Six battles on Friday

Fri, 11.01.2019: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (19:15)
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Hribar, Kaspar.
• spusu Vienna Capitals (1.) vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (4.) is the meeting between the best home-team and the best road-team. The spusu Vienna Capitals have earned 44 points (15 wins) out of 18 home-games so far and the Mozart Citizens got already 30 points on the road Besides, Riley Holzapfel and Co. have earned points out of nine consecutive home-games (8 wins). The  Red Bulls celebrated a road-win in Bozen lately… 
• EC Red Bull Salzburg has been on fire so far! The Mozart Citizens have potted most goals on the road (69) and in total (137). 
• The Champions Hockey League semifinalist is better ranked in all special statistics (Power Play, Penalty Killing, scoring efficiency and Fairplay).
• Neither Vienna, neither Salzburg could earn two consecutive wins in the last nine meetings. If this series continues, the Mozart Citizens must be successful in Vienna on Friday. The Caps have won the last clash in Salzburg.
• The winning club has netted exactly four goals in four straight battles. The last two clashes have even gone to Overtime, Patrick Peter scored in each game.
Quotes:
Patrick Peter, defenseman spusu Vienna Capitals: “We are looking forward to this big game.“
Thomas Raffl, forward EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We have to play compact in the defense and take advantage from our chances. Each player has to give his best and we have to skate a lot as well, as we did in the Champions Hockey League in München.“

Fri, 11.01.2019: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (19:15)

Referees: BALUSKA, TRILAR, Rezek, Soos.
• Moser Medical Graz99ers (3.) and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (6.) will try to return on the winning-street on Friday. The Mur Citizens habe been defeated by EC Panaceo VSV at home lately (2:5) and the Upper Austrians lost two in a row against spusu Vienna Capitals (2:3/OT) and Fehervar AV19 (2:3) at home.
• The Black Wings have split ways with US-Head Coach Troy Ward. The Upper Austrians will be coached by Mark Szücs, Jürgen Penker and Philipp Lukas.
• But, watch out: The Upper Austrians have shown two different faces lately: Brian Lebler and Co. have been defeated in five straight home-games, but they have won three consecutive road-games in Vienna (3:2/OT), Szekesfehervar (4:2) and Znojmo (8:5)…
• Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz is the meeting of the best Power Play team with the Top Penalty Killer‘s:  While the Styrians are the best team in Power Play (PP%: 27.8) and have potted most goals (137), the Steel Citizens are the number 1 in Penalty Killing (PK%: 88.6).
• The 99ers have won two straight home-games against the Black Wings and have netted exactly four goals in both battles too…
Quotes:
Kevin Moderer, forward Moser Medical Graz99ers: „We want to get the win and the three points to secure our Top 6 spot. We know, we have to be ready, because the Black Wings will be very motivated after changing the Coach.“
„We have to be very concentrated and we must play with 100%“, was to hear from Linz.

Fri, 11.01.2019: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. EC-KAC (19:15, SKY Sport HD live)

Referees: BERNEKER, STOLC, Basso, Pardatscher.
• HCB Südtirol Alperia (5.) vs. EC-KAC (2.) is the meeting of the 2 best defensive teams. Klagenfurt has allowed fewest goals (80), Bozen second fewest goals (88). The „Red Jackets“ haven’t even allowed a goal for 125 minutes. 
• EC-KAC (2.) will travel with good memories to Bozen on Friday. Klagenfurt has left the ice in all three season-meetings with HCB Südtirol Alperia so far (5.). Besides, the match is broadcasted by SKY Sport HD on Friday 19:15.
• The two clubs have shown different faces during the last days: While EC-KAC has earned two straight wins against KHL Medvescak Zagreb (12:0, 6:0) lately, the „Foxes“ have been defeated in three straight games and have netted just two goals per game.
• Marco Richter of EC-KAC has scored in two consecutive meetings with the Italians.
• With Lars Haugen of EC-KAC (Save%: 92.3, GAA: 1.88) and Leland Irving of HCB Südtirol Alperia (Save%: 91.7 and GAA: 2.48) two out of the three best goalies of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga are in action in Bozen on Friday.
Quotes:
Steven Strong, defenseman EC-KAC: „Each win is important. We have to be focussed and we must play a solid game.“
Anton Bernard, Captain HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We have a difficult time right now. We have to fight and get back on the winning street with heart and effort to defend our top 6 spot.”

Fri, 11.01.2019: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ vs. Fehervar AV19 (19:15 )

Referees: GRUBER, IVERSON, Nothegger, Schauer.
• HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (10.) and Fehervar AV19 (7.) are still fighting for a Top 6 spot  and the direct Playoff Qualification after 44 rounds. The Austrians are missing seven points for place 6, the Hungarians just two points.
• Each team is doing well in offense, but has problems in defense: HCI has a goal-difference of 125:135, Fehervar AV19 of 127:129. The Hungarians have already reacted and signed Canadian defenseman Ty Wishart. The 30-year old big and strong defender has already played in Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic and even in the NHL: Innsbrucks Andrew Yogan (24G/20A) has potted most goals (24), Andrew Clark (16G/40A) most points (56).
• Each team has convinced lately: The Tyroleans have won five out of their last six games and the Hingarians have earned a win in Linz on Sunday.
• The team having home-advantage has left the ice as the winner in five straight meetings. Fehervar AV19 won the last meeting at home prior Christmas (8:1), but has earned their last win in Innsbruck on December 11th 2016!
• Innsbruck has convinced at home lately, the Sharks have won four straight home-games.
Quotes
Rob Pallin, Headcoach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We have to play on high level!“
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „Innsbruck is an offensiv team. We have tob e ready from the start and we have tob e concentrated in the defense. The win in Linz, gave us a boost!“

Fri, 11.01.2019: KHL Medvescak Zagreb vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:15)

Referees: BABIC, ZRNIC, Nagy, Nemeth.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb (12.) will try to end their bad run against the Dornbirn Bulldogs (8.) at home on Friday. The Bears have lost 17 straight matches and are without scoring for 133 minutes too. DEC needs three points to get closer to the Top 6. The Vorarlberger have been defeated by HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ lately (3:6).
• The Vorarlberger will travel will good memries to Croatia. The West-Austrians have won the last six battles with the Bears. Besides, KHL Medvescak Zagreb got their last win against the Dornbirn Bulldogs on January 20th 2013 or  2.181 days ago!
• DEC  is better ranked in three out of five special statistics (Power Play, Penalty Killing, scoring efficiency). The Bears are better ranked in Fair Play and have the higher number of viewers.
• Brendan O’Donnell (19G/18A) and Brock Trotter (12G/25A) have scored most points for Dornbirn (37) so far, Bjorn Svensson most points (19) for Zagreb.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb will start the Qualification Round without bonus points in February 2019 for sure. In best case, the Croatians could move up to place 11 in the first part of the regular season (44 rounds).
Quotes
Tom Zanoski, forward KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „We will give our best as in each game!“ 
Raphael Wolf, Youngster Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We will start into the game as in all the other matches. We want to show good hockey and get the three points.“

Fri, 11.01.2019: EC Panaceo VSV vs. HC Orli Znojmo (19:15)

Referees: BULOVEC, K. NIKOLIC, Tschrepitsch, Zgonc.
• EC Panaceo VSV (11.) welcomes HC Orli Znojmo (9.) in the „Eagles-clash“ on Friday. The Czechs need three points to get closer to the Top 6. Villach has no chance to reach the Pick Round and would start the Qualification Round with zero points, if finishing on place 11.
• Defenseman Bernd Wolf of EC Panaceo VSV has been elected EISNER Auto YoungStar of the month December 2018.
• Neither Villach, neither Znojmo has earned two straight wins in the last five eagles-clashes. EC Panaceo VSV has won the last meeting in Znojmo (4:2). So, if this series continues the Czechs would leave Villach as the winner on Friday.
• EC Panaceo VSV has won two straight (road-) games in Zagreb (8:2) and Graz (5:2), but has lost two consecutive home-games against Klagenfurt (1:2) and Graz (1:4). The Czechs have been defeated in three out of their last four games and have allowed 22 goals.
• Jerry Pollastrone and Jamie Fraser hace scored most points for Villach (27), Marek Kalus is Znojmos key-player (45 points).
Quotes
Gerhard Unterluggauer, Headcoach EC Panaceo VSV: „We are looking forward to a difficult game. Znojmo has an offensive talented team. We have to play aggressiv and concentrated in the defense all  60 minutes!“
CJ Stretch, forward HC Orli Znojmo: „We have the team to win all games, but we need better starts and we have to work better in thr defense!“