Intense hockey-time starts on Tuesday

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 8. Pick Round:
Tue, 05.03.2019: Fehervar AV19 vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (18:00, DIGI Sport live)
Referees: BALUSKA, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Nagy.
• Fehervar AV19 vs. Champion HCB Südtirol Alperia is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing. The „Devils“ have earned three points (one win) out of seven games in the Pick Round so far and are ranked on sixth place. The Italians have already collected seven points (two victories) and are ranked on place 5. Each team needs the win in the fight for place 4 and home-advantage in the Quarterfinals.
• The two International clubs had the same run during the last four rounds (D/W/D/D). This means, wach team will try to return on the winning-street after two consecutive losses in Szekesfehervar on Tuesday.
• Champion HCB Südtirol Alperia will try to end his bad road-run in Hungary on Tuesday: The „Foxes“ have been defeated in five straight road-games. Bozen’s bad road-run has started with a defeat in Szekesfehervar on February 1st. But, watch out: Fehervar AV19 has had problems at home lately too. The Hungarians stayed without points in all (three) home-games in the Intermediate Round so far.
• Each team had problems to score goals lately: Fehervar AV19 has potted fewest goals in the Pick Round (15), Bozen second fewest goals (17).
• Fehervar’s Janos Hari (63 points – 21G/42A) and Bozens Brett Findlay (49 Punkte – 10G/39A) are their teams best scorers.
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Head Coach Fehervar AV19: „Bozen is defending Champion. Most important is to be ready.“
Kai Suikkanen, Head Coach HCB Südtirol Alperia: „Each game in this Pick Round is very difficult, you face the top 6 teams. We must get our game working a little bit better. - We have to play with the players we have and they have to step up and make a step more to replace those players.“

Tue, 05.03.2019: EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15)

Referees: GRUBER, STERNAT, Nothegger, Seewald.
• Since Andreas Brucker took over as the Head Coach in Salzburg, the Red Bulls earned the maximum of six points out of the games in Szekesfehervar (3:2) and Bozen (4:3). The Upper Austrian will make his home-debut as Salzburgs Head Coach against the Moser Medical Graz99ers now on Tuesday. While the Mozart Citizens showed up lately, the Styrians have been defeated in three straight games for the first time this season.
• EC Red Bull Salzburg will welcome the Mur Citizens with good memories: The Austrian Champion has won 16 straight home-games against the 99ers! The Styrians got their last victory in Salzburg on November 16th 2012 or 2.299 days ago.
• EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers is the meeting of the best team in Penalty Killing with the best team in Power Play: The Red Bulls have a Penalty Killing% of 86.4, while the 99ers have the best Power Play (PP%: 26.7% or 47 goals out of 176 Power Plays).
• EC Red Bull Salzburg is hunting for their 200th goal of the season: The League’s best offense has already netted 198 goals 2018/19. The 99ers have potted second most goals (193).
• The team having home-advantage has left the ice as the winner in five straight contests.
Quotes:
Andreas Brucker, Head Coach EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We have a strategy and want to follow our game-plan all 60 minutes, then we have a good chance for winning the games.“
Travis Oleksuk, forward Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We expect an offensive game. Each team can score goals. We are going for threee points to secure place 2.“

Tue, 05.03.2019: EC-KAC vs. spusu Vienna Capitals (19:15, SKY Sport 3 HD)

Referees: OFNER, TRILAR, Rezek, Zgonc.
• EC-KAC vs. Leader spusu Vienna Capitals is the meeting of the best defensive teams of the Pick Round. Klagenfurt has allowed just 15 goals so far and the Leader has given away just 12 goals out of seven games! Besides, the Capitals have potted most goals in the Intermediate Round as well (31). The Austrian clash will be broadcasted live by SKY Sport 3 HD on Tuesday.
• The spusu Vienna Capitals could already fix place 1 after the Pick Round on Tuesday: Therefore, the Leader must get two points more in Klagenfurt than the Moser Medical Graz99ers in Salzburg. But, therefore, Peter Schneider and Company must win in Klagenfurt. On the other side, EC-KAC has the chance to fix a top 4 spot and home-advantage in the Playoff Quarterfinals with three points…
• Each team has been convincing lately: spusu Vienna Capitals have left the ice as the winner in eight straight games and five consecutive road-games, while the Red Jackets have been successful in two matches in a row….
• EC-KAC is better ranked than Vienna in all special statistics (Power Play, Penalty Killing, scoring efficieny snd Fair Play).
• With the spusu Vienna Capitals with Peter Schneider the League’s best scorer will arrive in Klagenfurt on Tuesday. The Austrian forward has scored most points (67) and goals (34) in this Erste Bank Eishockey Liga season so far.
Quotes:
Marco Richter, forward EC-KAC: „We are looking forward to an intense game against Vienna. We have to play hard again and constantly as a team. Besides, our special teams have to improve.“
Mario Fischer, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „We want to finish the Pick Round on first place and stay in rhythm. We are looking forward to an intense and thrilling match in Klagenfurt.“

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 8. Qualification Round:

Tue, 05.03.2019: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (19:15)
Referees: BERNEKER, STOLC, Pardatscher, Tschrepitsch.
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz would qualify for the Playoffs with each win in Innsbruck on Tuesday. HCI has no chance to reach the Post Season.
• The Upper Austrians will travel with good memories to Tyrol: The Steel Citizens have won four straight meetings with the Sharks.
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz has collected points out of five straight matches (two wins), the Sharks just from two games (one win) during that span.
• Each club will try to earn his first win in March: The Black Wings have been defeated by HC Orli Znojmo (3:4/OT) and by the Dornbirn Bulldogs (3:4/OT) in their building during this month so far and the Tyroleans lost in Villach (1:3).
• Innsbrucks Andrew Clark (65 points) and Linz‘s Dan DaSilva (46 points) are their teams best scorers.
Quotes:
Florian Pedevilla, defenseman HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: "We want to have a good last week!“
Gerd Kragl, defenseman EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „As a team we can make it!“

 

Referees: GARON, M. NIKOLIC, Kontschieder, Schauer.
• HC Orli Znojmo would qualify for the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga Playoffs, when earning one point in Dornbirn on Tuesday. The Vorarlberger must win to stay in the Playoff race.
• Home-power will face road-power in Dornbirn on Tuesday. While the West-Austrians have won three straight home-games, the Czechs were successful in three straight road-games.
• Each team has played their last gamein Linz and won 4:3/OT. The Czechs on Friday, the Upper Austrians on Sunday.
• Znojmo’s Allan McPherson is on fire right now. The forward has scored points in seven straight games. He made 14 points (7G/7A) during that span.
• HC Orli Znojmo has the weakest Power Play (PP%: 15.3%).
Quotes
Dave MacQueen, Headcoach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We are still in the Playoff race. Tuesday, is the next big game for us. We will give everything to win and we need the support from our fans.“
Tomaz Halasz, goalie HC Orli Znojmo: „I am personally not looking at the standings that much. I believe the playoffs is ours to lose. Yes, it will be an important game at Dornbirn and they always play hard, but if we approach it with 100% focus and keep working hard as we did in our last games, we can be succesful. There is confidence in the locker room right now and we feel like if we go game-by-game with the same mental setup, we will be OK.“