Quick re-union on New Years Day

>The Vienna Capitals could fix as the first team the Playoffs 2018 on January 1st 2018 at Linz. The Champion needs three points at Linz and KHL Medvescak Zagreb must stay without points at Klagenfurt.

>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (4) and Vienna Capitals (1) will face for the second time within 48 hours. On Saturday the Champion beat the Upper Austrians at home 3:2. For the Leader it meaned the fourth win in a row against the Black Wings with just one-goal-difference.

>With EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and Vienna Capitals home-strength faces road-power! The Black Wings are the second best home-team. The Upper Austrians earned already 39 points (13 wins) and scored already 69 goals (top) in their own building. Leader Vienna Capitals is the number one at home and on the road, where the Champion scored so far the highest number of goals (58) and received the fewest number of goals (37).

>Past season both teams won their first game of the year (2017).

>The Austrians Rafael Rotter (VIC) and Brian Lebler (BWL) are the best scorers and goalscorers of their teams. The two Forwards are also the only two players, who scored at least one goal in the last two meetings. Rotter was successful even four times.

Troy Ward, Headcoach EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „To be successful, we need offense from all players."

Serge Aubin, Headcoach Vienna Capitals: „We want to show a firework at Linz!“

 

>HC Orli Znojmo and Fehervar AV19 will meet for the second time within 48 hours on New Years Day. On Saturday the Hungarians beat the „Red Eagles“ at home after Shoot Out 3:2. All three season-clashes ended with just one goal difference. The Devils are leading in the season-clash 2:1.

>The last two meetings needed an extratime to find the winner, both times the Hungarians had reasons to celebrate in the end.

>HC Orli Znojmo and Fehervar AV19 try to end bad runs in the first game of the year 2018 at Znojmo. The Czechs lost their last four games, in which they scored totally just four goals. The Hungarians on the other side had problems on the road lately: The Devils did not earn three points on the road since November 17th 2017 (1:0 at Wien). Lately Fehervar AV19 lost on the road three times  in a row.

>Last season both teams lost their first game of the year (2017).

>Fehervar AV19 and HC Orli Znojmo scored the fewest number of goals so far: The Czechs were successful 87 times, the Hungarians 81 times.

Tomás Halász, goalie HC Orli Znojmo: ‘We have a young team and probably that was the reason why we made some mistakes at the end of the game and the opponent managed to equalise. I think we had a good game, and the penalty shoots are always a matter of luck.’ Next game: ‘We have to learn from our mistakes, analyse the last game and in front of our home crowd, we have to battle hard, concentrate until the very end, and show that we can defeat Fehérvár AV19 if we play our best.’

Hannu Järvenpää, Head Coach Fehérvár AV19: ’If you equalise the game in the last few minutes after you pull your goalie, you have to be happy. According to my philosophy, in ice hockey you always have to respect the result. Overall, I think we played a good hockey game, Znojmo played very well. Both teams created several goal scoring opportunities and the penalty shootout was a one man show for János Hári. - I was satisfied with how we played the last game, but we have to make minor changes for the next match: We have to be sharp and we should pay more attention in the offensive zone, and be closer to the opponents, not to give them so much room, because during the last game against Znojmo, Znojmo had plenty of space and time to build attacks.’

 

>EC-KAC and KHL Medvescak Zagreb will face for the second time within 48 hours on Monday at Klagenfurt. On Saturday the Bears beat the Austrians at home 3:2 and took the lead in the season-clash with 2:1.

>KHL Medvescak Zagreb is on a good run again. The Croatians won their last three games and got close to the Top 6 again. The Bears miss just three points for place 6, which would mean the Playoff Qualification already after round 44. On New Years Day the Bears try to get their fourth win in a row at Klagenfurt. So far this season the Croatians never got more then three wins in a row.

>EC-KAC played strong at home lately: The Red Jackets collected 25 points (eight wins) from their last ten games, no other club managed this record in this period. Besides the Austrians convinced in the defense. In the last 605 minutes David Madlener and Co. received just 16 goals at home.

>The last eight meetings – including some friendly games – were won by the home-clubs. The Bears got their last win at Klagenfurt on November 20th 2012 or  1.867 days ago.

>Last season EC-KAC started the new year (2017) with a defeat, while KHL Medvescak Zagreb was successful in their first game of the new year (2017).

Quotes:
Christoph Duller, defenseman EC-KAC: „Zagreb is an unpleasant opponent, that plays passively and searches their luck in counterattacks. But we are prepared for that.“
Doug Bradley, Headcoach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „It was a very tough, hard-fought game against a very good opponent. We had some good scoring opportunities but they always managed to tie it back up. We hope to be the first to win on the road in this series this season. We plan to have a skating practice tomorrow, hopefully get some rest and steal one in Klagenfurt.“

 

>EC VSV and Moser Medical Graz99ers will face on Monday at Villach for the second time within 48 hours. On Saturday the Styrians beat the Eagles at home 5:3 and took the lead in the season-clash with 2:1.

>Both teams try to end bad runs on New Years Day at Villach. The Carinthians lost their last three games, the 99ers even lost their last six games on the road, in which they scored only eight goals.

>The last eight meetings ended with a win for the home-team. The Styrians got their last victory in the Drau City on September 25th 2016 or 462 days ago.

>Last season both teams started the new year (2017) with a win.

>With EC VSV and Moser Medical Graz99ers the two worst teams of the month December will face: Villach got ten points from eleven games, the 99ers just nine points from ten games in December.

Markus Peintner, Headcoach EC VSV: „We want to show a better performance on Monday!“

Doug Mason, Headcoach Moser Medical Graz99ers: „In January we are looking for a strong goalscorer, to become more dangerous in the offense!“

 

>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ and HCB Südtirol Alperia will meet for the second time within 48 hours on Monday at Innsbruck. On Saturday the North Tyroleans won for the first time ever at Bozen 2:1.

>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ convinced in December. The Sharks collected 21 points (seven wins) from eleven games this month. Just EC Red Bull Salzburg got more points (25) in December. Bozen reached 15 points in December.

>While Innsbruck returned on the winning-street in the Tyrolean derby, HCB Südtirol „Alperia“ was defeated for the second time in a row. The Foxes had problems to score lately, made just one goal per game in the last two rounds.

>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ won the last four home-games against Bozen.

>Last season Innsbruck started the new year (2017) with a win, Bozen with a defeat.
Quotes:
Fabio Schramm, Forward HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We need the support from our fans, especially now in this important hockey-time. Bozen is looking for revenge. We must be ready, play good defense and take advantage from our chances.“

Kai Suikkanen, Headcoach Bozen: "We must use our Power Play better."

 

>EC Red Bull Salzburg and Dornbirn Bulldogs will face for the second time within two days on Monday in the Mozart City. On Saturday the Red Bulls won at Dornbrin 8:3 and got their first win in the third season-clash.
>EC Red Bull Salzburg played strong at home lately, the Mozart Citizens won all five home-games in December. But take attention: The Bulldogs won the first season-meeting at Dornbirn and were successful in their last two road-games (at Zagreb and Innsbruck).
>The Dornbirn Bulldogs had an up and down in the last ten games, a win and a defeat always rotated. If this series continues the Vorarlberger must win at Salzburg.
>EC Red Bull Salzburg has the best offense. The Red Bulls scored already 120 goals from 34 games 2017/1. On Saturday Thomas Raffl and Co. were on Fire at Dornbirn and scored there eight goals.
>Last season the Red Bulls won their first game of the new year (2017), while the Bulldogs lost.
Quotes:
Greg Poss, Headcoach EC Red Bull Salzburg, whose team collected the most points (25) in December: „Dornbirn has a good team. It was our first win against them. On Monday we must be ready for a fight again. Everybody worked really good in the last months.“ 
Stefan Häussle, Forward Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We must play more aggressiv and take advantage from our chances.“