Release from 19.11.2024

Salzburg Eyes CHL Quarterfinal Berth

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The EC Red Bull Salzburg could secure a spot in the Champions Hockey League (CHL) quarterfinals for the second time in club history this Wednesday. The Red Bulls carry a 2-1 lead into the decisive home leg against the Lahti Pelicans. The game will be broadcast live on ORF Sport+ at 8:20 PM.

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Salzburg's biggest success in the CHL came during the 2018/19 season, when they reached the semifinals but narrowly missed out on a place in the final against their local rivals. A win or a draw on Wednesday would see Salzburg achieve their second-best result on the European stage by advancing to the quarterfinals. Last week, the Red Bulls earned a well-deserved 2-1 victory in the away leg against the Lahti Pelicans, giving them a slight edge heading into the return match in Salzburg. If the game ends in a tie after regulation, the winner will be determined in a maximum of ten minutes of sudden-death overtime. Should the overtime remain scoreless, a penalty shootout will decide the outcome.

Road to the Round of 16
The Red Bulls have showcased strong performances throughout their CHL campaign. With impressive wins in the group stage, including victories over the ZSC Lions and Växjö Lakers, Salzburg finished eighth out of 24 teams in the regular season. This earned them a Round of 16 matchup against the ninth-seeded Lahti Pelicans.

Team Form
Salzburg's form is on the rise. In the win2day ICE Hockey League, the Red Bulls delivered convincing victories in their last two games against Vienna and Bolzano. Meanwhile, the Lahti Pelicans, currently 12th in the Finnish Liiga standings, have been busy since their first-leg clash with Salzburg. Last Friday, they suffered a 2-5 road loss to HPK Hämeenlinna (15th) but bounced back with a 4-1 home win over Kärpät (9th) on Saturday.

Quarterfinal Outlook
If EC Red Bull Salzburg advances to the quarterfinals, they will face the winner of the matchup between Färjestad Karlstad and Tappara Tampere. Färjestad claimed the first leg of their series, with the return game scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Statement from Mario Huber
“We’re looking forward to the game. We have the chance to take the next step, and we’re ready. The Finns will try to find answers to our forecheck, which already caused them problems in Lahti. Still, we’ll focus on playing our style and imposing our game on them. We’re not thinking about the lead – the game starts at 0-0, and that’s how we’re approaching it.”