Release from 10.01.2017
KAC could go through to playoffs in home game against the Cpas
A true classic awaits the EBEL fans when EC-KAC takes on UPC Vienna Capitals in the Sky live game on Wednesday. With their away win in Linz, after trailing 0:3, the Carinthians just need three more points for playoffs. „We have to learn a lesson from that game. It’s all about how we react to goals or goals against“, knows head coach Mike Pellegrims. While the Caps won the first two season meeting, the record-holding champions held the upper hand in the last game before Christmas. However, the Caps have been the dominating team this season, breaking some records with 32 wins and 94 points lately. „We are glad about these records but only the next game matters. Klagenfurt will give everything as they want to make the palyoffs safe. We have to stick to our game plan to get another win“, knows Taylor Vause, who scored three goals in the last two matches. The Caps will still miss Ali Wukovits.
Innsbruck needs only one more point for playoffs
HC Innsbruck holds all the aces in the playoff race as they need only one point out of their last three games. They can already go through to playoffs fort he first time since 2009 in their home game against Olimpija. „We should not be too euphoric and underestimate that as the Slovenes have nothing to lose. They will give everything“, tells us Lubomir Stach. Fabio Schramm is the only injury absentee. Great and absolutely fighting show by Olimpija columinated with a win after 16 loses over Bolzano on Sunday. Spirits in the locker room were already high before. Now they've lifted some more. Ilness has also mostly passed although not yet totally. Goal for tomorrow is to fight hard once more and to improve on last showing in Innsbruck. Out with injury are Sebastjan Hadzic, Kristof Potocnik, Maks Selan and Aljaz Uduc. It's Ziga Pesut with the quote: „We're expecting one more tough game. Innsbruck is still battling for bonus points in the placement round. Still it is on us. If we fight as we did our last two games we can surprise everybody and come home with a win. That would be a huge boost for us before we head into qoalification round.“
Salzburg’s new arrival won’t already play in Graz
EC Red Bull Salzburg announced the return of Dominique Heinrich. The 26-year-old defender joined Swedish first division (SHL) team Örebro HK last summer after eight years with the Red Bulls, but after playing only 22 games he is now returning to Salzburg. Dominique Heinrich is expected to arrive in Salzburg this week but won’t play in their road game in Graz. The Red Bulls are currently second in the league table, but are only one point ahead of third-placed Linz. „It's not going to be easy in Graz, but if we can manage to stick to our game for the full 60 minutes then we have every chance of winning“, knows Andreas Kristler. The convalescent Brett Olson and Florian Baltram are still out of action. The Styrians have also fired a warning shot with victories in Klagenfurt and then at home to VSV in the last two rounds. Currently 9th in the standings, their chances of qualifying directly for the play-offs are slim, but they are looking strong for the Qualification Round. „We try keep getting better and better. If we could not make the top six, it will be a long shot. But we have to get as many points as possible“, says Robin Weihager. 32-year-old American Stephan Werner, who retired lately, will be honoured in the course of a ceremonial farewell.
Black Wings play last road game in Villach
EC VSV is with their back to the wall in the playoff race as they have a seven-point deficit to local rivals KAC. Linz is their next opponent and after the defeat in Graz coach Greg Holst knows what it needs: „The most important is to play well defensively. We made some big mistakes in front of our own net lately“. While Villach won one game against Linz this season, the Upper Austrians have already two wins. Last weekend they lost both matches, conceding 13 goals against. However, Rob Daum tries to see the positive things: „We are further than last year at the same stage. We have the top pp and pk available and have scored most goals“.
Znojmo wants to prolong away series
HC Bolzano conceded the fourth defeat in a row in Ljubljana and it looks like the team of coach Tom Pokel wll finish the first phase on fourth place. But the foxes will give everything in their home game against Znojmo as Daniel Frank states: „We have to give the right answer, for our fans and for us. We have to find back to winning ways“. Znojmo had a really bad weekend with losing the crucial games against Innsbruck and Dornbirn. Now the Czechs are under pressure, missing seven points to sixth place. „We were not able to keep the lead in those games as often before. We have to fight hard and block shots, also in the third period. Last season we scored our goals and did not make so many mistakes defensively“, reports netminder Patrik Nechvatal. In the previous three games against Bolzano, the home side always held the upper hand.
Fight for bonus points in Dornbirn
Dornbirner Eishockey Club almost had a perfect start into 2017, earning ten points out of four games and winning the last three. With another win against Fehervar, they could pressurize the tenth-placed Hungarians. „We have changed our system and do better defensively and offensively. It will be a tough but very important game as we will play them twice in qualification round,“ knows Kevin Macierzynski. Fehervar AV19 hits the road on Tuesday to travel to the farthest opponent. Although they don't have a chance to make the first 6 after the regular season, the Devils want to get as many points as possible from the remaining games to start the qualification round with the most points possible. Benoit Laporte, who extended his contract with the Hungarians with one more year knows how important this game is for his team: "We know how important this game is. We have already managed to win once this year in Dornbirn but this time we need to be more disciplined. Dornbirn is behind us in the standings, we have to be ready from the first puck drop to win. We changed minor things in our powerplay to be more successful."
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, Round 42:
Wed, 11.01.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - HDD Olimpija Ljubljana (19:15)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SMETANA, Ettlmayr, Pardatscher
Wed, 11.01.2017: Dornbirner Eishockey Club - Fehervar AV 19 (19:15)
Referees: BERNEKER, KELLNER, Schauer, Sparer
Wed, 11.01.2017: EC VSV - EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz (19:15)
Referees: BULOVEC, LEMELIN, Kontschieder, Seewald
Wed, 11.01.2017: Moser Medical Graz99ers - EC Red Bull Salzburg (19:15)
Referees: BABIC, KINCSES, Krausz, Soos
Wed, 11.01.2017: EC-KAC - UPC Vienna Capitals (19:30, Sky live)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Nothegger, Verworner
Wed, 11.01.2017: HCB Südtirol Alperia - HC Orli Znojmo (19:45)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Rakovic, Zgonc