On the prowl of the 25.000 regular season goal

Four facts of the 19th round:

• The 25.000 regular season goal could be made in the 19th round. On average, exactly 6,17 goals per game were scored in the current season. The average of all regular season games since the season 2003/04 is 6,12 goals per game. 
• The game KHL Medvescak Zagreb against HC Orli Znojmo is postponed to Dezember 14th.
• With Moser Medical Graz 99ers against HCB Südtirol Alperia the current best placed teams battle for the exclusive lead in standings. 
• While Sky Sport Austria broadcasts EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz against EC Red Bull Salzburg, Video33.it shows Graz hosting Bozen and DIGI TV Saturday’s game between Fehervar and Dornbirn. 

Fr, 16.11.2018, 19.15: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ – EC KAC
Referees: BERNEKER, PIRAGIC, Pardatscher, Sparer

• After the international break both the HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” and the EC KAC won their first games. The Tirolese gained a win in Salzburg, the Carinthians celebrated a home win against Linz.
• While the “sharks” collected eight of nine possible points in the last three games, the KAC earned six points in the same period. These two teams are split by five points in the table, while the KAC is ranked fifth, Innsbruck sixth. 
• After being ahead twice, the “redjackets” won the first season meeting thanks to Adam Comrie in the extra session. 
• Both teams showed a solid defense in box play situations with Innsbruck surviving 83,3% (#3) being shorthanded and KAC 82,1% (#4).
• The “sharks” won three of the last four duels, each with two goals difference. Further, Innsbruck won seven of the last eight home games against KAC.

Pregame quotes:

Daniel Wachter, player HCI: “Every single game in this league is a tough on. It’s about bits and bobs and the spur of the moment. Klagenfurt is well organized on the defensive end. We need to fight.“

Stefan Geier, player KAC: „We worked hard during the international break and had a good game on Tuesday. Like Linz, Innsbruck is a very offensive team. We need to be hard-lined in front of our net. We struggled in the past games at Innsbruck, so we badly need to pick it up from the beginning.”

Fr, 16.11.2018, 19.15: EC Panaceo VSV – spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: STOLC, ZRNIC, Nagy, Soos

• After nine consecutive defeats EC Panaceo VSV hosts spusu Vienna Capitals. The Viennese ended their losing streak (five defeats) against Zagreb past gameday.
• With their 14th season win the Capitals could retake second spot in standings.
• The VSV remitted a 2:0 lead in the first meeting of the season and suffered a 3:4 defeat in the end. Peter Schneider collected three points (2 goals, 1 assist).
• Both teams struggled on powerplay so far: The Caps converted only eleven goals on 72 powerplay occasions, the “eagles” eight of 58. 
• Caps forward Raphael Rotter scored in the last three games against Villach, each on powerplay situations.
• The VSV won the last three home games against Vienna. Cap’s last victory in Villach was on November 10th, 2016 (3:2). 

Pregame quotes:

Brandon Alderson, player VSV: “Despite suffering another tight defeat past gameday, we stay positive. There is not that much to improve. We will try hard in front of our home crowed.”

Dave Cameron, headcoach VIC: “My team has to be ready from the beginning on. In the first meeting the eagles showed us, what will happen if we are not ready.”

Fr, 16.11.2018, 19.15: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Nothegger, Seewald

• Sky Sport Austria will broadcast the game between EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz against EC Red Bull Salzburg live. 
• On the first gameday after the international break, both teams suffered a defeat. Linz lost at Klagenfurt, Salzburg against Innsbruck. The Upper Austrians dropped to 7th place in standings, Salzburg kept its 4th place.
• Linz won the last three home games. The Red Bulls took four wins out of the last five road games.
• The Black Wings gained a 3:0-Shutout-Win in the first season meeting, while Corey Locke had a brace. It was the only game this season Salzburg could not score.
• On one hand, Linz has the best penalty killing available with only conceding nine goals against in 76 shorthanded situations. On the other hand, Salzburg is among league’s best power play team with converting 23,2%. 
• The away teams won the last two meetings in the past. There were seven home wins prior that.

Pregame quotes:

Brian Lebler, player EHL: “We have a periodic problem this season. We start too bad and lose to many duels. We are too easy to play. We are part of a very strong league and if we act like that we lose.”

Layne Viveiros, player RBS: “It’s always great to play in Linz. We will play in a full packed arena and there will be fervid atmosphere on the ice too. We need to play our game and play very structured for whole 60 minutes.”

Fr, 16.11.2018, 19.15: Moser Medical Graz 99ers – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: GRUBER, STEFIK, Hribar, Tschrepitsch

• The winner of this game will capture the lead in standings.
• Both teams won the last four consecutive games.
• Bozen showed a solid defense with only conceding 35 goals against. They received only one goal each in the last four games. Graz convinced on the offensive end with 74 goals.
• Bozen’s Brett Findlay (22) and 99er Oliver Setzinger (21) lead the assist stats in the league.
• The „foxes“ won the first season meeting 4:2. Brett Findlay had four points in both teams season opener. 
• The reigning champion won four of the last five games. Bozen hat two shutouts. 

Pregame quotes:

Erik Kirchschläger, player G99: “Bozen plays very constantly and has good defensive skills. We need to watch out and reduce turnover. We have to play hard right from the beginning.”

Stefano Marchetti, player HCB: „Both teams are in a very positive period, so it's going to be a very tight match: we're going there to get the three points, but we'll certainly face a different team than the one we saw at the beginning of September. Both teams have risen in level and condition, we'll see who's better now.”

Sa, 17.11.2018, 17.30: Fehervar AV19 – Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: BABIC, STERNAT, Bärnthaler, Nagy

• On Saturday only, the game between Fehervar AV19 against Dornbirn Bulldogs is scheduled.
• After suffering three consecutive defeats, the Hungarians are ranked 9th only one point ahead of the Bulldogs, who had three losses in a row too.
• Dornbirn won the first season meeting 3:2 in the extra session thanks to a brace of Michael Parks.
• With five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in the last game, Janos Hari is now Fehervar’s points leader. Dornbirn’s Joel Broda has 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists).
• Dornbirn struggled in power plays with only scoring nine goals on 65 power play occasions. 
• Four of the last seven duels were decided by overtime resp. penalty shootout. The other three games were decided by one goal too.

Pregame quotes:

Hannu Järvenpää, headcoach AVS: “We have to keep working hard and concentrate better in the defensive zone. We need to play a 60-minute hockey game against Dornbirn and we are expecting some support from our fans in our arena on Saturday.”

Dave MacQueen, headcoach DEC: "Fehervar destroyed our winning streak at the beginning of the season. We are ready to start a new one."