Release from 09.03.2023

Playoff quarterfinals game day two

Short text 484 CharactersPlain text

The "best-of-7" quarterfinal series in the win2day ICE Hockey League will continue on Friday, as the recently victorious teams are looking for confirmation of their strong start, while the underdogs are seeking revenge. ICE host broadcaster PULS 24 will show the duel between the spusu Vienna Capitals and HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie starting at 7:05 pm live, while the other three games – all starting at 7:15 pm – will be offered as pay-per-view livestream on www.live.ice.hockey.

Press release 5361 CharactersPlain text

Win2day ICE Hockey League | 10.03.2023 | Viertelfinale | Schedule:
Fri, 10.03.2023, 7.15 pm: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: FICHTNER, HRONSKY, Bedynek, Riecken. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
„best-of-7“ series: 0:1
Regular season champion HCB Südtirol Alperia did not show any weakness at the start of the quarterfinal series against Steinbach Black Wings Linz and won at home with a commanding 2-0. After a strong start, the tempo and energy flattened out a bit but still the two-time champions, which had Matt Frattin back in the lineup, left a strong impression especially defensively. On the road, the "Foxes" now want to improve on that, having won their last eight games in a row on foreign ice. In Linz, the South Tyroleans have won three of their last four games. The Black Wings have turned around seven of their 34 playoff series so far after trailing. Bolzano has won every series in which it has led. For the Upper Austrians, it is the first quarterfinal home game in over three years (March 6th).

Fri, 10.03.2023, 7.15 pm: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: NIKOLIC K., SMETANA, Durmis, Konc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
„best-of-7“ series: 0:1
EC Red Bull Salzburg won the first game of the final remake on Tuesday, as the reigning champions beat Hydro Fehérvár AV19 3-2 to win their ninth consecutive game aganst the Hungarians. For the runners-up, it was also the 30th defeat in a playoff game. The match offered chances on both sides: Salzburg had the better of the play at the beginning, before Fehérvár then got better and better in the third period, despite missing two key players in Alex Petan (16G|20P) and Istvan Bartalis (11G|10A). For game two, the duo could return and will probably have to work to minimize Salzburg's big threat on second chances. For the "Red Bulls", the performance of the special teams also matched the series opener, as two PKs were successfully survived, one powerplay goal was scored on three attempts. Fehérvár has only once turned around a playoff series after trailing 0:1 (4:1 in the 2022 semifinals against Villach).

Fri, 10.03.2023, 7.15 pm: EC-KAC – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: NIKOLIC M., ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
„best-of-7“ series: 1:0
EC-KAC gained the first advantage in the derby series with a 4-0 road win over EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. The "Rotjacken" opened "best-of-7" series with a win 26 times so far, in 20 of which they also prevailed in the end. Playoff duels between the two clubs have so far ended positively in eleven of 14 cases for the team that won the first game in the series. EC VSV, which had scored exactly 4.0 goals per home game in the Regular Season, remained scoreless in front of its own crowd for the first time in the 25th game of the season on Tuesday and winless in home games for the first time in the year 2023. In playoff duels of the "best-of-7" format, Villach has so far lost the first meeting 14 times and in nine of those cases also the series. If you draw a comparison to the previous season: The KAC won game one against Vienna and then lost the series. VSV lost game one against Ljubljana and then won the series. In addition to the injured (Maximilian Preiml, Rihards Bukarts, Johannes Bischofberger, Finn van Ee), the EC-KAC is still without Thomas Koch. The first quarterfinal on Tuesday ended for defender Kele Steffler and forward Niki Kraus after checks each with penalties with injuries, both are questionable for Friday as well as the recently ill Paul Postma, Manuel Ganahl and Daniel Obersteiner. Uncertainty regarding a participation in the home game against Villach also exists with the stricken Thomas Hundertpfund.

Fri, 10.03.2023, 7.30 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie
Referees: SIEGEL, STERNAT, Bärnthaler, Snoj. | >> LIVE AUF PULS24 <<
„best-of-7“ series: 1:0
The spusu Vienna Capitals made a brilliant comeback on Tuesday to take the series lead against HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie. After the "Haie" had the better of the play over 40 minutes, twice leading by two goals, the "Caps" turned up the heat in the final period: The Viennese scored four goals in the final period, the last three in the final three minutes and 14 seconds. Vienna has also taken the lead in the previous three quarterfinal series between these two teams, but always had a home game first. Innsbruck did better on the road this year, winning 15 of its 24 road games in the Regular Season. In Vienna, however, the "Haie" won only once in their last ten games (November 4th, 2022 with 4-3). The two-time champions showed their best side in the last three games against Innsbruck, especially offensively, scoring an average of 5.6 goals. In addition to Max Zimmer, who scored a hat trick, Niki Hartl shone. The Austrian was still without a goal in this year. Hartl also improved in the postseason last year, opening the quarterfinal series against EC-KAC in 2022 with a goal in each of the first three games. Innsbruck has not trailed in any of its ten playoff series. Vienna currently stands at 299 playoff goals in home games. Rafael Rotter was absent in Innsbruck. If he returns to the lineup on Friday, he could score his 100th point in a playoff game (35G|64A). Sascha Bauer could get his 50th postseason appearance.