Quarterfinals go into the fourth round on Friday

>Champion EV Vienna Capitals and EC Red Bull Salzburg would step up to the semifinals with a road-win. Last season, two clubs - EV Vienna Capitals and EC-KAC - celebrated a sweep in the Quarterfinals.

>For the first time in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga history a club (Linz) has home-advantage in two consecutive Playoff-games. The Upper Austrians have won Quarterfinal 3 against KHL Medvescak Zagreb at home on Tuesday 8:2 and will have home-advantage on Friday as well.

>In all Playoff games in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (since 2003/04-season) has been scored at least one goal in the first 60 minutes.

 

>The Vienna Capitals would step up to the semifinals with a victory in Innsbruck on Friday. The Champion is leading in the best-of-seven-Quarterfinal-series against HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ 3:0. The Caps have won all ten Playoff-games against the Tyroleans. The Sharks must win to extend their season.

>The last two meetings went into an Overtime. The Caps have netted the Game Winner in minute 73 in Quarterfinal number 2 in Innsbruck and in minute 64 in Quarterfinal number 3 at home.

>The Capitals traveled with good memories to Innsbruck today. Andreas Nödl and Co. have left the ice as the winner in nine consecutive games in Innsbruck. The Sharks celebrated their last home-win against the Champion on January 17th 2016 or 788 days ago.

>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (69 PIM) and Vienna Capitals (61 PIM) have been the most penalized clubs in the Playoffs. Each team has spend more then 20 minutes or one period per game in the penalty box!

>The two teams have shown different faces: While Vienna has won all (five) games in March and has allowed just eight goals, Innsbruck was has been defeated in six consecutive games and has scored just 12 goals, during that span.
Quotes:
Rob Pallin, Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: "We do lots of things right, but it has not been enough to beat the Caps. We have the chance to get the first win at home on Friday. It is just a question of centimeters!"
Andreas Nödl, Captain Vienna Capitals: "To get the fourth win in a series is always most difficult. The Sharks are even stronger at home and more aggressive. We must make a step forward to be successful.“

 

>EC Red Bull Salzburg would step up to the semifinals with a victory in Dornbirn on Friday. The Red Bulls are leading in the best-of-seven-Quarterfinal-series against the Dornbirn Bulldogs 3:0. The Mozart Citizens have won seven consecutive Playoff-games against DEC. The Bulldogs must win to extend their season.

>The Power Play has been a key factor in this Quarterfinal-series: The Mozart Citizens have potted four goals from eleven Power Plays (PP%: 36,4), while Dornbirn could not score a single goal from eight Power Play situations…

>EC Red Bull Salzburg (20 PIM) and Dornbirn Bulldogs (24 PIM) have been the fairest teams in the Playoffs.

>EC Red Bull Salzburg is leading in the season-meeting 5:2. The Mozart Citizens have won five consecutive clashes with the Bullogs. But watch out: This is not the longest winning streak of Salzburg. The Red Bulls have won already eight consecutive games against the Bulldogs.

>EC Red Bull Salzburg has been convincing lately: The Mozart Citizens have won all all five games in March, while the Vorarlberger have lost three consecutive games.

Quotes:

Martin Grabher Meier, forward Dornbirn Bulldogs: „It is our last chance, we must win. Everybody needs to step up and the luck must come back.“

Bobby Raymond, defenseman EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We have to concentrate on our game for full 60 minutes, then we have a good chance to win game 4 in Dornbirn as well. But we know, that it will be the toughest game.“

 

>The Quarterfinal-series between EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and KHL Medvescak Zagreb stay in Linz! The Upper Austrians have won on Tuesday at home (8:2) and will have home-advantage on Friday as well. It’s the first time in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga history, that a club has home-advantage in two consecutive Playoff-games. The reason for that, at the ice-arena in Zagreb takes place another event.

>The Quarterfinal-series between EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and KHL Medvescak Zagreb will be decided earliest after five games. The Upper Austrians won game 3 at home last Tuesday (8:2) and made it 1:2 in the best-of-seven-series.

>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and KHL Medvescak Zagreb have been on fire in the Playoffs: The two teams have scored in-total 25 games in three games, on average 8,3 goals per game. The Upper Austrians have been successful 13 times, the Bears twelve times.

>The Black Wings are leading in the season clash 5:4. The Upper Austrians bounced back after three consecutive defeats against the Bears with a 8:2-win on Tuesday.

>Brian Lebler (BWL) has potted at least one goal in all three Playoff meetings with KHL Medvescak Zagreb. Tyler Morley has netted at least one goal for Zagreb in two consecutive Playoff games.

Quotes:
Philipp Lukas, Captain EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We try our best to tie the game at home prior playing two consecutive games in Zagreb!“
Doug Bradley, Headcoach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „Linz is a difficult opponent, they are playing hard and physically.“

 

Referees: BERNEKER, M. NIKOLIC, Schauer, Sparer.
Best-of-seven-series, KAC – HCB: 2:1.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC-KAC will face each other for the fourth time within one week in Bozen on Friday. Klagenfurt has won two consecutive meetings and is leading in the best-of-seven-Quarterfinal-series 2:1.
>Fewest goals have been scored in the Playoff series between Bozen and Klagenfurt. The two teams have netted intotal just 12 goals in three games, on average four goals per game.
>EC-KAC will travel with good memories to South Tyrol. The Red Jackets have celebrated four staight wins in Bozen. The Foxes celebrated their last home-win against Klagenfurt on January 17 th 2017 or 424 days ago.
>Each team weren’t convincing in Power Play situations in the Playoffs: The Austrians have potted just one goal from 14 Power Plays (PP%: 7,1%), the Italians have not even scored a single goal from ten Power Plays-(PP%: 0,0).
>Manuel Ganahl (KAC) has netted at least one goal in two consecutive Playoff-meetings with Bozen.
Quotes:
Alexander Egger, Captain HCB Südtirol Alperia: „Nothing is decided yet. We are convincing defensively, but we have to score more then one goal. The key-players have to step up.“
Manuel Ganahl, forward EC-KAC: „Bozen has been concincing defensively. We must get more shots to the net.“
Picture: Hannes Draxler