Release from 17.01.2019
3 facts prior round 39
1. Moser Medical Graz99ers (2.) and EC-KAC (3.) could qualify for the Pick Round and Playoff with home-wins on Friday.
2. The Austrian clash Moser Medical Graz99ers (2.) vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (4.) is broadcasted live by SKY Sport HD on Friday.
3. Round 39 is played within two days: There will be fights for points in Bozen, Klagenfurt, Graz, Linz and Vienna on Friday. The west-east-clash Dornbirn Bulldogs vs. HC Orli Znojmo will follow on Saturday.
Fri, 18.01.2019: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (19:15)
Referees: IVERSON, PIRAGIC, Rezek, Seewald.
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (7.) and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (10.) will try to return on the winning street in Upper Austria on Friday. The Black Wings have lost four straight games, scoring just six goals and fell in the ranking out of the Top 6. The Tyroleans have been defeated by Moser Medical Graz99ers at home lately
• EHC LIWEST Black Wing Linz had a bad run at home lately: Brian Lebler and Co. have lost five consecutive home-games since beginning of December 2018. On the other hand, HCI has won both road-games in Salzburg and Dornbirn in the year 2019 so far.
• The club playing on the road has left the ice as the winner in all (three) season-meetings so far.
• HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ has the best scoring efficiency (12.44%). Besides, the Erste Bank Eishockey League’s best goalscorer, Andrew Yogan (26G), and the League‘s best scorer, Andrew Clark (57 points), are Sharks.
• Defenseman Lubomir Stach left Innsbruck during the week. The Czech has already found a new club, will defend for ESV Kaufbeuren.
Quotes:
Marco Brucker, forward EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „Innsbruck has a good offense. We have a good chance to ge the win, when we manage to bring the puck into the offense quickly and when, we take advantage from our chances too.“
Rob Pallin, Head Coach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „To get the win in Linz, we have to stop their offensive fire-power.“
Fri, 18.01.2019: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (19:15, SKY Sport HD live)
Referees: GRUBER, M. NIKOLIC, Tschrepitsch, Zgonc.
• Moser Medical Graz99ers (2.) could fix the Pick Round and Playoffs with a home-win against EC Red Bull Salzburg (4.) on Friday. The Austrian clash will be broadcasted live by SKY Sport HD.
• Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg is the meeting of the two best offensive teams: The Mozart Citizens have potted most goals (147) so far and the Styrians second most goals (145). Besides, the Red Bulls are the best road-team as well.
• EC Red Bull Salzburg has been defeated by EHC Red Bull München (DEL) in the second leg of the Champions Hockey League semifinals on Wednesday and had to leave the competition. This means, the team of Head Coach Greg Poss can focus on the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga now. And the Mozart Citizens still need some points to secure their Top 6 position. In this moment, the Red Bulls are ranked on place 4, eight points ahead oft he seventh placed team.
• Each team has been convincing in Power Play so far: The Moser Medical Graz99ers have the best Power Play percentage (PP%: 27.1), while the Red Bulls thave netted most Power Play goals (38).
• EC Red Bull Salzburg is leading in the season-contest 2:1. The team having home-advantage has always left the ice as the winner (5:4/OT and 3:2 in Salzburg and 3:2/SO in Graz), Besides, Raymond (RBS) has netted at least one goal in all three season-meetings so far. The Red Bulls got their last win in the Mur City on January 26th 2018 (7:3).
Quotes:
Daniel Oberkofler, player Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We are looking forward to a difficult game against Salzburg on Friday. We want to show a good game and we will give our best, then the Playoff Qualification will follow.“
Dominique Heinrich, defenseman EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We can be proud, what we have achieved in this Champions Hockey League season. We have shown, we have so strong team. Now, we want to show good hockey in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.“
Fri, 18.01.2019: EC-KAC vs. Fehervar AV19 (19:15)
Referees: BULOVEC, STOLC, Kontschieder, Pardatscher.
• EC-KAC (3.) has the chance to qualify for the Pick Round and Playoffs with a home-win against Fehervar AV19 (6.) on Friday. The Austrians need 3 points.
• Klagenfurt is the team of the hour: The Red Jackets have won four straight matches.
• But, watch out: Fehervar AV19 has been convincing lately as well. The Hungarians have earned points out of three consecutive games (two victories) and moved up in the ranking to place 6.
• Besides, the Devils will travel with good memories to Klagenfurt. The team of Head Coach Hannu Järvenpää has won all three season-clashes with EC-KAC (3:2/SO, 2:1/OT, 5:4) by one goal difference.
• EC-KAC has allowed fewest goals at home (41) and in total (87). But watch out: Lately, EC-KAC has celebarted a 7:6-Overtime-win against DEC at home. Furthermore, Klagenfurt has collected fewest PIM (336) as well.
Quotes:
Thomas Koch, forward EC-KAC: „We are looking forward to a close game. So far this season, we had problems against Fehervar AV19. We need a good start, we have to play compact as a team and we have to avoid counter-attacks!“
Ty Wishart, new defenseman Fehervar AV19: „KAC has a good team. We are ready and we want to beat them again.“
Fri, 18.01.2019: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. EC Panaceo VSV (19:15)
Referees: HOPPE, STERNAT, Gatol, Soos.
• Leader spusu Vienna Capitals and EC Panaceo VSV (11.) want meet each other in the „Intermediate Round“: While Leader spusu Vienna Capitals can already plan for the Pick Round and Playoffs, the Eagles are forced to play in the Qualification Round and will start this round without bonus-points in February.
• EC Panaceo VSV is looking forward to a difficult match in Vienna on Friday: The Caps are Leader and the best home-team as well. Riley Holzapfel and Co. have earned points out of their last ten home-games (eight wins). Besides, the Leader has won four straight meetings with the „Eagles“ at home as well.. Villach got their ast victory in the Austrian Capital on October 9th 2016 or 830 days ago.
• EC Panaceo VSV hast he beakest Penalty Killing and has collected most PIM (503). But, Vienna couldn‘t convince in Power Play so far (PP%: 15,3%).
• Villachs bests scorers, Jamie Fraser (30 points), Jerry Pollastrone (29) and MacGregor Sharp (27), have already played for the Caps too. Christopher DeSousa (47 points), Peter Schneider (45) and Riley Holzapfel (33) have scored most points for the Leader.
• EC Panaceo VSV has presented former Austrian hockey player Philipp Pinter as their new youth chief.
Quotes:
Mario Fischer, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „Villach is a dangerous team. We need 100% from each player. Our aim is staying on the top.“
Ken Strong, Assistant Coach EC Panaceo VSV: „We are looking forward to a difficult game in Vienna. The Caps are a strong team. We have to follow our system, play hard, fight for each chance and we have to score some goals too!“
Fri, 18.01.2019: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb (19:45)
Referees: BERNEKER, TRILAR, Hribar, Schauer.
• HCB Südtirol Alperia (5.) vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb (12.) is the meeting between the Champion and the bottom club on Friday. While the fifth placed Foxes still need points to secure their Top 6 spot to reach the Pick Round and Playoffs after round 44, the Croatians are forced to play in the Qualification Round for the first time ever after round 44…
• HCB Südtirol Alperia welcomes the Bears with good memories. The Champion has won all (three) home-games against the Bears so far.
• The Croatians will try to end their bad run in Bozen on Friday. The bottom club has lost 19 straight matches. On Sunday, KHL Medvescak Zagreb has been defeated by Leader spusu Vienna Capitals at home (0:13). On the other hand, HCB Südtirol Alperia got their first win of the year 2019 in Znojmo last round.
• The Italians will try to get their first home-win in the year 2019 on Friday. The „Foxes“ have been defeated by EC Red Bull Salzburg (2:4) and EC-KAC (1:2/OT) at home in Januray so far,
• Forward Tom Zanoski, who has appeared in all 37 games for KHL Medvescak Zagreb, scoring 15 points, went to the Sheffield Steelers. Besides, Björn Svensson left the club as well.
Quotes:
„We need the three points. So, even Medvescak has problems, we have to play with full concentration“, was to hear from Bozen.
Mark Cepon, defenseman KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „We will give our best.“
Sat, 19.01.2019: Dornbirn Bulldogs vs. HC Orli Znojmo (19:15)
Referees: IVERSON, K. NIKOLIC, Schauer, Seewald.
• Dornbirn Bulldogs (8.) vs. HC Orli Znojmo (9.) is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing. Each team is still involved in the fight for a Top 6 spot and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44. The Vorarlberger miss three points for place 6, the Czechs six poins.
• Each team will be in action twice within 22 hours: After Saturday’s game, the Austrians will welcome Fehervar AV19 (6.) on Sunday and the „Red Eagles“ will finish their west-trip in Innsbruck (10.)
• The two clubs had the same run lately (W/D/W/D) and will try to return on the winning-street. Besides, Znojmo won four out of their last five road-games, while, the Bulldogs left the ice as the winner in four out of their last five home-games.
• Our players to watch are the goal-scorer Brendan O’Donnell of Dornbirn Bulldogs (26 goals) and Marek Kalus of HC Orli Znojmo (25 goals).
• HC Orli Znojmo is leading in the season-contest 2:1. But, Dornbirn Bulldogs have won the last meeting in Znojmo end of November 2018 (5:4).
• Quotes:
Dave MacQueen, Head Coach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „Back-to-Back-games aren’t easy. Znojmo is a highly skilled team, that has played better on the road lately and that can score goals too. We have fighted great during the last weeks and we want to reach the Top 6.“
Marek Kalus, forward HC Orli Znojmo: „The Top 6 are already some points away. But, we will fight for our chance to catch them up. If we cann‘t reach them, then we want to get at least place 7 after round 44.“