Release from 06.03.2017

Matchpoints for Bozen and Salzburg in Quarterfinal number 5

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HCB Südtirol Alperia has the chance to fix the Semifinals as the third team on Tuesday at Linz. And on Wednesday also Champion EC Red Bull Salzburg could qualify for the second Playoff-round against the Moser Medical Graz99ers at home. Plus: Contract extentions at Innsbruck.

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„Do or Die“ game for Linz against Bozen
EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz must win on Tuesday at home in Quarterfinal number 5 against HCB Südtirol Alperia to extend the season. On Sunday the Austrians lost at Bozen 4:5 in Overtime and are back in the series now with 1:3. It was the first time the Steel Citizens lost three times in a row against the Upper Austrians. The Black Wings‘ bad run started with the International Break. Since the February-Break the Austrians won just one from eight games and scored only 12 goals. But the only win the Black Wings celebrated in QF 1 at home against the Italians with 2:1 after Overtime. Headcoach Rob Daum, who lead the Black Wings always into the semis and 2012 even to the title in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, knows what it needs to win games and also Playoff series: „A strong goalie-performance, the whole team must show their best hockey, the team must also stay healthy and it also needs some luck!“ Last time the Linzer did not make the semifinals was 2011 against EC VSV, Piche is back after a suspension. HCB Südtirol Alperia on the other side has on Tuesday at Linz the chance to make it into the semifinals. Four times the Foxes were in the same situation already and always the Italians had the chance to fix the series-win on the road: 2014 in their championship-winning-season the Italians used already their first matchball at Szekesfehervar (QF series ended 4:0), Villach (SF series ended 3:1) and Salzburg (finals ended 3:2). While 2015  Alexander Egger and Co. lost game 7 at Linz. In the Steel City the Foxes build their hopes on their strength team performance: So far they received just seven goals in four QF games and scored eleven times. Just EC Red Bull Salzburg (6) got less goals. So far in this QF series in all four games won that team, that made the first goal of the game. Besides all 18 goals were scored so far 5-on-5 on the ice. „The first goal and also a good PK is important“, knows HCB-Headcoach Tom Pokel.
 
99ers need miracle at Salzburg
EC Red Bull Salzburg could not fix the semifinals already on Sunday at Graz, lost 0:4. But the Mozart Citizens are still leading in the best of seven series with 3:1 and have now the next chance to get into the next Playoff-round on Wednesday at home. Against the 99ers the Champion won their last eleven home-games. Besides the Red Bulls were in the semifinals in the last four seasons. „We want to answer with a win and finish the series on Wednesday at home. We must make pressure from the start“, knows Forward Manuel Latusa. The Red Bulls would face EC-KAC in the semifinals. But the Moser Medical Graz99ers are still alive and travel after their clear 4:0-win in Quarterfinal number 4 with confidence on Wednesday to the Mozart City. There the 99ers are awaiting a difficult task, because they didn‘t win at Salzburg since November 16th 2012 or 1.571 days or eleven games. And another defeat means the end of the season for the Styrians.  „We got better game by game. Now we have the chance to win also game 2. I believe in this team“, said 99ers Headcoach Doug Mason. The Styrians would face the UPC Vienna Capitals in the semifinals. So far in this QF series in all four games won that team, that scored the first goal of the game.
 
Pallin stays Head Coach at Innsbruck
HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ announce the first important decisions for the next season: Rob Pallin stays Head Coach and also forward Hunter Bishop and Youngster Philipp Lindner will return to Innsbruck 2017/18.
 
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 5. Quarterfinal (best of seven):
Tue, 07.03.2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – HCB Südtirol Alperia (19:45, ServusTV live)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SMETANA, Rakovic, Seewald.
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, BWL – HCB: 1:3
Wed, 08.03.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:45, SKY live)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Nemeth, Zgonc.
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, RBS – G99: 3:1