Salzburg and Vienna qualified for playoffs

JP Lamoureux saves Salzburg’s road-win and playoff spot
With saving 54 overall JP Lamoureux gave the EC Red Bull Salzburg a 2:1 road-win at EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz to remain first in standings and qualify for the Playoffs 2020 in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. After a non-goal first with a lot of pressure of Linz, Salzburg got a quick 2:0 lead in the second: Bud Holloway and Maximilian Rebernig (24.) scored within 24 seconds, as the 19-year-old Austrian player lit the lamp for the first time in his second game in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. Later in the second a deflection of Valentin Leiler got Linz on the scoreboard, which enhanced pressure in the last. But Lamoureux continued with an impressive performance, keeping his sheet clear until the end for the win.



Second playoff ticket for Vienna
The spusu Vienna Capitals booked their playoff ticket too, as the second-ranked in standings cheered a 4:2 home-win against EC Panaceo VSV, which suffered a setback in the race to the top-5, trailing five points to fifth place HC Orli Znojmo. In front of about 5.00 spectators the home-team got off a great start, with Sondre Olden (10.) and Riley Holzapfel (12.) scoring on a rebound. Carried by good saves of Ryan Zapolski, Mike Zalewski scored for the home-team with three minutes left in the second, as the VSV became stronger. First Alexander Lahoda (40.) and later Chris Collins (42.) scored for the guests to reopen the game. But Zapolski and Nikolaus Hartl (47.) secured the win for the hosts in the end.



KAC remains third after 11th season shutout
With its third season-shutout, the EC-KAC defended third place in standings. The reigning champions defeated HC Orli Znojmo 4:0 and extended its time without a goal against to 172 minutes and 42 seconds. The Czech side left Klagenfurt Stadthalle for the eighth time in a row without a win. The hosts had the better of the play early, took the lead as Thomas Koch (18.) scored on powerplay. With Andrew Kozek (25.), Manuel Geier (49.) and Manuel Ganahl (57.) increasing the lead continuously, the EC-KAC cheered the 32nd win over the Czech “eagles” in the 45th duel.



Graz halved deficit to top-5
With an assured 4:1 home-win against HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” the Moser Medical Graz99ers halved its deficit in standings to fifth-ranked HC Orli Znojmo, trailing three points with five games left. The Tyrolese had to take the eighth consecutive defeat. After a non-goal opening frame, Daniel Oberkofler (30.) and Alexander Reichenberg (37.) gave the home-team a 2:0-lead, shortened by Jesper Thörnberg with 90 seconds left in the second. However, Graz restored the lead thanks to Trevor Hamilton, who converted a rebound after Hillding hit the post. Travis Oleksak rounded off the score with an empty netter, while Cristopher Nihlstorp had 34 saves for the winning side.

Dornbirn trails only four points to Innsbruck
The bottom-placed Dornbirn Bulldogs narrowed the gap to second-last Innsbruck, trailing four now, after a 3:1 road-win at Hydro Fehérvár AV19. It was Dornbirn’s first win over the Hungarian side after about two years and eight consecutive losses. Mathias Bau Hansen (8.) got his colors on the board after a nice breakaway in the first and Tomi Körkkö doubled up (31.) around halfway through the game. Bulldogs netminder Juha Järvenpää came out big with 36 saves overall, conceding only one by Csanad Erdely (43.). However, the goalie secured the three points in the end, where Bau Hansen managed to get a brace through an empty netter.

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 39th round:
So, 12.01.2020, 16:00 Uhr: EC-KAC - HC Orli Znojmo 4:0 (1:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Referees: Liam SEWELL (GBR), ZRNIC, Hribar, Kontschieder. | Zuschauer: 3.718
Goals KAC: Koch (18./PP1), Kozek (25.), Geier M. (49.), Ganahl (57.)

So, 12.01.2020, 16:00 Uhr: Moser Medical Graz99ers - HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' 4:1 (0:0, 2:1, 2:0)
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Gatol, Zgonc. | Zuschauer: 2.961
Goals G99: Oberkofler (30./PP1), Reichenberg (37.), Hamilton (52./PP1), Oleksuk (60./EN)
Goal HCI: Thörnberg (39.)

So, 12.01.2020, 17:30 Uhr: spusu Vienna Capitals - EC Panaceo VSV 4:2 (2:0, 1:1, 1:1)
Referees: KINCSES, STERNAT, Nagy, Soos. | Zuschauer: 4.900
Goals VIC: Olden (10.), Holzapfel (12.), Zalewski (38.), Hartl (47.)
Goals VSV: Lahoda (40.), Collins (42.)

So, 12.01.2020, 17:30 Uhr: Hydro Fehérvár AV 19 - Dornbirn Bulldogs 1:3 (0:1, 0:1, 1:1)
Referees: OFNER, SIEGEL, Kaspar, Rezek. | Zuschauer: 3.015
Goal AVS: Erdely (43.)
Goals DEC: Bau Hansen (8.), Körkkö (31., 60./EN)

So, 12.01.2020, 17:30 Uhr: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz - EC Red Bull Salzburg 1:2 (0:0, 1:2, 0:0)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STEFIK, Bedynek, Nothegger. | Zuschauer: 4.710
Goal BWL: Rutkowski (37.)
Goals RBS: Holloway (23.), Rebernig (24.)