Seven games within 24 hours

Fri, 25.01.2019: Fehervar AV19 vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb (18:00, DIGI TV live)
Referees: BALUSKA, TRILAR, Soos, Zgonc.
• Bottom club KHL Medvescak Zagreb is in action twice within less then 24 hours this weekend: The Croatians will visit Szekesfehervar on Friday (18:00) and will welcome HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ on Saturday (17:30).
• The two International clubs have shown different faces lately: While Fehervar AV19 has earned points out of their last five games (four victories) and is the team of the hour with 12 points out of the last five rounds too, KHL Medvescak Zagreb has been defeated in 21 straight matches (negativ record). The game is broadcasted live by DIGI TV on Friday (18:00).
• But, watch out: KHL Medvescak Zagreb will travel with good memories to Hungary on Friday: Mitja Robar and Co. have earned their last victory against Fehervar AV19 at home on November 20th 2018.
• Fehervar AV19 vs. KHL Medvescak Zagreb is the meeting of the team with the best scoring efficiency with the fairest team: The Hungarians have netted 142 goals out of 1.147 shots on goal in 40 rounds so far (scoring-efficiency: 12.38%). The Croatians have collected fewest PIM (364) so far.
• Fehervar AV19 already had reasons to celebrate this week. The Devils have won the Hungarian Cup for the first time since 2016. The Hungarians beat MAC Ujbuda in the finals (6:3), Anze Kuralt potted three goals.
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Head Coach Fehervar AV19: „Each player knows the ranking and how important the next games are for us. We will be ready on Friday and want to get the three points to get closer to our aim finishing Top 6 after round 44!“
„We have two games within 24 hours. We will fight and try our best!“, was to hear from Zagreb.

Fri, 25.01.2019: HC Orli Znojmo vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (18:30)

Referees: GRUBER, KINCSES, Nagy, Nemeth.
• HC Orli Znojmo will welcome Moser Medical Graz99ers on Friday. The Czechs need a win to stay in the race for a Top 6 spot after round 44 for sure. The Styrians need points to finish in the best possible position after round 44 and get some bonus points for the Pick Round. Besides, the team winning part 1 of the regular season is qualified for the Champions Hockey League 2019/20.  
• HC Orli Znojmo will try to end their bad home-run against the 99ers on Friday. The „Red Eagles“ have lost five consecutive home-games, the Czechs celebrated their last home-win against KHL Medvescak Zagreb on December 09th 2018. On the other hand, the Mur Citizens have been convincing on the road lately: The Austrians have won five straight road-games…
• The team playing on the road has left the ice as the winner in two straight meetings (0:4 in Znojmo, 3:4 in Graz). Besides, 3 out of the last 4 contests in Znojmo ended with Shut Out wins (0:4, 4:0, 5:4/OT, 3:0).
• Each team has been on fire so far: The 99ers have scored second most goals (151) and the „Red Eagles“ have potted third most goals (147).
• The 99ers are the best team in Power Play. The Mur Citizens have potted 37 goals out of 139 Power Plays 2018/19 so far (PP%: 26.6). Ty Loney (21G) has potted most goals for G99 so far, Marek Kalus (25G) is Znojmos best goalscorer.
Quotes:
Marek Kalus, forward HC Orli Znojmo: „I don‘t know, why we had problems at home lately. We start each game in the same way no matter, if we play infront of our fans or on the road. We will try everything to win finally a home-game again on Friday!“
Oliver Setzinger, defenseman Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We have to work harder infront of our opponents net again and we have to score some goals. We are looking forward to a difficult match in Znojmo, the Czechs are still in the race for the Top 6. We will work hard to get the win and play our game!“

Fri, 25.01.2019: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:15, SKY Sport HD live)

Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Gatol, Seewald.
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (7.) vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (8.) is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing on Friday. Each club is still fighting for a top 6 spot and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44. The Upper Austrians are ranked on place 7 and are one point behind place 6. The Vorarlberger are ranked on place 8, they miss four points for a Pick Round spot.
• Each club has been convincing lately: The Black Wings have left the ice as the winner in both (home-)games under the lead of new Coach Tom Rowe. The Steel Citizens have beaten EC Panaceo VSV (5:0) and HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (4:2), allowing just two goals within 120 minutes. On the other hand, Dornbirn Bulldogs have earned points out of four straight matches (two wins), scoring 24 goals in total!
• DEC-forward Brendan O’Donnell has been on fire so far: The Canadian has potted most goals (29) in this Erste Bank Eishockey Liga season. Besides, the 26-year old forward has potted at least one goal in five straight matches and eleven goals in total during that span.  Brian Lebler has netted most goals for EHC so far (21).
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz is the best team in Penalty Killing (PK%: 87.6), 
• The team playing at home has been successful in four straight meetings. DEC got their last victory in Linz on February 7th 2016 or 1.082 days ago.
Quotes:
Tom Rowe, Headcoach EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We will watch some details of Dornbirns game, but most important is our game and that we play our game!“
Stefan Häussle, player Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We have to play solid defense, aggressiv and we have to be ready from the start. We go for three points!“

 

Referees: PIRAGIC, SCHUTZ, Leermakers, Rezek.
• EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. EC-KAC ist the meeting between the best offensive team and the best defensive team. While, the Mozart Citizens have already potted 158 goals, Klagenfurt has allowed just 92 goals during this season.
• EC-KAC has another chance to fix the Playoffs. The Red Jackets would be qualified for the Pick Round and Playoffs for sure, when earning one point, EC Red Bull Salzburg needs the points to finish Top 6 after round 44 as well.
• EC-KAC will travel with good memories to Salzburg. The Carinthians have earned points in two straight games in the Mozart City (one win).
• EC-KAC has been convincing on the road lately: The Red Jackets have won four consecutive road-games, allowing just four goals in total.
• Klagenfurts Nicholas Petersen (56 points – 22G/34A) and Salzburgs John Hughes (46 points – 13G/33A) are their teams best scorers.
Quotes:
Greg Poss, Head Coach EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We got the expected three points in Zagreb on Tuesday. After beeing defeated in the CHL semifinals, we focus on the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga and the game against Klagenfurt on Friday. We are still involved into the fight for a Top 6 spot and we need points!“
Clemens Unterweger, defenseman EC-KAC: „We are looking forward to a difficult game in Salzburg. But, we will travel with confidence and a big boost there after earning a big win in Vienna lately. We want to show a good game and play solid defense!“

 

Referees: KELLNER, ZRNIC, Bärnthaler, Nedeljkovic.
• EC Panaceo VSV (11.) vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (10.) is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing on Friday. While the Carinthians will start the Qualification Round without bonus-points in February for sure, the Tyroleans need points to move up in the ranking. The „Sharks“ will be  in action on Saturday as well, they will visit Zagreb then. 
• Each team will try to return on the winning-street in Villach on Friday: The Eagles stayed without points in four straight matches and the Sharks have been defeated in three consecutive games.
• The Tyroleans will travel with good memories to Villach. The team of Head Coach Rob Pallin has won six straight clashes with the Drau Citizens. Villach got their last home-win against HCI on December 16th 2016 or 769 days ago. 
• HCI has signed power-forward Tomas Netik on Wednesday. The 36-year old Czech has already gone for points and goals for KHL Medvescak Zagreb in the Erste Bank Eishockey League 2017/18 and has arrived from HC Kosice (SVK).
• With Innsbruck the League’s best scorer, Andrew Clark (58 points – 17G/41A), will arrive in Villach on Friday.  Jerry Pollastrone and Jamie Fraser (each 30 points) have scored most points for EC Panaceo VSV so far.
Quotes:
Patrick Stückler, defenseman EC Panaceo VSV: "Innsbruck is a good opponent. We have to play compact as a team, we have to stay out of the penalty box and we have to take advantage from our chances to get a good result.“
Rob Pallin, Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We need points from our back-to-back-games in Villach and in Zagreb. We want to move up to place 9 prior the start of the Intermediate Round!“

 

Referees: IVERSON, M. NIKOLIC, Kontschieder, Pardatscher.
• HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. spusu Vienna Capitals is the meeting between the Champion and the Leader. Each team needs the points. Bozen could qualify for the Pick Round and Play offs with three points and support by the Dornbirn Bulldogs. The Capitals will try to secure place 1, which would mean the Champions Hockey League qualification for 2019/20 after round 44.
• Each club has been convincing lately: HCB has earned three straight successes against HC Orli Znojmo (3:2), bottom club KHL Medvescak Zagreb (11:0) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (2:1), giving away just three goals within 180 minutes. On the other hand, the club from the Austrian Capital has won all three road-games in Linz, Znojmo and Zagreb in the year 2019, netting 23 goals in total.
• Each club played strong defense so far: HCB has allowed second fewest goals (93) and the Caps have given away third fewest goals (105).
• Bozens Brett Findlay (43 points – 10G/33A) and Vienna‘s Peter Schneider (50 points – 23G/27A) are their teams best scorers.
• spusu Vienna Capitals are leading in the season-contest with HCB Südtirol Alperia 2:1. 
Quotes:
Anton Bernard, Captain HCB Südtirol Alperia knows: „It‘s an important game for us. We want to get three points to secure our Top 6 spot. We have to be ready from the start!“
Emil Romig, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „We are looking forward to a difficult roadtrip to Bozen and Dornbirn this weekend and two fast, intense and exciting games. We need wins to finish first after round 44.“

 

Referees:  OFNER, TRILAR, Nedeljkovic, Rezek.
• Bottom club KHL Medvescak Zagreb will welcome HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ on Saturday. Each club will be in action for the 2nd time within less then 24 hours. The Bears visit Szekesfehervar on Friday, the Sharks are guest in Villach.
• HCI will travel with good memories to Zagreb. The Sharks have won the last two clashes – each 3:2.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb will try to end their bad home-run on Saturday: The Bears have been defeated in eleven straight home-games and are without scoring since 128 minutes and 21 seconds in their own builiding.
• Each team had problems in the defense so far: The Croatians have given away most goals (212), HCI has allowed second most goals (152).
• Zagreb has collected fewest PIM so far (364), Innsbrucks Sharks second most PIM (479).