Release from 31.01.2019
Fri, 01.02.2019: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15 , SKY Sport HD live)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Nagy.
• spusu Vienna Capitals (1.) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (2.) will face each other in the top-clash in Vienna on Friday. The Caps have the chance to fix place 1 after 44 rounds and to qualify for the Champions Hockey League season 2019/20 with three points. The Austrian meeting is broadcasted live by SKY Sport HD on Friday…
• spusu Vienna Capitals are expecting their 100.000th spectator watching an Erste Bank Eishockey League match live in the Erste Bank Arena on Friday. The first 21 home-games of the Leader have already seen 93.600 fans live in the Erste Bank arena.
• The Moser Medical Graz99ers are the best team in Power Play: The Styrians have a Power Play% of 26.2, they netted 36 goals out of 145 Power Plays so far this season. On the other hand, the spusu Vienna Capitals have a Power Play % of just 16.4% (28G/171PP).
• The team having home-advantage has left the ice as the winner in three straight contests. The Styrians got their last victory in the Austrian Capital on January 13th 2017 or 748 days ago.
• Home-strength will meet road-power in the top-clash in Vienna on Friday: The spusu Vienna Capitals have collected most points at home so far (49) and got points out of twelve straight home-games (9 wins) since the beginning of November 2018 as well. On the other hand, the Styrians have been convincing on the road lately: The Mur Citizens have won six straight road-games, allowing just nine goals in total.
Quotes:
Peter Schneider, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „We expect an intense and fast match, which is very important for both clubs. We want to play our game and we want to get out of the contest as the winner.“
Oliver Setzinger, defenseman Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We want to win in Vienna and move up to place 1. Several fans will follow us from Graz to Vienna and will give us an extra boost!“
Fri, 01.02.2019: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ vs. EC-KAC (19:15)
Referees: BAUER, SMETANA, Schauer, Sparer.
• The League‘s best scorers will be in action in Innsbruck on Friday: Andrew Clark of HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ has scored most points (62 - 18G/44A) so far this season and Klagenfurt’s Nicholas Petersen has scored second most points (57 - 22G/35A).
• Each team still needs points to finish in the best possible position after the first part of the regular season (R44). The Tyroleans are ranked on place 9 and would start the Qualification Round with 2 bonus-points in this moment. EC-KAC is ranked on place 3 right now and would start the Pick Round with 2 bonus-points as well. Each team hast he chance to move up in the ranking in the last two games, but could fell in the standing as well.
• EC-KAC will travel with good memories to Innsbruck: The „Red Jackets“ have been successful in three consecutive clashes wth the Sharks.
• Klagenfurt has played strong defense so far this season: Lars Haugen and Co. have allowed fewest goals (91). On the other hand, Innsbrucks Sharks have given away third most goals (157).
• Andrew Yogan of HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ has potted most goals in this Erste Bank Eishockey Liga-season so far (29). Nicholas Petersen netted most goals for EC-KAC (22).
Quotes:
Rob Pallin, Head Coach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „Our key-players have to be our best players!“
Marcel Witting, forward EC-KAC: „Innsbruck is a good offensive team. We have to play strong defense and score from our chances. We are looking forward to a great game. Each team will go for points to move up in the ranking!“
Fri, 01.02.2019: HC Orli Znojmo vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (19:15, SPORT5 live)
Referees: FICHTNER, STOLC, Nemeth, Soos.
• HC Orli Znojmo’s defense will be required against EC Red Bull Salzburg on Friday. The Mozart Citizens have potted most goals so far this season (176). On Tuesday, the Austrian Champion has beaten KHL Medvescak Zagreb at home 13:0.
• The two teams have shown different faces lately: While the Mozart Citizens have won four straight games, netting 25 goals, the „Red Eagles“ have been defeated in two consecutive matches, scoring just once.
• HC Orli Znojmo will try to end their bad home-run on Friday: The Czechs have been defeated in six consecutive home-games.
• Each club is still fighting for important bonus-points for the Intermediate Round during this weekend: HC Orli Znojmo is ranked on place 10 right now and would start the Qualification Round with one bonus point in this moment. EC Red Bull Salzburg is ranked on place 4 right now and would begin the Pick Round with one bonus-point as well. But, the Czechs still have the chance to move up in the ranking, when beeing successful this weekend. The Austrians need points to climb in the ranking as well. Otherwise, the Mozart Citizens could also fell in the ranking.
• The Red Bulls, who have added US-defenseman Will O’Neill to their roster, will travel with good memories to Znojmo. John Hughes and Co. have won two straight games in Czech Republic. But watch out: The „Red Eagles“ were successful in the last meeting in Salzburg around Christmas (4:2).
Quotes:
Jan Lattner, defenseman HC Orli Znojmo: „We will give 100% to get the win. We want to move up in the ranking and earn more then one bonus-point for the Qualification Round!“
Alexander Cijan, forward EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We are ready for the road-trip to Znojmo and Szekesfehervar and we go for six points. Therefore, we have to play our game for full 60 minutes!“
Fri, 01.02.2019: Fehervar AV19 vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (19:15, DIGI TV live)
Referees: GRUBER, M. NIKOLIC, Gatol, Tschrepitsch.
• Fehervar AV19 (6.) vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (5.) is the meeting of the teams of the hour! Bozen got 15 points (five wins) out of the last five games, earning a goal-score of 24:7. The Hungarians have collected second most points (12) during that span, earned a score of 24:12-goals.
• Each club still needs points: Fehervar AV19 needs the win to defend place 6, which would mean the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44 and the Italians, who are ranked on place 5, need the points to move up in the ranking and get some bonus-points for the Pick Round.
• Offensiv-power will face with defensiv-power in Szekesfehervar on Friday: While the Hungarians have potted second most goals at home (91), Bozen has allowed fewest goals on the road (44).
• The Foxes will travel with good memories to Hungary: The Champion has won three straight meetings in Szekesfehervar. Fehervar AV19 has earned their last home-victory against Bozen on November 4th 2017.
• Fehervar AV19 has the best scoring efficiency (12.62%). The Hungarians have already netted 155 goals out of 1.228 shots on net.
Quotes:
Daniel Szabo, defenseman Fehervar AV19: „The atmosphere in the team is great. We are already looking forward to our home-games against Bozen and Salzburg this weekend and we will give 100% to defend place 6 with two wins.“
Paul Geiger, player HCB Südtirol Alperia: „Fehervar AV19 is a good team. We are looking forward to a difficullt game there: The Hungarians still need points to finish in the Top 6. But, we go there for a win to finish in the best possible position after round 44!“
Fri, 01.02.2019: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb (19:15)
Referees: BERNEKER, KELLNER, Kontschieder, Paradatscher.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb will play their last road-game of the 2018/19-season in Linz on Friday. The Bears will play their final match vs. HC Orli Znojmo at home on Sunday than. The Black Wings need the three points in the fight for a Top 6 spot after round 44. The Austrians are ranked on place 7 right now, they miss two points for place 6.
• The Black Wings have never been forced to go to the Qualification Round so far.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb will try to end their bad run in Linz on Friday: The Croatians have been defeated in 24 straight games (negativ record).
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz has been convincing at home lately: Brian Lebler and Co. have won three straight home-games.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb has collected fewest PIM (368) so far. The Black Wings are the number 1 in Penalty Killing (PK%: 86.4).
Quotes:
Jonathan D’Aversa, defenseman EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We see it as a normal game. We will follow our system and we go gor a good result.“
„We will fight“, was to hear from Zagreb.
Fri, 01.02.2019: EC Panaceo VSV vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:15)
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Nedeljkovic, Zgonc.
• EC Panaceo VSV (11.) vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (8.) is a „test“ for the Qualification Round: The two clubs will meet each other in the Intermediate Round after the February Break another two times. While Villach will finish the first part of the regular season for sure, the Vorarlberger still need points to defend place 8 after round 44 and four bonus-points for the Qualification Round.
• Each team will try to end bad runs in Villach on Friday: The Eagles have been defeated in six straight games, the west-club lost three games in a row.
• The Dornbirn Bulldogs will travel with good memories to Villach. The Vorarlberger have been successful in four straight clashes with the Eagles.
• Netminder Juhana Aho will play for the Dornbirn Bulldogs this weekend. The 25-year old Finn arrives for two games on loan from Finish Liiga club Mikkelin Jukurit.
• DEC is better ranked in all special statistics (Power Play, Penalty Killing, Fair Play, scoring efficiency).
Quotes:
Gerhard Unterluggauer, Head Coach EC Panaceo VSV: „The two games against Dornbirn and Bozen are a perfect test fort he Intermediate Round. We will try some things!“
Thomas Vallant, defenseman Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We are looking forward to a difficult game in Villach. The Eagles are playing aggressiv and they always fight. We have to show our strengths!“