Jesenice meets Asiago in Saturday's top game

Alps Hockey League:
Sat, 27.02.2021, 15:00: EC KAC II - HC Pustertal
Referees: LOICHT, PODLESNIK, Schonaklener, Voican I >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

Although the KAC had to admit defeat for the sixth time in a row on Thursday, the young Klagenfurt side once again gave a show of talent in a narrow 2-1 away loss to league leaders Olimpija. In the fight for the pre-playoffs, the Carinthians, who are in second-last place, need a sense of achievement, as they are currently ten points behind twelfth place. Their next opponent is HC Pustertal, who surprisingly gave up a point in yesterday's overtime win against last-place Linz. Nevertheless, it was the fourth win in a row for the third-placed South Tyroleans. Three weeks ago, the Wolves also won the first duel of the season against the KAC, but the 4:2 victory was only fixed in the final period.

• H2H AHL KA2 – HCP 1:8

Sat, 27.02.2021, 17:15: HDD SIJ Acroni Jesenice - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: GROZNIK, REZEK, Miklic, Snoj I >> FREE LIVESTREAM <<

Jesenice were unimpressed to see their twelve-game winning streak ended by Cortina. The second-placed Slovenians won the next two games straight away, scoring eleven goals. Now it comes to the duel with Asiago, who found their way back to success in Feldkirch on Thursday. In the first duel of the season, Asiago won 3-0 at the Odegar Stadium - Alex Gellert was involved in all goals with two goals and one assist. While Jesenice are still unbeaten at home this AHL season, Asiago have won their last four away games. This is already the 23rd AHL duel between these two teams.

• H2H AHL JES – ASH 10:12

Sat, 27.02.2021, 18:30: HC Gherdeina valgardena.it - EC Die Adler Stadtwerke Kitzbühel
Referees: LAZZERI, LOTTAROLI, Da Pian, Mantovani I >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

In the race for the pre-playoffs, Gardena and Kitzbühel have recently seen different developments. While the "Fury" won the last three games and are currently in eleventh place, the Tyroleans had to admit defeat just as often. Lying in 14th place, they are currently nine points off the pre-playoffs. Two weeks ago, however, the KEC won the first duel of the season 5:2 - Havlik and Dinhopel scored twice each. In addition, Kitzbühel have won all four of their away games in Wolkenstein so far.

• H2H AHL GHE – KEC 1:8

Sat, 27.02.2021, 19:00: Steel Wings Linz - S.G. Cortina Hafro
Referees: LEHNER, OREL, Moidl, Reisinger I >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

With a point win at third-placed Pustertal, last-placed Linz recorded a sense of achievement on Thursday. Now the Upper Austrians want to score in a home game as well, since they took their three points away from home. Cortina, who have won their last four games and have moved closer to the top four, will be here on Saturday. They are currently only four points off direct qualification for the quarter-finals. The Italians should be warned against another surprise. Although they won the last two duels with Linz, the Upper Austrians won the first AHL meeting after penalty shootout.

• H2H AHL SWL – SGC 1:2

Sat, 27.02.2021, 19:15: Red Bull Hockey Juniors - Rittner Buam
Referees: HUBER, SCHAUER, Kainberger, Wimmler I >> FREE LIVESTREAM <<

The Red Bull Hockey Juniors have alternated between wins and losses in their last five games - on Thursday, the Salzburg side won at home against Fassa. Currently, the Juniors are only one point behind Asiago in fifth place. In order to further improve their chances of reaching the top four, they now want to take revenge against Ritten for the away defeat in January - in the 4:1 victory, Julian and Simon Kostner each shone with a goal and an assist. The Buam had to admit defeat in Jesenice on Thursday, but they have established themselves in midfield in the table. 

• H2H AHL RBJ – RIT 5:11

Sat, 27.02.2021, 19:30: EC Bregenzerwald - HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: WIDMANN, WUNTSCHEK, Puff, Spiegel I >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

With a 4-1 home win over Sterzing on Tuesday, Bregenzerwald gained some breathing space in the race for the pre-playoffs - they are currently eight points ahead of 13th place. Now Markus Juurikkala's team awaits league leaders Ljubljana. The Slovenians celebrated their sixth win in a row yesterday and now have a goal difference of +100 (151 goals scored, 51 conceded). Olimpija have the best penalty killing in the league and seven players are in the top 10 of the +/- statistics. In the first match of the season, the favourites clearly won 7:2 at home. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that ECB has won three of the seven AHL duels so far.

• H2H AHL ECB – HKO 3:4

Sat, 27.02.2021, 19:30: Wipptal Broncos Weihenstephan - VEU Feldkirch
Referees: GIACOMOZZI, MOSCHEN, Bedana, De Zordo I >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

Sterzing and Feldkirch are looking for a sense of achievement. While the Broncos had to admit defeat twice in Vorarlberg recently, VEU even lost their last three games. The teams, ranked 12th and 10th respectively, now want to defend their place for the pre-playoffs. Feldkirch comes to Brixen with seven away defeats in their luggage, while the Broncos won the first game in their new home rink straight away. The first duel of the season also went clearly to the South Tyroleans with 7:2, who even won the last five encounters with VEU. 

• H2H AHL WSV – VEU 5:4

Sat, 27.02.2021, 19:30: SHC Fassa Falcons - EHC Lustenau
Referees: BENVEGNU, PINIE, Carrito, Cristeli I >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<

Fassa can look back on a rather mixed season so far. From the last five games they could only get two points out of a possible 15 - they are currently two points away from a pre-play-off place. The next opponents from Lustenau still have a score to settle with the Falcons. In the first meeting, the Italians took three points from Vorarlberg. The Lions have only won one of their last six games. However, they won three of their four appearances in Canazei. With 43 points, they are currently in the middle of the table.

• H2H AHL FAS - EHC 2:7

Photo: Vito de Romeo