On Friday starts a weekend full of hockey

>HCB Südtirol Alperia will play two games within two days this weekend: The Foxes travel to Znojmo on Friday and will continue their road-trip in Vienna on Saturday. The Italians need points in the fight for a Top 6 spot. The Czechs can not reach the Top 6 anymore, but the „Red Eagles“ need three points in the fight for bonus-points for the Qualification Round.

>The two clubs had a different run lately: The Italians collected points in all six games 2018 (four wins). The Czechs on the other side lost their last three games and have been defeated in their last five home-games.
>HC Orli Znojmo and HCB Südtirol Alperia will face twice within the next seven days: This Friday the two teams meet in Znojmo and next Friday in Bozen. The first two season-clashes ended with road-wins, in both meetings the successful team scored four goals.
>Mike Halmo (HCB), Jan Lattner and Eric Nemec (both ZNO) scored at least one goal in the first two season-clashes.
>The Foxes netted in the last five rounds at least one Power Play goal per game.
Quotes:
Viktor Schweitzer, player HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We don't look at the standings, we just have to try to win our games from now 'till the end of the regular season. Then we can watch our situation and start with the new round. We know that Znojmo and Vienna are difficult places, but we also know that we have to give our best, trying to come back at home with 6 points."
Andre Lakos, defenseman HC Orli Znojmo: „We need to work together hard to be successful!“

 

Referees: LEMELIN, ZRNIC, Ettlmayr, Zgonc.
>EC VSV and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz showed different faces lately: The Upper Austrians are the only unbeaten team 2018, Brian Lebler and Company have won all six games in January. EC VSV has lost five consecutive games and has scored just seven goals.
>The Black Wings have the best offense. The Upper Austrians have netted already 142 goals from 40 rounds.
>EC VSV is leading in the season-contest 2:1, but the last meeting has been won by Linz one week ago 2:0.
>Both teams will finish the first part of the regular season with four Austrian clashes.
>EC VSV is the weakest home-team. The Eagles collected just 25 points (eight wins) from 20 home-games, lately they were defeated in three consecutive home-games.
Quotes:
Markus Peintner, Headcoach EC VSV: „We must give 100%. The next games against the top-teams from Linz or Vienna will be a perfect preparation for the Qualification Round for us to get more compact in the defense.“
Shane O’Brien, player EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We are prepared perfect for each game. Our coach makes a great job.“

 

Referees: K. NIKOLIC, OROLIN, Kaspar, Stanzel.
>Vienna Capitals (1.) and KHL Medvescak Zagreb (6.) will face twice in the next five days: On Friday the two teams will meet in Vienna and on Tuesday in Zagreb.
>The Vienna Capitals have the chance to fix place 1 after the first part of the regular season and a Champions Hockey League ticket for 2018/19. Therefore the Caps must be nine points ahead of persecutor Linz after Fridays games. KHL Medvescak Zagreb needs points to defend place 6, which would mean the Playoff Qualification after round 44.
>The first two season-clashes ended with home-wins for KHL Medvescak Zagreb (4:1) and the Capitals (2:0).
>The Vienna Capitals have had an up and down in the year 2018, a win and a defeat has always rotated. Lately the Champion won in Bozen after Shoot Out. Zagreb has been on Fire in their last game, the Bears beat HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 9:2.
>KHL Medvescak Zagreb showed two different faces so far 2017/18. While the Croatians won 14 from 20 home-games, they have collected just 13 points (five wins) from 19 road-games. Besides the Bears were defeated in their last two road-games and received ten goals. In the last five rounds the Bears, who presented with Kevin Carr a new goalie this week, will have to play another three games on the road (in Vienna, Szekesfehervar and Znojmo).
Quotes:
Niki Hartl, player Vienna Capitals: „We must be ready from the start!“
Aaron Fox, Sportdirector KHL Medvescak Zagreb and former Caps Topscorer: „Kevin Carr is ready to help us and finish our season the right way!“

 

Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Kontschieder, Seewald.
>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (5.) and EC-KAC (4.) are neighbours in the standing.
>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ has the chance to fix the Playoffs on Friday at home. The Sharks need three points and help from the Dornbirn Bulldogs. EC-KAC is already qualified for the Playoffs.
>Both team will finish part 1 of the regular season with four Austrian clashes.
>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ has won both home-games in the year 2018 and was successful just five days ago in Klagenfurt.
>The KAC-players Marco Richter and Manuel Ganahl netted at least one goal in the last two meetings with Innsbruck.
Quotes:
Rob Pallin,Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We must show our best hockey and fix the Playoffs this weekend!“
Steve Walker, Headcoach EC-KAC:  „Innsbruck has a strong offensive game, so it will be very important that we defend hard and stay out of the penalty box.“

 

Fri, 19.01.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15, SKY Sport Austria HD and Streaming SKY Ticket live)
Referees: BERNEKER, SMETANA, Pardatscher, Sparer.
>Dornbirn Bulldogs (8.) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (7.) are neighbours in the standing.
>The Dornbirn Bulldogs will fight against their bad home-run on Friday. The Vorarlberger have been defeated in their last four home-games and received 21 goals.
>Moser Medical Graz99ers are the worst road-team. The Styrians collected just 13 points (four wins) from 20 road-games. But the 99ers travel with good memories  to Dornbirn. There the Mur Citizens won already this season.
>The last five clashes ended with just one goal difference.
>Graz99ers (PIM: 315) and Dornbirn Bulldogs (PIM: 335) are leading in the Fairplay statistic.
Quotes:
Jamie Arniel, forward Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We always have a chance to win. We must play good defense and simple. Everybody must give his best!“
Brock Nixon, Forward Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We are facing two difficult opponents in Dornbirn and Salzburgthis weekend. Our aim are six points. Therefore it needs a strong team performance!“

 

Sat, 20.01.2018: EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. Fehervar AV19 (19:15)
Referees: LEMELIN, SMETANA, Kontschieder, Seewald.
>EC Red Bull Salzburg (3.) and Fehervar AV19 (10.) will play two games within two days. The Mozart Citizens will welcome Moser Medical Graz99ers on Sunday as well and the Hungarians will continue their road-trip on Sunday in Dornbirn
>EC Red Bull Salzburg and Fehervar AV19 will face twice within the next nine days. The first two meetings ended with home-wins for the Red Bulls (8:4) and Fehervar AV19 (2:1).
>The two teams performed different lately: The Red Bulls have won twice lately and have scored ten goals. The Devils have been defeated in the last two rounds and have received ten goals.
>Salzburg has collected points from eight consecutive games (seven wins) since the beginning of December. Fehervar AV19 on the other side has celebrated so far totally seven road-wins this season.   
>Fehervar AV19 needs points in the fight for a Top 6 spot and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44. EC Red Bull Salzburg is already qualified for the Pick Round and the Post Season.
Quotes:
Bernhard Starkbaum, Goalie EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We must play the same style of hockey as we did in our last games.“
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: "We are travelling to Salzburg and we are clearly not the favourites. But every point is very important if we would like to reach the top six. I think our team is strong enough to do that, but we have to show it on the ice.“

 

Sat, 20.01.2018: Vienna Capitals vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (19:15, www.video33.it live)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SIEGEL, Ettlmayr, Kaspar.
>Vienna Capitals and HCB Südtirol Alperia will make their second game within two days.
>The Vienna Capitals have won the last eleven meetings with the Foxes. In the last three meetings the Leader has scored exactly three goals. Just four days ago the Champion won in Bozen 3:2/SO.
>Rafael Rotter (VIC) and Mike Angelidis (HCB) have scored in all three season-meetings at least one goal.
>The Foxes celebrated their last win in Vienna on October 9th 2015 or 832 days ago. Since that day the Caps have had the upper hand in eight consecutive home-games. 
>On October 9th 2017, when the two teams meet the last time in Vienna, Pekka Tuokkola prevented the Caps-net. Now the Fin is HCB-goalie.