Round 43 - a lot is still left open

>EC VSV welcomes the Vienna Capitals on Friday. Villach is the bottom club, the Capitals are the number 1 team. But take attention: The Vienna Capitals have lost already a game against a bottom club as the Leader in the year 2018. The Austrians were defeated by HC Orli Znojmo on January 5th 2018.
>The Vienna Capitals are without a win in Villach 2017/18. All the other areans the Champion has left as the winner 2017/18.
>The two clubs will meet twice within 48 hours. EC VSV and Vienna Capitals will face each other on Friday in Villach and on Sunday in Kagran. The last four clashes have been won by the home-club.
>EC VSV is the worst home-team, the Vienna Capitals are the number 1 on the road.
>EC VSV announced with Gerhard Unterluggauer their Head Coach for 2018/19. The 41 years old Austrian was Champion with the blue & whilte Eagles as a player and is Head Coach in Heilbronn (DEL/2) right now.  Peintner and Winkler will be the Assistant Coaches next season.
Quotes:
Gerhard Unterluggauer, next Head Coach EC VSV: „My heart beats for Villach, here I started my career as a player. We will try to integrate as many young Austrian players as possible into the team.“
Philippe Lakos, defenseman Vienna Capitals: “Villach has always a strong team. The Eagles work hard. We will give 100% to be ready for the Pick Round!”

 

Fri, 26.01.2018: EC-KAC – Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:15)
Referees: KINCSES, PIRAGIC, Nemeth, Zgonc.
>EC-KAC (4.) and Dornbirn Bulldogs (8.) will face each other twice within the next 48 hours. On Friday the two teams will meet each other in Klagenfurt and then on Sunday in Dornbirn. The first two season-clashes have been won by the home-clubs.
>Both teams need points to finish in the best possible position after round 44. While EC-KAC needs points to defend place 4, the Vorarlberger need wins to reach place 6 and the Pick Round in the best possible case.
>EC-KAC tries to end their bad home-run on Friday. The Red Jackets have lost their last four home-games and have allowed 18 goals…
>Defenseman Richie Regehr left Klagenfurt, because of an injury. The Red Jackets Mitja Robar (SLO) and Stefan Espeland (NOR) will play for their home-countries at the Olympic Games in South Korea. Ziga Pance (DEC) will play for Slovenia in South Korea as well.
>Thomas Koch of EC-KAC netted a goal in the first two season-meetings with the Dornbirn Bullogs.
Quotes:
Johannes Bischofberger, Forward EC-KAC: Our performance was okay lately, but the results not. We must be ready against Dornbirn!”
Stefan Häussle, Forward Dornbirn Bulldogs: „Our big aim is to reach the Top 6. We must do our job and win our games against Klagenfurt. We must play hard and  strong in the defense!“

 

Referees: KELLNER, STOLC, Pardatscher, Tschrepitsch.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia (9) and HC Orli Znojmo (11.) will face each other for the second time within one week on Friday in Bozen. The Czechs have won the last clash at home 4:2 and took over the lead in the season-meeting (2:1).
>Both teams need points to finish in the best possible position after round 44: HCB Südtirol Alperia (9.) is still fighting for place 6 and a ticket for the Pick Round, Znojmo has the chance to finish on place 9 after the first part of the regular season in the best possible case.
>HC Orli Znojmo has the chance to win three consecutive games for the first time this season on Friday in Bozen. The „Red Eagles“ have defeated Bozen and Zagreb last weekend. 
>HCB Südtirol Alperia has convinced at home in the year 2018: The Italians have collected points from all four home-games (three wins) in January.
>Mike Halmo has netted at least one goal for HCB Südtirol Alperia in all three season-meetings with  HC Orli Znojmo.
Quotes:
Viktor Schweitzer, player HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We must give everything to win our games!“
Tomas Jakes, Assistant Coach HC Orli Znojmo: „We improved our confidence a bit before the qualification round and that´s important for us. We don´t play pretty hockey right now but our goal is to get better and start believing in ourselves a bit more to be in good shape for the next phase!“

 

Referees: LEMELIN, REIMER, Haurum, Kaspar.
>Moser Medical Graz99ers (7.) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (3.) will face each other for the second time within five days on Friday in Graz. The Mozart Citizens have won the last clash in their building 8:3.
>The last six meetings have been won by the home-clubs.
>Both teams are still fighting for a better position after round 44: EC Red Bull Salzburg (3.) needs points to finish second in the best possible case, the 99ers need wins to reach place 6 and a ticket for the Pick Round and the Playoffs.
>Both clubs have had a good run lately: EC Red Bull Salzburg has won four consecutive games. The Mozart Citizens have scored 19 goals during that span. The 99ers have left the ice as the winner in their last four home-games and have scored 19 goals as well.
>Peter Mueller of EC Red Bull Salzburg is the only player, who has netted at least one goal in the last two meetings with the 99ers.
Quotes:
Doug Mason, Headcoach Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We did some adjustments compared to the game at Salzburg. It is a close fight for place 6. We need five, six points out of our two home-games this weekend, than Zagreb has the pressure.“
Greg Poss, Headcoach EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We must be ready. Graz is looking for revenge after their big defeat in our rink!“

 

Referees: GRUBER, K. NIKOLIC, Nothegger, Seewald.
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (2) and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (5.) will face twice within 48 hours this weekend. The two teams will meet in Linz on Friday and in Innsbruck this Sunday.
>The last four meetings have been won by the home-clubs.
>Both teams need points to finish in the best possible position after round 44:  While the Upper Austrians need points to defend place 2, the Tyroleans are still fighting for place 4.
>Both teams have a strong offense: The Black Wings have scored 149 goals from 42 games already, the Sharks netted 142 goals during the same span.
>The Upper Austrians have convinced at home most of the time: The Steel Citizens have won five consecutive home-games. Over the whole season, they have collected 50 points (17 wins) from 21 home-games so far.
>Tyler Spurgeon and Andrew Yogan (both HCI) netted at least one goal in the first two season-meetings with Linz.
Quotes:
 “The Sharks played strong lately, Innsbruck earned eight wins from their last nine games”, was to hear from Linz. 
Rob Pallin, Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We played a great December and an even better January. We must continue the same way. The Black Wings  are a strong team, but we will be ready for then. The team wants more.“

 

Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Nagy, Soos.
>Fehervar AV19 (10.) and KHL Medvescak Zagreb (6.) try to end bad runs in Szekesfehervar on Friday. The Hungarians were defeated in four consecutive games and are forced to play in the Qualification Round after the first part of the regular season. The Croatians were left without points in the last three rounds. To finish in the top 6 after round 44, the Croatians need five points from their last two games.
>The road-team left the ice as the winner in the last five meetings. Fehervar AV19 has earnded their last home-win vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb on October 2nd 2011 or 2.307 days ago. 
>Bear Samson Mahbod netted at least one goal in the last two meetings with Fehervar AV19.
>Both teams have problems in Special Units situations: The worst club in Penalty Killing (AVS) will welcome the weakest Power Play team (MZA).
>Fehervar AV19 is the only club, that is still waiting for their 100th goal of the season. The Devils have netted 97 goals from 42 games so far. KHL Medvescak Zagreb has had problems to score lately too. The Bears have netted just six goals from 113 shots on the net in the last three (scoring-Efficiency: 5.3%).
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „We must play simple, but effectively!“
Doug Bradley, Headcoach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „We have had many shots, but it wasn‘t enough. Besides Vienna took advantage from our mistakes. – I believe in my team and the Playoff Qualification. We will give everything to be successful in the next games and get the points , game by game.“