Release from 06.01.2018
The very intense hockey-time of the past 16 days ends with six games on Sunday. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and EC-KAC could fix the Playoffs with three points and the help from other teams. Plus: Contract extensions at Bozen.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, round 38:
Sun, 07.01.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (17:30)
Referees: KELLNER, K. NIKOLIC, Kontschieder, Sparer.
Sun, 07.01.2018: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – HC Orli Znojmo (17:30)
Referees: BERNEKER, GAMPER, Pardatscher, Schauer.
Sun, 07.01.2018: KHL Medvesak Zagreb – EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:30, HRT live)
Referees: GRUBER, STERNAT, Ettlmayr, Hribar.
Sun, 07.01.2018: EC VSV – HCB Südtirol Alperia (17:30)
Referees: KINCSES, SMETANA, Kaspar, Nemeth.
Sun, 07.01.2018: Fehervar AV19 – Moser Medical Graz99ers (17:45)
Referees: BALUSKA, TRILAR, Rakovic, Soos.
Sun, 07.01.2018: Vienna Capitals – EC-KAC (17:45, www.servushockeynight.com live)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Nagy, Zgonc.
Sun, 07.01.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs – EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (17:30)
Referees: KELLNER, K. NIKOLIC, Kontschieder, Sparer.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz has the chance to fix the Playoffs already on Sunday at Dornbirn. The Upper Austrians need three points at Dornbirn and the help from Fehervar AV19. The Hungarians must beat Moser Medical Graz99ers as well.
>The two Austrian teams showed different faces lately: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz won so far all three games in the year 2018. The same managed just HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“. The Dornbirn Bulldogs on the other side are the only team without a win in January. The „Vorarlberger“ were defeated even in their last four matches and fall down in the ranking to place 7.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz was on Fire so far! Brian Lebler and Co. scored the most goals of all clubs (130), just in January the Upper Austrians were successful 17 times from three games. In the same time the Bulldogs made seven goals.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz got points from the last eight meetings with Dornbirn Bulldogs, six times the Steel Citizens left the ice as the winner. But take attention: The last clash on November 19th 2017 was won by the Vorarlberger at home 3:2 after Shoot Out.
>The third best team in power Play (BWL) will face the third best team in Penalty Killing (DEC) on Sunday at Dornbirn.
Quotes:
Rick Nasheim, Assistant Coach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „The whole team must work hard for 60 minutes, we need the effort of all players!“
Troy Ward, Headcoach EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We must be a hard team.“
Sun, 07.01.2018: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – HC Orli Znojmo (17:30)
Referees: BERNEKER, GAMPER, Pardatscher, Schauer.
>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ is the team of the hour: The Tyroleans won for the first time this season four games in a row and defended the fifth place. HC Orli Znojmo on the other side was successful on Friday at Vienna and ended their bad run after six defeats. The Czechs are still on the last place, but they miss just nine points or three wins for place 6, which would be enough for the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44.
>The east-west-clash promises much goals: In the first three season-meetings were scored totally 26 goals, at least seven goals per game.
>The first three season-meetings ended with home-wins. The Sharks got points always: After winning the first home-game clearly, Tyler Spurgeon and Co. lost the next two meetings at Znojmo after extra-time.
>Colton Yellow Horn of HC Orli Znojmo could score at least one goal in the first three season-meetings with HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“.
>HC Orli Znojmo always had a good start lately: In their last four games the Czechs always scored at least one goal in period 1. But in the last 20 minutes the „Red Eagles“ could not score so far in the year 2018.
Quotes:
John Lammers, Forward HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We know the ranking, but we don’t think about it. We are just concentrating on the game against Znojmo. Our aim is o rise in the ranking and to win!“
Adam Miller, Forward HC Orli Znojmo: „In this League each team has always the chance to win, as our win at Vienna shows. We are all really happy about this win. To reach the top 6 is still a big challenge, but we try to manage it and we want to continue winning!“
Sun, 07.01.2018: Fehervar AV19 – Moser Medical Graz99ers (17:45)
Referees: BALUSKA, TRILAR, Rakovic, Soos.
>Fehervar AV19 and Moser Medical Graz99ers will face twice within just five days. On Sunday the two teams will meet at Szekesfehervar and then on Friday at Graz. The first two season meetings were won by the home teams.
>With Fehervar AV19 (9.) and the Moser Medical Graz99ers (8.) two neighbours in the standing willmmeet at Szekesfehervar on Sunday. The Hungarians are on place 9 with 47 points (17 wins) from 37 games, the 99ers are on place eight with 49 points (17 wins). Both teams need three points in the fight for a Top 6 spot and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44.
>The two teams showed different faces lately: The Styrians won their last two games, while the Devils lost their last two games and received eleven goals.
>Anthony Camara had a perfect debut in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga for the Moser Medical Graz99ers. The Forward scored the Game Winner at Klagenfurt.
>Moser Medical Graz99ers are the weakest team on the road: The Styrians got just 13 points (four wins) from 19 road-games so far. Fehervar AV19 is the number 10 in the home-ranking. The Devils collected at home ten wins in 18 games.
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „We must take the positive out of the game at linz. The players showed fighting spirit and character. Against Graz we must give 100% again, then it will work with the goals again!“
Anthony Camara, Forward Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We are really happy about the win at Klagenfurt. We also go for three points at Szekesfehervar. We must keep our game simple.“
Sun, 07.01.2018: EC VSV – HCB Südtirol Alperia (17:30)
Referees: KINCSES, SMETANA, Kaspar, Nemeth.
>EC VSV (11.) vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (10.) is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing. Villach is ranked on place 11 with 44 points (14 wins) from 37 games and Bozen is ranked on place 10 with 45 points (15 wins). Both clubs need three points in the fight for a Top 6 spot and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44.
>The two teams showed different faces lately: HCB Südtirol Alperia collected points from all three games in the year 2018 so far, lately the Foxes won twice in a row. Villach on the other side was defeated lately twice and received totally eleven goals.
>The two teams had three close meetings so far this season. EC VSV was successful in the first two meetings with one goal difference (5:4/SO, 4:3). The last clash was won one month ago by the Foxes 2:1 after Overtime.
>EC VSV is the weakest home-team. The Eagles collected so far just 25 points (eight wins) from 18 home-games.
>Bozen, that extended the contracts with Forward Matias Sointu and with goalie Pekka Tuokkola until the end of the season, scored in the last two games in all six periods at least one goal.
Quotes:
Markus Peintner, Headcoach EC VSV: „Too many mistakes cost us the game, we have to stop making them!“
Alexander Egger, Captain HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We must be concentrated. Power Play goals can make the difference.“
Sun, 07.01.2018: Vienna Capitals – EC-KAC (17:45, www.servushockeynight.com live)
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Nagy, Zgonc.
>EC-KAC has the chance to qualify already on Sunday at Vienna for the Playoffs 2018. The Red Jackets must get three points at Kagran and need support from Fehervar AV19 and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz. The Hungarians must beat Graz and the Black Wings must get three points at Dornbirn as well.
>With Vienna Capitals (1) and EC-KAC (3) the two best defensive teams will face on Sunday. The Champion received so far just 78 goals, Klagenfurt 88. All other clubs got more then 100 goals aready.
>The meeting of the best defensive teams does not mean less goals. In the first three season-meetings were scored already 24 goals. A few days before Christmas the Carinthians won against the Leader at home even 7:5. Vienna won the last three home-games against Klagenfurt.
>Both teams were defeated on Friday at home and got so far just one win from three games 2018.
>The second best home-team (Vienna) faces the second best road-team (KAC).
Quotes:
Serge Aubin, Headcoach Vienna Capitals: „We need a compact and concentrated team performance over 60 minutes and a better start against Klagenfurt!“
Marco Brucker, Forward EC-KAC: „We need to be more efficiency.“
Sun, 07.01.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb – EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:30 , HRT live)
Referees: GRUBER, STERNAT, Ettlmayr, Hribar.
>With KHL Medvescak Zagreb (6.) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (4.) two Top 6 teams face each other on Sunday at Zagreb. The two teams meet already the fourth time 2017/18, so far all games ended with home-wins.
>KHL Medvescak Zagreb played strong at home lately. The Bears won their last three home-games and scored 13 goals. On Friday the Croatians beat EC VSV 7:2.
>EC Red Bull Salzburg lost their last two games with one goal difference.
>The second best Power Play team (RBS) will face the second best Penalty Killing team (MZA).
>Tyler Morley of KHL Medvescak Zagreb is the League’s best scorer with 51 points (20G/31A) from 36 games. Salzburgs most dangerous player is John Hughes with 40 points (9G/31A).
Quotes:
Doug Bradley, Head Coach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „For Salzburg we are going to prepare the way we prepare every game, we have installed some new concepts, we'll take a look at the video and come up with a scheme that would be positive for our result!“
Alexander Cijan, Forward EC Red Bull Salzburg: „Zagreb plays really good at home. This time we will try everything to win there.“