Release from 26.02.2020

Innsbruck and Znojmo in the fight for last playoff place

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On Thursday, the intermediate round continues. In the Sky Sport Austria live game, the spusu Vienna Capitals visits at the Moser Medical Graz99ers. With one point in Styria, the Capitals would have the home right in the quarter-finals. Should HCB Südtirol Alperia win at the EC-KAC after regular playing time, the South Tyroleans would no longer be displaced from the first place and pick first. The qualification round looks forward to the fight between HC Orli Znojmo and HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” for the last playoff place. The Czechs currently have one point more than Innsbruck. Hydro Féhervár AV19 also has theoretical chances of entering the postseason. The Hungarians must win against Znojmo on Thursday.

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Facts before the matchday on Thursday:

  • Sky Sport Austria 1 HD will broadcast the Pick Round game between the Moser Medical Graz99ers and the spusu Vienna Capitals live from 19:00.
  • Should HCB Südtirol Alperia win at the EC-KAC after regular playing time, the South Tyroleans would no longer be displaced from the first place and pick first.
  • Should HC Orli Znojmo win at Hydro Féhervár AV19, it would be the 100th away victory in the regular season of the Czechs in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
  • The EC Red Bull Salzburg is free from play on Thursday.


Pick Round:

Th, 27.02.2020, 19:15: Moser Medical Graz99ers – spusu Vienna Capitals (Sky Sport Austria 1 HD)
Referees: OFNER, SIEGEL, Bedynek, Bärnthaler

  • Sky Sport Austria 1 HD will broadcast the game of the Moser Medical Graz99ers against the spusu Vienna Capitals live from 19:00.
  • After four defeats in a row the spusu Vienna Capitals could celebrate a 6:1 away win at the EC Red Bull Salzburg last Sunday. The Moser Medical Graz99ers have been waiting for a win for three games.
  • In the league table it is the duel between two neighbors. G99 is fifth with three points, VIC has eight points and is fourth. The gap to the third placed EC-KAC is only one point.
  • The Capitals won the first encounter in the Pick Round with 5:2. In the regular season, Graz prevailed in three of four duels.
Pregame Statements: Ken Ograjensek (G99) I Rafael Rotter (VIC)

Th, 27.02.2020, 19:15: EC-KAC – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: GRUBER, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc

  • The HCB Südtirol Alperia can no longer be displaced from the first place with a win after regular plying time at the EC-KAC. Klagenfurt in turn need a victory to take a big step closer to the third place.
  • In the Pick Round, the guests from South Tyrol only lost once (2:1 @Salzburg). They won all other six games after regular time. Klagenfurt won their last game, having previously suffered four defeats in a row.
  • This season, the HCB won three out of five duels with the KAC and they won the first in the Pick Round with 3:1.
  • Goalkeeper Jhonas Enroth (KAC) will act as the starting goalie for the first time. The Swedish World Champion and Olympic silver medalist has been part of the red jackets since February 14th.
Pregame Statements: Manuel Geier (KAC) I Brett Flemming (HCB)

Qualification Round:

Th, 27.02.2020, 19:15: Hydro Féhervár AV19 – HC Orli Znojmo
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PIRAGIC, Gatol Rezek

  • Hydro Féhervár AV19 needs a win after regular time against the HC Orli Znojmo and has to hope that Innsbruck loses points to keep the small playoff chance alive. The guests from the Czech Republic could remain on a playoff place with a win. Znojmo is currently in third place in the Qualification Round and is one point ahead of the first pursuer Innsbruck.
  • Znojmo is currently in a good shape. Féhervár has lost the last three games and has only won one of the last six games. For comparison, Znojmo won three of the last five games.
  • The Hungarians won the first duel of both teams in the Qualification Round with 3:2 after overtime. In the regular season, each team prevailed twice.
  • Should HC Orli Znojmo win at Hydro Féhervár AV19, it would be the 100th away victory in the regular season of the Czechs in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
Pregame Statement: Antti Karhula (AVS)

Th, 27.02.2020, 19:15: Dornbirn Bulldogs – EC Panaceo VSV
Referees: BERNEKER, NIKOLIC K., Sparer, Tschrepitsch

  • While the EC Panaceo VSV already has booked the playoff ticket, the Dornbirn Bulldogs have no chance of reaching the postseason.
  • Villach is currently one point ahead of Linz, leading the Qualification Round.
  • Dornbirn is only in sixth and last place in the Qualification Round home table. The VSV in turn leads the away table. They only lost one game abroad.
  • The Bulldogs have lost their last two games. Overall, they could only win one of their last six games. Villach has won five of the last six games.
  • The VSV won all four duels in the Regular Season. In the first game in the Qualification Round, Dornbirn won in Villach with 1:0.
Pregame Statement: Kevin Macierzynski (DEC)

Th, 27.02.2020, 19:15: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz
Referees: PEARCE, STOLC, Schauer, Seewald

  • In addition to the VSV, the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz also booked the playoff ticket early. The HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie”, however, needs a victory in order to continue to have a big chance of reaching the playoffs. With 15 points, the Tyroleans are currently one place and one point behind HC Orli Znojmo, who plays at Hydro Féhervár AV19.
  • With three home wins and only one defeat in front of their home crowd, Innsbruck is the best team in the Qualification Round at home.
  • A trio is primarily responsible for the currently strong form of Innsbruck. Lammers, Spurgeon and Broda scored 16 of the 28 goals in the qualification round.
  • Looking at the season's results in direct duels, a home win for the Tyroleans would be a surprise. Linz won all five duels of the season.

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