On Friday is played the third round in the Quarterfinals

Znojmo hopes to rebeat 2015/16-Quarterfinals
On Friday is played the third Quarterfinal between EC-KAC and HC Orli Znojmo at Klagenfurt. The „Red Jackets“ are leading in the Best-of-seven series with 2:0. So far in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (since 2003/04-season) Klagenfurt always won their Playoff-series, when they were leading 2:0. Lately the Carinthians won eight games in a row. Now follows Quarterfinal number 3 at Klagenfurt. Manuel Geier and Co. have the chance to get four matchpoints with a win. Lately EC-KAC was successful at home four times in a row. But take attention: Both meetings with the Czechs in the Playoffs 2016/2017 so far were decided by just one goal. „We always have to be focussed and concentrated, because the Czechs have individual players, who can decide games. We will try everything to win also game 3 at home with the support from our fans“, reported Klagenfurts goalie Tomas Duba. HC Orli Znojmo is already under pressure at Klagenfurt! After loosing Quarterfinal number 2 against EC-KAC at home 2:3, the Vize-Champion is back in the best-of-seven-series with 0:2. The „Red Eagles“ were already three times in the same situation in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga: In 2011/12-season HC Orli Znojmo then also lost game 3 and 4 vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb in the Quarterfinals. One year later the Czechs won then game 3 in the first Play-off-round at Vienna, but finally lost the series 1:4. And still best known is last years Quarterfinal against Dornbirner EC: Against the Bulldogs Peter Pucher and Company were able to turn around a 0:2 with four wins in a row in the Quarterfinals and then they even made it into the finals. Znojmos YoungStar Libor Sulak knows: „The series is not over yet. We want to make the 1:2 at Klagenfurt.“

 

The Quarterfinal UPC Vienna Capitals vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ goes in the third round on Friday at Vienna. Vienna has the chance to get four matchpucks with a home-win already. The Caps are strong at home, they won their last five home-games and received totally just four goals. Jonathan Ferland and Co. also played strong in Power Play so far in the Playoffs, they scored five from their nine goals in Power Play. „We must look to win now also the third game, because it makes a big difference if the score is 3:0 or 2:1. We have to stay focussed“, knows Viennas Forward Andreas Nödl. The Tyroleans on the other side are already under pressure at Vienna. After loosing game 2 at home in minute 104 3:4 after Overtime the Sharks are already back in the best-of-seven-series 0:2. At Vienna the Sharks try to get their first win now. Therefore the Tyroleans also need to end their bad run on the road, because lately HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ lost seven road-games in a row, this means the Sharks are nearly two month without a road-win. At Vienna Tyler Spurgeon and Company have won already once this season in the middle of November 2016 with 9:7, but this was their only success in eight clashes so far 2016/17. „Vienna is to beat, we must play the same way, we did in game 2. We need this win!“, knows HCI defenseman Daniel Mitterdorfer.

 

The quarterfinal-series between EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and HCB Südtirol Alperia is the only series, which is tied after two games. Both teams won at home after a quick 1:0 lead. On Friday follows now already game 3 at Linz. The Black Wings so far scored just three goals in the two games in the Quarterfinals. „That is not enough. We miss the final pressure infront of the net. During the season, we were one of the clubs, that made the most goals. This goals we need again. We need to find a way to score more goals. But I am sure, the goals will come“, said Assistant Coach Mark Szücs. The Black Wings miss especially their Power Play goals, which often make the difference in close games. So far the best Power Play of the League made no Power Play goal in the Playoffs. The Foxes need at least one win at Linz in the Playoffs to get in the next round. Therefore the Italians also have to end their bad run on the road: In the year 2017 the Italians lost so far all ten road-games and never scored more then three goals. „In game two our tactic was good and the players played with heart and ambition. Now we want to attack at Linz!“, knows HCB-Headcoach Tom Pokel. At Linz the Foxes got their last win nearly one year ago, since that day the Black Wings five times in a row had the better end at home.

 

EC Red Bull Salzburg hosts Moser Medical Graz99ers in Quarterfinal number 3 on Friday. The Champion is leading in the series with 2:0 and has the chance to get four matchpoints already on Friday at home. „It was a good start into the Play-offs, we are leading 2:0. But we have to stay focussed, because in the Playoffs many things can happen. Last year we were ahead against Klagenfurt 2:0 and suddenly back 2:3. We also have to continue to play solid hockey“, knows Salzburgs Captain Matthias Trattnig. At home the Champion beat the 99ers lately ten times in  a row. The Styrians are already under pressure at Salzburg. After two defeats in a row the 99ers are looking for their first win in the series. Therefore they have to end their bad series at Salzburg. There the 99ers won last time on November 16th 2012, since that day the 99ers left Salzburg ten times as the loser. „Salzburg plays fast, with speed and smart. Each team has problems with that. We will try everything again. The better team should win“, said 99ers-Captain Oliver Setzinger. Both teams did not score so far in Power Play in the Playoffs.

 

Fri, 03.03.2017: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15)
Referees: BERNEKER, LEMELIN, Nothegger, Verworner.
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, RBS – G99: 2:0

Fri, 03.03.2017: EC-KAC – HC Orli Znojmo (19:45, SKY live)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Pardatscher, Seewald.
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, KAC – ZNO: 2:0

Fri, 03.03.2017: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – HCB Südtirol Alperia (19:15, video33.it, in ITA)
Referees: GRUBER, K. NIKOLIC, Rakovic, Schauer.
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, BWL – HCB: 1:1

Fri, 03.03.2017: UPC Vienna Capitals – HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (19:45, ServusTV live)
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Nemeth, Soos.
Standing Best-of-seven-Serie, VIC – HCI: 2:0