Quick re-union on Friday

>Vienna Capitals (1.) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (2.) will face each other in the top-clash for the second time within 48 hours in Vienna on Friday. The Champion won the last meeting in Salzburg on Wednesday (3:1) and extended their lead to four points. The Red Bulls were defeated for the first time after ten wins.
>EV Vienna Capitals and EC Red Bull Salzburg have scored most of the goals in the Intermediate Round: The Champion has netted 24 goals from five games and the Mozart Citizens have scored 22 goals in the same span. Besides the two teams allowed fewest goals in the Pick Round. Vienna allowed 13 goals, Salzburg 15.
>With EC Red Bull Salzburg (PP%: 27,7%) and the Capitals (PP%: 26,7) the two best Power Play teams will be in a fight for points in Vienna on Friday. Both teams have netted over 50 Power Play goals this season (RBS: 52, VIC: 51). The Caps were successful twice in Power Play in Salzburg on Wednesday as well.
>Home-strength will face road-power: The Vienna Capitals have won three consecutive home-games and have scored 15 goals. The Red Bulls on the other side have left the ice as the winner even in five consecutive road-games and they are the only unbeaten team on the road in the Pick Round.
>The Vienna Capitals are leading in the season-clash 3:2. But watch out: So far this season the Red Bulls have responded in the next meeting with the Champion always with a win.
Quotes:
Serge Aubin, Headcoach Vienna Capitals: „We are in a good position right now. But we have to continue this way and we need more wins, to start the Playoffs with a good feeling.“
Greg Poss, Headcoach EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We must start to play harder and with more consistency again.“

 

>KHL Medvescak Zagreb (6.) and EC-KAC (5.) will be in a fight for points for the second time within 48 hours in Croatia on Friday. Klagenfurt won the last meeting at home on Wednesday (4:3) and returned on the winning-street after eight consecutive defeats.
>The two teams are in a fight for place 4 together with HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“. The Sharks are on place 4 with five points. Klagenfurt follows close behind on place 5 with five points and the Bears are on place 6 with three points. Both teams need a win in Zagreb on Friday. 
>The Croatians have given away victories against EC Red Bull Salzburg (2:3) and EC-KAC (3:4) in the last two rounds in the final minutes. In both games the Bears allowed three goals, two of them playing shorthanded, in the last five minutes.
>EC-KAC and KHL Medvescak Zagreb try to end bad runs on Friday. While the Austrians have lost four consecutive road-games and have scored just four goals, the Croatians were left without points in their last four home-games.
>EC-KAC is without a win in Zagreb since January 4th 2013 or for 1.875 days. The Bears have won five consecutive home-games against Klagenfurt.
Quotes:
Tomas Kudelka, defenseman KHL Medvecak Zagreb „We want to take revenge for the bitter defeat in Klagenfurt at home on Friday. We have to be concentrated until the end.“
Manuel Ganahl, Forward EC KAC: „The win gives us an boost. We expect another emotional game in Zagreb. Both teams want place 4.“

 

Referees: KINCSES, ZRNIC, Hribar, Nagy.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (3.) and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (4.) will face each other for the second time within 48 hours in Linz on Friday. The Sharks celebrated a 4:3 Shoot Out home-win in the last meeting on Wednesday.
>In the last seven meetings the home-team left the ice as the winner.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz were convincing at home lately. The Upper Austrians have won eight consecutive home-games. Besides the Steel Citizens are unbeaten against the Sharks at home since Dezember 28th 2014 or for 1.152 days or seven consecutive games.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (606 PIM) and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (689 PIM) are most penalized teams in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
>Brian Lebler is on fire. The Forward of EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz has scored at least one point in the last seven rounds, totally he made ten points (4G/6A) during that span. Besides the 29 years old Austrian ist the leading goalscorer, he has netted already 36 goals.
Quotes:
Philipp Lukas, Captain EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz, warns: „Innsbruck is dangerous in the offense.“
Morten Poulsen, Forward HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „It needs a discipline and concentration. Besides we have to avoid penalties.“

 

Referees: BABIC, BALUSKA, Kaspar, Soos.
>HC Orli Znojmo (5.) and Fehervar AV19 (4.) will be in a fight for points in the Qualification Round for the second time within 48 hours in Znojmo on Friday. The Czechs won the last meeting in Szekesfehervar on Wednesday (3:2/SO). While the Devils have suffered their third consecutive defeat with one goal difference, the „Red Eagles“ have celebrated their second win in a row.
>HC Orli Znojmo was convincing in their home-games in the Intermediate Round: The Czechs have won both home-games and allowed no goal!
>But watch out: Fehervar AV19 has won both season-meetings in Znojmo.
>David Gilbert (4x) and Olivier Latendresse (2x) have netted at least one goal for Fehervar AV19 in both season-clashes in Znojmo. On the other side Jan Lattner (ZNO) was successful in both home-games against the Hungarians as well.
>HC Orli Znojmo (PK%: 77,2) and Fehervar AV19 (PK%: 77,3) are the weakest teams in Penalty Killing.
Quotes:
Miroslav Frycer, Headcoach HC Orli Znojmo: „We have to score more goals. We had a lot of opportunities but we didn’t score. We have this problem all season long. Hopefully, we can get three points at home!“
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „We were really weak in our battles, one on one. We need to be better a little bit in everything. We analyse this game, and on Friday, we are ready to battle again.’

Fri, 23.02.2018: Dornbirn Bulldogs vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15)
Referees: PIRAGIC, TRILAR, Schauer, Zgonc.
>Dornbirn Bulldogs (1.) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (6.) will face each other for the second time within 48 hours in Dornbirn on Friday. The Bulldogs won the last meeting in Graz on Wednesday (7:3). While the Vorarlberger could make a big step to the Playoffs with a win, the Styrians need the points to keep their Playoff chances alive.
>The Styrians try to end their bad run in Dornbirn on Friday. The Mur Citizens were left without points in all five games in the Intermediate Round.
>The Dornbirn Bulldogs were convincing in their last home-games, the Vorarlberger have won four consecutive home-games. But watch out: The west-club conceded their last home-defeat on January 19th 2018 against the 99ers (6:5/OT).
>Moser Medical Graz99ers (391 PIM) and Dornbirn Bulldogs (395 PIM) are leading in the Fairplay statistics.
>This clash promises lots of goal: In the first five season-meetings have been scored already 40 goals, on average 8 goals per game. 
Quotes:
Dave MacQueen, Headcoach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We got three important points in Graz, we want to repeat the win at home.“
Doug Mason, Moser Medical Graz99ers: „The fight continues in Dornbirn on Friday. We we have to be ready from the start and we must take better advantage from our chances. A lead would help.“

Fri, 23.02.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. EC VSV (19:45)
Referees: KELLNER, STOLC, Kontschieder, Pardatscher.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia (3.) and EC VSV (2.) will be in a fight for points in the Qualification Round for the second time within two days in Bozen on Friday. The Foxes won the last clash in Villach on Wednesday (4:1) and are back in the Playoff race. The Italians are just one point behind EC VSV after five from ten games and would overtake the Eagles in the ranking with another (home-)win on Friday.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia and EC VSV have allowed fewest goals in the Intermediate Round. Bozen allowed just five goals in five games, Villach eleven goals.
>Bozen is the team of the hour, the „Foxes“ have won three consecutive games. Besides the Italians left the ice as the winner in three consecutive meetings with Villach and they have allowed always just one goal.
>But watch out: Villach is the only unbeaten team on the road in the  Qualification Round: The Eagles have won in Szekesfehervar (2:1/SO) and in Graz (3:1) and they have allowed just two goals in 125 minutes.
>Dominic Monardo (HCB) has scored at least one goal in the last two meetings with EC VSV.
Quotes:
Mike Halmo, Forward HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We did a good job in Villach. We will meet them again in Bozen on Friday. It will be another big game.“
Markus Peintner, Headcoach EC VSV: "We started good, but Bozen took perfectly advantage from our mistakes. We need a win in Bozen on Friday. It needs more efficiency and concentration.“