Intermediate Round starts on Tuesday

1. Pick Round:
Tue, 12.02.2019: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. Fehervar AV19 (19:15)
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Nemeth, Soos.
• History will be written in Graz on Tuesday: Moser Medical Graz99ers and Fehervar AV19 will face each other for the very first time in the Pick Round! The 99ers start the "Intermediate Round" with the maximum of six bonus-points, the Hungarians with zero bonus-points.
• Each team has been convincing prior the International Break: Fehervar AV19 has collected most points (12) and victories (4) in the last five rounds, while the Austrians got ten points (four straight wins) during that span.
• The Styrians are leading 3:1 in the season-contest, among other games, Oliver Setzinger and Co. have won both home-games (4:3/SO, 4:3/OT).
• Fehervar AV19 has the best scoring% in the League (12.93). The Devils have already netted 166 goals out of 1.284 shots on net. Just Moser Medical Graz99ers (170) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (181) have already potted more goals 2018/19.
• Moser Medical Graz99ers are the best team in Power Play. The Styrians have scored 41 goals out of 152 Power Plays so far (PP%: 27.0).
Quotes:
Kevin Moderer, forward Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We want to earn as much points as possible in the Pick Round, to get the Pick Right for the QF and home-advantage in the Playoffs too. We have to keep on going and play our game.“
Hannu Järvenpää, Head Coach Fehervar AV19: „The 99ers are a very good team, they play a very organized game, they score many goals, as we do, and are strong in Power Play. We have to keep out of the Penalty Box, then we can take the win there.“

Tue, 12.02.2019: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (19:15)

Referees: BALUSKA, SMETANA, Gatol, Nagy.
• spusu Vienna Capitals will welcome HCB Südtirol Alperia in the first Pick Round on Tuesday. In Vienna, the 100.000th spectator of this season is expected. 99.650 fans have watched the first 22. home-games of the spusu Vienna Capitals 2018/19 so far.
• spusu Vienna Capitals start the Pick Round on place 2 with four bonus-points, Bozen on place 5 without zero bonus-points.
• The two clubs will face each other for the fifth time 2018/19. After four meetings, it’s 2:2 in the season-contest. Each club has won once at home and once on the road.
• spusu Vienna Capitals are the best home-team: The Austrians have already collected 49 points (16 wins) out of 22 home-games. But, watch out: Peter Schneider and Company have been defeated in two consecutive home-games lately. But, the Italians have lost two straight (road-)matches in Szekesfehervar (1:5) and Villach (4:6) prior the February Break as well.
• Vienna‘s Peter Schneider (58 points – 27G/31A) and Bozens Brett Findlay (47 points – 10G/37A) are their teams best scorers.
Quotes:
Kelsey Tessier, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „The best clubs will meet each other in the Pick-Round. The one or other team we will face in the Playoffs too. We will look from game to game and we go into each match as in a Playoff game.“
Kai Suikkanen, Head Coach HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We will face good teams in the Pick Round: Our aim is to finish Top 4. We are looking from game to game and we want to get the first three points in Vienna.“

Tue, 12.02.2019: EC-KAC vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (19:15, SKY Sport HD live)

Referees: K. NIKOLIC, OFNER, Rezek, Tschrepitsch.
• EC-KAC (3.) vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (4.) is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing at the beginning of the Pick Round on Tuesday (19:15). Klagenfurt starts the Intermediate Round on place 3 with two bonus-points, the Mozart Citizens on place 4 with one bonus-point. The Austrian-clash will be broadcasted live by SKY Sport HD on Tuesday.
• The two clubs showed different faces prior the February Break. While the „Red Jackets“ have won three straight matches, allowing just three goals, the Red Bulls have been defeated in both games this month so far and have allowed eleven goals in total.
• EC-KAC vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg is the meeting between the best defense and the best offense: While Klagenfurt has allowed fewest goals so far (96), the Mozart Citizens have potted most goals in the first 44 rounds (181). Besides, KAC-goalie Lars Haugen has the best save%: 92.8 and the best GAA: 1,8.
• The Special Units of each club has been convincing so far. EC-KAC has the second best Power Play (PP%: 24.6) and the third best Penalty Killing (PK%: 84.0), while the Red Bulls have potted most Power Play goals (42, PP%:  23.3) and the second best Penalty Killing (PK%: 85.0).
• It’s 2:2 in the season-contest. After EC-KAC winning the first two meetings, the Austrian Champion was successful in the last two clashes.
Quotes:
Martin Schumnig, defenseman EC-KAC: „We are looking forward to a fast and intense game with Playoff character. We are going for a Champions Hockey League ticket and the best possible postion in this Pick Round.“
Greg Poss, Head Coach EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We are looking forward to ten games against strong teams in the Pick Round. EC-KAC is a strong skating team. A good start into the Pick Round is important. We are going for a win in Klagenfurt.“

1. Qualification Round:

Tue, 12.02.2019: HC Orli Znojmo vs. EC Panaceo VSV (18:30, SPORT5 live)
Referees: GRUBER, TRILAR, Bärnthaler, Zgonc.
• EC Panaceo VSV will travel with much new offensiv-power to Znojmo on Tuesday. The Carinthians have signed with Adis Alagic, Johan Eriksson and Justin Maylan three new forwards during the February Break.
• HC Orli Znojmo starts the Qualification Round on place 2 with four bonus-points, Villach on place 5 without bonus-points.
• EC Panaceo VSV will fight against their bad road-run in Znojmo on Tuesday. The Drau Citizens have been defeated in four straight road-games. It’s 2:2 in the season-contest, each team has won on the road lately…
• The two clubs had the same run in the last four rounds prior the February Break (D/D/W/W).
• The Special Units of each team could not convince so far: Znojmo has the weakest Power Play (PP%: 14.4%), Villach the weakest Penalty Killing (PK:  70.5%). Besides, the Austrians have collected most PIM (563) as well.
Quotes:
Miroslav Frycer, Head Coach HC Orli Znojmo: „We know our performances in the regular season have had ups and downs. Our goal now is to keep improving only. We are in good physical shape and the most important thing is the mental state. When everyone puts his ego and individual points aside and works for the team, we can be successful. Obviously, if you look at the table, bonus points and number of games to be played, the opening game against Villach is extremely important right away. We want to show our fans that we can win at home regularly and get three points.”
Gerhard Unterluggauer, Head Coach EC Panaceo VSV: „We must play our game, aggressiv and we have to skate a lot."

 

Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Schauer, Sparer.
• Dornbirn Bulldogs and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ will face each other in the west-derby at the beginning of the Qualification Round on Tuesday. The Vorarlberger start the Qualification Round on place 3 with two bonus-points and the Sharks on place 4 with one bonus-point.  
• The Erste Bank Eishockey League’s best goal-scorers Brendan O‘Donnell (DEC) and Andrew Yogan (HCI) as well as the best scorer Andrew Clark (HCI) will be in action in Dornbirn on Tuesday. O’Donnell has netted 30 goals out of 37 games for DEC so far, while Yogan has potted 29 goals out of 44 matches for HCI. Besides, Shark Clark has scored most points (62).
• Each team will try to return on the winning-street: The Vorarlberger have been defeated in five straight games, Innsbruck lost two games in a row.
• It’s 2:2 in the season-clash: DEC has won the first two meetings, HCI was successful twice lately, both games were played around New Year.
• Trotter (DEC) and Lamoureux (HCI) have potted at least one goal in three straight west-derbys.
Quotes
Kevin Macierzynski, forward Dornbirn Bulldogs, makes his comeback: „We have the quality to beat each team, when playing our game full 60 minutes.“
Tyler Spurgeon, Captain HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We will already play our first "Playoff game" on Tuesday. We have to show our best performance and give our best!“