Release from 22.11.2021

Klagenfurt can advance to CHL quarterfinals

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By reaching the knockout phase of the Champions Hockey League for the first time, EC-KAC has already achieved something historic. Now the "Rotjacken" have chance on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals too. With a four-goal lead, the reigning bet-at-home ICE Hockey League champions will start the return leg (6:50 pm live on ORF Sport+) against four-time Swedish champions Leksands IF.

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It was a memorable hockey night last Tuesday in the Stadthalle Klagenfurt, as the 32-time Austrian champions defeated Swedish side Leksands IF 4-0 in the Champions Hockey League round of 16 first leg. A magnificent Sebastian Dahm, who grabbed another shutout Sunday night against Znojmo, and Johannes Bischofberger shone with a four-point game including a brace.

Klagenfurt struggles with injuries
After Sunday’s home win against Znojmo, Klagenfurt hast to deal with some more injuries, as Matt Fraser is not available on Tuesday. Jakob Holzer, Kele Steffler, Paul Postma, Nick Petersen, Dennis Sticha, Johannes Bischofberger, Samuel Witting, Matt Fraser, as well as Maximilian Theirich and Jannik Fröwis, who were actually scheduled as replacements, will not head to Sweden. The use of Andrej Tavželj, who was also ruled out injured on Sunday, is uncertain, Valentin Hammerle will be ready from the Future Team.

Leksands’ form curve points downwards
The fourth-ranked SHL side form curve points downwards, after losing the last four league games. Especially on the offensive end, the engine of the four-time Swedish champions is faltering, scoring only one goal per game on average. Including the defeat in Klagenfurt, the club, which has been back in the top division since 2019, did not win in the last five games. Nevertheless, the Swedes have had a sense of achievement: they extended the valid two-year contract with their top scorer Max Véronneau for another season until the end of the 23/24 campaign. With twelve goals and eleven assists, the 25-year-old Canadian is the second-best scorer in the running SHL season. He collected one goal and three assists in his seven CHL games so far.

Champions Hockey League | Round of 16 second leg:
Tue, 23.11.2021, 7.00 pm: Leksands IF - EC-KAC
From 6.50 pm LIVE on ORF Sport+