Release from 18.02.2017
On Sunday the game day before last of regular season takes place with all games starting at 7 p.m. There could be decisions in the race for Champions Hockey League as well as for the remaining playoff tickets. In the ServusTV live game EC-KAC hosts leader UPC Vienna Capitals.
KAC and Caps fight for CHL tickets
The 4:0 shutout win against Innsbruck was Klagenfurt's sixth success in eight Pick Round games. They will definitely start with home advantage into playoffs and still have chances for a CHL spot. "It was a deserved win against Innsbruck and now we focus on the game against Vienna. This will be a real highlight", looks cach Mike Pellegrims forward. Kevin Kapstad returns tothe lineup after his suspension. The Caps have a lot of self-confidence, too. Yesterday they beat Bolzano 5:0 on the road for their eighth shutout win this season. The Viennese need only one point from Klagenfurt to book their spot in the next Champions Hockey League campaign. "Klagenfurt is the toughest opponent in the league. This will be like a playoff match and we will be prepared", reports coach Serge Aubin. In the Pick Round opener the Caps suffered a big 0:5 home defeat against the Carinthians. Ali Wukovits, Benjamin Nissner and Tyler Cuma are still out.
Bolzano wants to end losing streak
Bolzano suffered the fourth successive defeat on Friday and is still the bottom-placed club in Pick Round. They will open postseason on the road but have two more games to hit form again. The Alto Adige team lost four of five season meetings against the upcoming opponent from Linz but have good memories to their last home game against them. After trailing 4:1 early in the middle frame, the foxes earned an impressive 5:4 win. "We have hit rock bottom and Linz definitely is not our favourite opponent but we will give everything to get a victory again", says Markus Gander. The Black Wings lost both games after the international break by only one goal, yesterday they fell short 3:4 in their home game against Salzburg. Now they could secure fourth place and home advantage in quarter finals. The CHL qualification is in far reach and head coach Rob Daum does not think about it: "We don't worry about that topic . It's more about our game that does not work at the moment." Brian Lebler and Dan DaSilva lead the scoring charts of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, both have scored 31 goals so far.
Red Bulls seek for first season win in Innsbruck
Innsbruck coach Rob Pallin was angry after yesterday's 0:4 defeat in Klagenfurt. The 50-year-old head coach hopes that his team can show another face 48 hours later when Salzburg comes to town. "We don't have much time but have to change. Every player has to go to the limit, there are no excuses anymore". Lubomir Stach and Benedikt Schennach are doubtful. The Red Bulls got back to winning ways on Friday, beating Linz on the road and defending the second place "I'm happy with that win but we have to conform this on Sunday. Nothing is plannable in this league, it's always hard to win", tells us coach Greg Poss. His side lost both season meetings in Innsbruck, conceding a tough 0:7 defeat in December. Thomas Raffl really likes away games lately - he scored in the previous four and his team won three of them.
Another final match for Dornbirn
On Friday Dornbirn decided the first final game against Villach to their favour. The Bullsdogs blocked many shots, used their chances and celebrated a 4:2 victory in the end. Now the next challenge awaits them with another home game against Znojmo. The Voralberg side has a four resp. three point deficit to the playoff spots what means that they only have the postseason under their own steam with another win. "We have to regenerate really quick. Right now we are living for another day", says head coach Dave MacQueen who will miss suspended captain Niki Petrik. Znojmo overtook Graz with a tight 3:2 home win and now they hold all the aces, needing just one win in the remaining two games. Head coach Roman Simicek: "We are leaving for Dornbirn already on Saturday and our goal is to be 100% ready. We have played well in recent games and we won´t do anything special. We just need to be ready - everyone in the team including myself, and give our best. Then I believe we can succeed." The Eagles won one of two season meetings in Dornbirn.
Graz is challenged in Fehervar
After suffering the third successive defeat in a row, Fehervar AV19 dropped to the bottom of Qualification Round lately. Coach Benoit Laporte knows the reasons for the unsuccessful season finish: "In Ljubljana we started soft and were not there with our heads. Once again we had more shots but could not score goals. That's the story of the season." While they just try to leave to last position, it's about everything for Graz. Yesterday they lost In Znojmo but as second-placed team they have a good position for the final race. If they earn points in Hungary and Znojmo wins against Dornbirn, the Styrians would be through. "We have to look at ourselves and earn points from Fehervar. They have nothing to lose and that makes them very dangerous", knows coach Doug Mason. Kyle Beach, who left the ice in Znojmo in the second period due to an injury, is doubtful.
Olimpija targets tenth place
Again there were happy faces in Tivoli last night when HDD Olimpija Ljubljana beat Fehervar and overtook them in the standings . For the last home game of the season the Slovenes await VSV. The dragons want to finish it with one more win. Head coach Bojan Zajc: "We're very happy with yesterdays win. The team played well and it was a perfect reward for their performence. It's one more to go at home and we want to end it in style. We've beaten Villach already this year. If we continue playing like we are we can do it again." After a 2:4 defeat in Dornbirn EC VSV can't make the playoffs anymore. The Carinthians started on top in Qualifcation Round but have earned the fewest points of all. "Some of our imports did not score in the last seven games and the injuries of Roy and Blain really hit us. But we can't change it", tells us coach Greg Holst.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 9th Pick Round
Sun, 19.02.2017: EC-KAC - UPC Vienna Capitals (17:00, ServusTV live)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, STOLC, Rakovic, Verworner
Sun, 19.02.2017: HC TWK Innsbruck 'Die Haie' - EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:00)
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Kontschieder, Pardatscher
Sun, 19.02.2017: HCB Südtirol Alperia - EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz (17:00)
Referees: BERNEKER, GRUBER, Ettlmayr, Schauer
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 9th Qualification Round
Sun, 19.02.2017: HDD Olimpija Ljubljana - EC VSV (17:00)
Referees: KINCSES, SMETANA, Kaspar, Nemeth
Sun, 19.02.2017: Fehervar AV 19 - Moser Medical Graz99ers (17:00, M4 live)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SIEGEL, Soos, Zgonc
Sun, 19.02.2017: Dornbirner Eishockey Club - HC Orli Znojmo (17:00)
Referees: LEMELIN, K. NIKOLIC, Nothegger, Seewald