Release from 19.12.2019

Linz and Klagenfurt want to catch up with Salzburg

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The EC-KAC and the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz have the chance to catch up with leader EC Red Bull Salzburg on Friday. Both teams play abroad and are currently three points behind Salzburg, which is free from play on Friday. Both Linz and their upcoming opponent Moser Medical Graz99ers and the spusu Vienna Capitals will probably be able to appoint their latest new signings on Friday. The HC Orli Znojmo and the Dornbirn Bulldogs are in action both on Friday and Saturday.

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4 facts before Friday & Saturday:

  • The game betweenthe HC Orli Znojmo and the EC-KAC will be broadcasted live on Sky Sport Austria.
  • Leader EC Red Bull Salzburg is free from play on Friday.
  • The HC Orli Znojmo and the Dornbirn Bulldogs play two games within 21 hours.
  • Three newcomers will probably make their debut on Friday. David Aslin for Vienna, Alexander Reichenberg for Graz and Hunter Fejes for Linz.

Fr, 20.12.2019, 19.15: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“
Referees: BALUSKA, FICHTNER, Gatol, Nedeljkovic.

  • With the duel Hydro Fehérvár AV19 against HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” two teams that won on the last matchday will meet on Friday.
  • Both teams were able to prevail against a team from the top in the league: Fehérvár won 5:2 in Salzburg, Innsbruck defeated Klagenfurt with 4:1.
  • Last year's quarter-finalist from Hungary would finally connect to the top five with a win. They are five points behind fifth Znojmo
  • The Hungarians have won their last two games, always scoring in the last four games (3 wins, one defeat after SO). For the "Haie" it was the first win after six defeats in a row.
  • The Hungarians have won their last four home games against Innsbruck.
  • The two teams play their 50th duel against each other. Fehérvár won 27 times.
  • Fehérvár head coach Hannu Järvenpää celebrated an anniversary on Wednesday (December 18th). On this day, exactly ten years ago, he was in charge of a team in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (Ljubljana) for the first time.
  • Defenders Florian Pedevilla, Thomas Vallant (both injured) and Jakob Wetzelsberger are not fit to play for Innsbruck.

Pregame Statemtens: Miha Zajc (HCI) | Hannu Järvenpää (AVS)

Fr, 20.12.2019, 19.15: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz
Referees: NIKOLIC K., ZRNIC, Sparer, Zgonc.

  • In the duel between the Moser Medial Graz99ers and the EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz, there will be new signings to admire. Both teams had to react on the long-term injury of one player (Dwight King | G99 and Marek Kalus | BWL).
  • Graz signed Alexander Reichenberg, Linz Hunter Fejes.
  • Both teams have performed well recently and have won three of their last four games. Linz even won eight of its last ten games.
  • With a win after regular time, Linz has the chance to catch up on points with leader EC Red Bull Salzburg which is free from play on Friday.
  • The home team won in each of the two previous season games.
  • The two teams will play their 97th duel against each other within the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (since the season 2003/04). The Black Wings have won exactly 60 games so far. From the last ten games, however, they could only claim three.
  • 42% of all matches were decided with only one goal difference.
  • At Linz, Matt Finn, Julian Pusnik, Mark McNeill and Juraj Valach are returning to the lineup. Raphael Wolf is missing.

Pregame Statements: Alexander Reichenberg (G99) | Hunter Fejes (BWL)

Fr, 20.12.2019, 19.15: spusu Vienna Capitals – Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: NIKOLIC M., OFNER, Kis-Kiraly, Soos.

  • The Dornbirn Bulldogs are starting another road trip on Friday, visiting the spusu Vienna Capitals.
  • The caps have been waiting for a goal in the Erste Bank Arena for 138 minutes. In the last two games they did not score (KAC & G99).
  • David Aslin should celebrate his debut for the Viennese. He replaces Taylor Vause, who is injured on the lower body. Vienna also has lots of long term injured, for example Patrick Peter, Patrick Kittinger, Phil Lakos and Rafael Rotter.
  • Vienna have won the previous two duels with Dornbirn this season (3:2 in Dornbirn and 4:3 in Vienna).
  • The Viennese have to defend a winning streak against the Bulldogs. The last six duels the Caps could win.
  • Dave Cameron's team has won 21 out of a total of 32 matches so far.

Pregame Statements: Sondre Olden (VIC) | Kai Suikkanen (DEC)

Fr, 20.12.2019, 19.15: EC Panaceo VSV – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: BULOVEC, TRILAR, Kontschieder, Nothegger.

  • The EC Panaceo VSV and the HCB Südtirol Alperia fight against each other for the Pick Round.
  • While Villach is in seventh place and currently four points behind the fifth, Bozen is in sixth place.
  • At home the "Eagles" have been waiting for a success after regular time for two games. Nevertheless, the Carinthians are the third best home team in the league. The "Foxes" have not won away for more than a month (November 17th 3:1 @Znojmo) after regular time.
  • The previous two games this season - as well as the last seven in total - were won by the home team. 23 of 34 duels the home team has won.
  • Of the 34 games against each other, Bozen has won 22.
  • Villach still has to do without Nico Brunner and Alen Bibic. Adis Alagic is back in the line-up.

Pregame Statements: Jerry Pollastrone (VSV) | Daniel Frank (HCB)

Fr, 20.12.2019: 19:15: HC Orli Znojmo – EC-KAC (live auf Sky Sport Austria 1 HD)
Referees: KINCSES, PIRAGIC, Rezek, Vaczi.

  • In the third game this season between the HC Orli Znojmo and the EC-KAC, the Czechs want to celebrate their first victory. The Carinthians won 4:3 in both previous duels.
  • Both teams are above the line in the table. With 43 points, Znojmo is fifth in the table. With five points more Klagenfurt is in second place.
  • After six wins in a row, ZNO lost on Sunday, against the Moser Medical Graz99ers, 3:4 after overtime. The last defeat after regular time dates from November 22, 2019 (4:6 @ spusu Vienna Capitals).
  • The EC-KAC lost for the first time after six wins in a row last Friday. Against the HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie', the red jackets suffered a 1:4 away loss and conceded the first goal after 262 minutes and 2 seconds (all time record in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga). The second defeat in a row followed on Sunday: in a high-class match, the defending champion led 3:0 against Linz and finally lost with 4:5.
  • Znojmo is at the top of the league in scoring efficiency (11,78%). The KAC is in 8th place with 9.21%.
  • Manuel Geier scored his 99th goal the KAC in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga on Sunday. Overall, the 31-year-old scored 248 points. Thus, he only needs one more goal to reach the 100th anniversary and two more points for his 250th scorer point.
  • The EC-KAC will travel to the Czech Republic without Michael Kernberger (suspended), Nick Petersen and Lars Haugen (both injured). Compared to the most recent game against Linz, Stefan Geier, who was recently suspended, and Matthew Neal are returning to the lineup.

Pregame Statements: Teemu Lassila (ZNO) | Niki Kraus (KAC)

Sa, 21.12.2019, 17.30: HC Orli Znojmo – Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Nagy, Soos.

  • The HC Orli Znojmo is playing another home game around 20 hours after the game against champion EC-KAC and faces the Dornbirn Bulldogs on Saturday.
  • The Bulldogs will play in Vienna on Friday and then travel to the Czech Republic.
  • Znojmo can further hold steady his place in the top 5 with a win.
  • The Czechs have been without a defeat for five games against the Bulldogs and have therefore also won the previous three duels of the season.
  • The two teams face each other for the 48th time. Dornbirn has only won 16 games against Znojmo so far.