other teams in Europe. The Pioneers' play on the power play needs to be improved; at 5.7%, they are absolutely last in the league. Overall, the two teams are also apart in terms of offensive productivity: HCI makes 4.85 goals per game, PIV only 1.8. The Vorarlberg team had to become active on the transfer market once again due to a long-term upper-body injury and signed young talent Philipp Maurer. The Vienna native was loaned to the Alps Hockey League team EK Die Zeller Eisbären (1G|1A) this season by the Moser Medical Graz99ers, for whom he played 46 ICE games in the preseason.

Tue, 15.11.2022, 7.15 pm: HK SZ Olimpija – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Puff, Snoj. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
A duel of two league stragglers takes place in Ljubljana: both HK SZ Olimpija (#11) and Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey (#12) are currently outside the pre-playoff spots. However, the newcomer winning three of the last four games. Among them also the first match of the season (5-3), thanks to an early 2-0 lead. On the road, however, the Italians are not yet sleepy enough, winning only the first of their seven road games so far. Ljubljana has won only one of its last six games because there is still room for improvement, especially in the special teams: Both m PK (73.2%) and PP (8.0%) the "Dragons" rank second to last. For Asiago it is the last game before their appearance in the IIHF Continental Cup next weekend.