Release from 23.12.2021

ICE-X-Mas-Games: Caps lead the field | KAC is derby specialist

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Christmas time is ice hockey time. 18 games between Christmas and New Year's Eve represent the traditional X-Mas-Games this season. In the past, no team has been as successful in this phase as the spusu Vienna Capitals. The EC-KAC proved to be a derby specialist just before the turn of the year, especially in recent years.

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Three rounds are traditionally played between Christmas and New Year's Eve in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League. Within six days, more points are played out than at any other stage of the season. In addition, the first preliminary decisions in the battle for the top six often fall at this time, which are of similar importance in the new mode as before. Not least because of this, the "X-Mas-Games" are often dubbed as the most important games of the regular season.

Caps are "on fire" between Christmas and New Year's Day
A closer look into the history books of the multinational league reveals that the spusu Vienna Capitals were able to make the most successful use of this phase. The Viennese won 36 of their previous 52 games in the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, scoring an impressive 2.096 points per game. Over the past 20 years at the "X-Mas Games", the Caps thus not only have an average 0.5 points higher than their all-time average, but also surpass the season point average of the current bet-at-home ICE Hockey League leader (RBS).

The second most successful team at the "X-Mas Games" is EC Red Bull Salzburg. With an average of 1.844 points per game, it is only just behind their own current season average of 1.966 between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

The EC-KAC often lost some ground at these games and posted a lower point average than usual in the last 20 years. With an average of 1.569 at the "X-Mas-Games", the reigning champions are just above their current season average of 1.552.

X-Mas-Derby specialist KAC
On the other hand, the EC-KAC was often convincing in the traditional X-Mas-Derby. This year, the two Carinthian teams will duel for the eleventh time between December 24 and 31. Seven of the ten "red-blue" Christmas games so far went to the team of Klagenfurt. EC Grand Immo VSV has always had to admit defeat since the derby has been played annually at this time (five X-Mas derbies since 2016). The last Christmas derby success of Villach dates from 28.12.2013.

Znojmo, Dornbirn and Graz lose ground at X-Mas games
The least successful teams between Christmas and New Year's Eve are HC Tesla Znojmo (1.077 ppg.), the Dornbirn Bulldogs (1.111 ppg.) and the Moser Medical Graz99ers (1.212 ppg.). The Czechs were the only active team to win less than a third of their X-Mas games. The Moser Medical Graz99ers, who are undefeated for five games, also have to go into the Christmas games with caution. Besides Znojmo, they are the only team to win less than 40% of their games during this period.