Release from 22.01.2024

Race for playoff places enters the next round on Tuesday

Short text 353 CharactersPlain text

The race for the direct play-off places in the win2day ICE Hockey League could hardly be more exciting. There are currently just four points between fourth and eighth place. Ranks six to eight are separated by just one point. The 43rd of a total of 52 rounds of the regular season is already scheduled for Tuesday, with six more important games to come.

Press release 5921 CharactersPlain text

win2day ICE Hockey League | 23.01.2024 | Schedule:
Tue, 23.01.2024, 19:15 spusu Vienna Capitals - Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: SMETANA, SOOS, Durmis, Weiss  >> live.ice.hockey <<

In the duel between the spusu Vienna Capitals and the Moser Medical Graz99ers, two teams face each other that are in danger of being eliminated after the end of the basic round. Although the spusu Vienna Capitals lost the important direct duel against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg in overtime last weekend, the top 10 remains within reach. The gap to the Pioneers is currently eight points - but 27 points can still be gained in the remaining program, and the Vorarlberg team has already played one more game. For the Moser Medical Graz99ers, the post-season train seems to have already left the station, although qualification for the pre-playoffs is still mathematically possible. The Styrians are a further eight points behind the Viennese side and are bottom of the table. Head coach Johan Pennerborn recently only had three lines at his disposal. The first three meetings between these two teams have been extremely exciting: the away team has always won with a one-goal difference. The last two duels were even decided in extra time.

Tue, 23.01.2024, 19:15 EC-KAC - Migross Supermercato Asiago Hockey
Referees: OFNER, VOICAN, Gatol-Schafranek, Snoj  >> live.ice.hockey <<

The EC-KAC was able to extend its lead in the table last weekend. The lead over second-placed team Hydro Fehérvár AV19 is four points, while third-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg is already seven points behind. Migross Supermercato Asiago Hockey must now start a run in order to reach the pre-playoffs. The northern Italians are currently 13 points behind tenth place. Asiago have only won one of their last six games. The EC-KAC have taken maximum points in seven of their last eight games. Only against EC Red Bull Salzburg did the Klagenfurt team have to admit defeat. The balance of the KAC squad is remarkable. Although the KAC scored the most goals this season (139), the most successful KAC scorer Johannes Bischofberger is only in twelfth place in the league-wide season goal ranking with 15 goals. Klagenfurt have won two of their three duels against Asiago so far this season. The northern Italians won in overtime at the start of November.

Tue, 23.01.2024, 19:15 Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: RENCZ, ZRNIC, Konc, Miklic  >> live.ice.hockey <<

Hydro Fehérvár AV19 managed to jump back into second place in the table on Sunday and is thus the closest pursuer of the league leaders. EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV slipped out of the top six due to its defeat against HC Pustertal and is therefore in danger of missing out on direct play-off qualification. At the same time, however, Villach are just three points off fourth place and must now finally reverse their trend if they want to avoid the pre-playoffs. They have only managed three wins from their last seven games - most recently a shootout defeat against their direct rivals from Bruneck. The Hungarians have won two of the three season duels against the Eagles so far. In the last encounter, however, Villach prevailed in overtime.

Tue, 23.01.2024, 19:15 Steinbach Black Wings Linz - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: GROZNIK, SIEGEL, Nothegger, Riecken  >> live.ice.hockey <<

The Steinbach Black Wings celebrated an enormously important success in the fight for direct playoff qualification on Sunday. The Upper Austrians beat one of their direct rivals - HC TIWAG Innsbruck - in a penalty shootout to move back into the top six. However, their closest rivals are nipping at their heels: EC VSV are level on points in seventh place, while eighth-placed HC Pustertal are just one point behind. With EC Red Bull Salzburg, the Upper Austrians will welcome one of the toughest opponents in the league, even though the reigning champions have failed to pick up any points in three of their last four games. The Linzers are now the fifth top 6 team in a row awaiting the Red Bulls, and the Salzburgers' upcoming opponents next weekend, VSV and Fehérvár, will not necessarily be any easier. EC Red Bull Salzburg has won all three duels with Linz so far this season, but has had to go to the shootout once and overtime once.

Tue, 23.01.2024, 19:15 HC TIWAG Innsbruck - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PALKÖVI, Martin, Pardatscher | >> live.ice.hockey <<

Tuesday will be the fourth Tyrolean derby between HC TIWAG Innsbruck and HCB Südtirol Alperia this season. The team from Innsbruck had an impressive run last month, scoring in eleven out of twelve games since December 20th, only losing against the KAC. Most recently, however, they suffered a defeat against Steinbach Black Wings Linz in a penalty shootout. HCB Südtirol Alperia seem to have finally overcome their weak phase. The South Tyroleans defeated two top-3 teams last weekend to climb to fifth place in the table. If the Foxes can go one better against the Sharks on Tuesday, they would also leave them behind. However, Innsbruck have won two of the three duels so far this season.

Tue, 23.01.2024, 19:15 HK SZ Olimpija - HC Pustertal
Referees: PIRAGIC, SEEWALD, Muzsik, Wimmler  >> live.ice.hockey <<

HC Pustertal managed to catch up with the top 6 again last weekend with two important victories. The team currently in eighth place is only one point behind the direct playoff places. However, a more than unpleasant opponent awaits with HK SZ Olimpija. The Slovenians have won their last three games and are just six points behind the South Tyroleans. If the Dragons can continue their winning streak, they could get back into the race for the top six. Ljubljana have also won two of the three duels so far this season. An average of eight goals were scored in the three encounters.

Photo (c): HCI