League’s best PP teams face each other in Vienna

bet-at-home ICE Hockey League | 28.12.2021 | Schedule:
Tue, 28.12.2021, 7.15 pm: Dornbirn Bulldogs – HC Pustertal Wölfe
Referees: BERNEKER, HUBER, Martin, Sparer. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
HC Pustertal Wölfe has improved significantly in recent weeks – and since the head-coach change from Luciano Basile to Raimo Helminen: The South Tyroleans achieved a point average of 2.000 in the 13 games under the Finn. Under his predecessor, the Wölfe came to just over a third (0.750). With this improvement and also because the squad has recently been largely spared injuries the eleventh-ranked ICE newcomer has bounced back in the fight for the pre-playoffs. Recently, the team around Johan Harju (12G|14A) showed comeback qualities, making up ground in three of the last four victorious games in each case. Also outside the pre-playoff places are the Dornbirn Bulldogs, which lost at home to HCB Südtirol Alperia after two straight wins on Sunday. Shawn O'Donnell made his debut but still remained without a point. The Wolves prevailed in the two season meetings so far, most recently with a commanding 4-0 win on December 10th.

Tue, 28.12.2021, 7.15 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: FICHTNER, RENCZ, Bedynek, Seewald. | >> FREE-Livestream <<
First and last of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League meet in Salzburg. EC Red Bull Salzburg welcomes Steinbach Black Wings Linz. The leader has recently reeled off six wins in a row, scoring 5.2 goals per game and conceding just 2.3. Forward Peter Schneider has an impressive form available, scoring a total of six goals in the last three games and taking the lead in the scoring charts with 18 goals. The second-best ICE goal scorer is Linz's Brian Lebler (17). However, the Black Wings lack offensive punch across the board. While Salzburg has three other players in double figures with Brennan, Nissner and Raffl, Linz's second-best scorer Emilio Romig holds at seven goals. Since the start of the season, the Upper Austrians have been struggling with their poor offensive power, scoring only 64 goals so far. The Red Bulls dominated the so far lone meeting between the two teams this season with 4-0. Linz will have a full roster available for the first time on Tuesday, with Andreas Kristler having recovered from his upper-body injury and set to return to the lineup. Salzburg, on the other hand, will be without convalescent Florian Baltram (upper body) and U20 World Cup players Thaler, Leonhardt and Borzecki.

Tue, 28.12.2021, 7.15 pm: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC
Referees: OFNER, SOOS, Bärnthaler, Vaczi. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The Moser Medical Graz99ers have been unbeaten in the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League for six games now, sitting on seventh spot coming close to the top six and their upcoming opponent EC-KAC. The difference between the two teams is currently only 0.033 points. The 99ers have already managed a six-game winning streak several times in their league history, only once they have achieved more victories in a row: between January 25th and February 22nd, they remained unbeaten in eight consecutive games. After five rames games in a row, the Styrians, for whom Mike Zalewski made his comeback with a goal in the 6-0 shutout in Linz on Sunday, return to the Merkur Eisarena, where they have been without a loss of points for five games and have conceded only six goals during this series. However, the home record against the EC-KAC is negative: in six of the last eight home games against the "Rotjacken" the 99ers lost. For the Klagenfurt team, it is the first road game since December 10th – and on foreign ice, they have always scored in the last four games, winning three times. Overall, the EC-KAC is the third-best road team in the league with 1.69 PPG.

Tue, 28.12.2021, 7.15 pm: EC GRAND Immo VSV – HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: NIKOLIC M., SMETANA, Gatol, Zgonc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
After the 1:9 debacle in the derby on Sunday, the EC GRAND Immo VSV hosts the second-ranked HK SZ Olimpija. The Slovenians also suffered a defeat on December 26th, losing 2-3 in Bruneck. For the "Dragons" it was the sixth defeat in the last eight games. Villach's form curve points downwards too: Before the derby ignominy, there were two defeats, also against Ljubljana. Back then, a lightning start helped the Slovenians to a 4:3 away win and the second success over the "Adler" this season. The Carinthians have lost their home strength above all: From the last four games in the Stadthalle they got only two points (3:2 win after SO over HCI), before that 22 from ten games. HK SZ Olimpija around ICE top scorer Guillaume Leclerc (13G|22P) is still performing in penalty killing with 84.69%. However, Villach also has its strengths there with 82.1%. Brett Flemming is missing for VSV due to a lower body injury.

Tue, 28.12.2021, 7.15 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – HC TESLA Orli Znojmo
Referees: HRNSKY, PIRAGIC, Durmis, Hribar. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
In the Ost-Derby, the spusu Vienna Capitals will meet HC TESLA Orli Znojmo. The Vienna Capitals have recently alternated between wins and losses. At home, they are still number one in the league with ten wins from 13 games (2.23 PPG). Head coach Dave Barr's team has been particularly convincing in their own defensive zone, conceding just 1.85 goals per home game. Of the two duels so far this season, each team won once. Vienna is still missing Brody Sutter, who scored in both games against the Czechs. In return, Nicolai Meyer is in good shape, scoring in each of the past seven games (5G|6A). Znojmo (27.8%) and Vienna (25.3%) are also the best powerplay teams in the league. While the Caps scored on PP in the last three consecutive games, Znojmo managed to do so three times in their most recent 6:3 win over AVS. Vienna has also a strong home-record against Znojmo available, as they have won the last seven derbies on home ice, the last derby road win was achieved by the Czechs on November 4th, 2018 (9:3).

Tue, 28.12.2021, 7.45 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Miklic, Pardatscher. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
Almost completely HCB Südtirol Alperia hosts HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie. Only Dylan Di Perna and the injured Simon Pitschieler are missing for the "Foxes" in the second season duel with the "Haie". The two-time champion, which last won 4:2 against Dornbirn with all four PP occasion of the Vorarlberger destroyed and even successfully completed both power play opportunities. The Innsbruck side won the first season meeting 5-2 but arrives after a 1-4 defeat on home ice against Salzburg on Sunday. On the road things are currently going much better for the eighth-placed team in the table, with only two of the last eight road games having been lost. Innsbruck is missing its best goal-scorer with the suspended Zach Magwood.