Release from 20.12.2018
Fri, 21.12.2018: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:15)
Referees: KINCSES, TRILAR, Soos, Zgonc.
• Moser Medical Graz99ers (3.) will welcome Dornbirn Bulldogs (10.) in their last home-game prior Christmas on Friday. The Styrians are the best home-team: The 99ers have already earned 34 points (twelve wins) out of 14 home-games. On the other hand, the Vorarlberger try to get their first road-win in December. The West-Austrians have been defeated in both road-games in Szekesfehervar (2:5) and Vienna (1:4) this month.
• But, watch out: The Dornbirn Bulldogs have surprised with a strong performance (41:26-shots) and a 4:2-win over EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz in their first game after the December Break, while the Mur Citizens have lost (2:7) in Bozen. The 99ers have immediately reacted after their highest season-defeat and the have signed Swedish defenseman Anton Sundin.
• The club having home-advantage has left the ice as the winner in three straight meetings.
• As the only player, 99er Oliver Setzinger has potted at least one goal in both season meetings.
• Moser Medical Graz99ers are the best team in Power Play situations; The Styrians have already netted 29 goals out of 99 Power Plays (PP%: 29.3).
Quotes:
„Sundin is a big talent with good passing and shooting“, was to hear from Graz about their newest addition.
Dave MacQueen, Head Coach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „The 99ers are really strong in Power Play situations. We have to play solid defense and with discipline!“
Fri, 21.12.2018: EC-KAC vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (19:15, SKY Sport HD live)
Referees: BULOVEC, M. NIKOLIC, Rezek, Tschrepitsch.
• EC-KAC (4.) and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (6.) will try to get their first win after the December Break in Klagenfurt on Friday. The Red Jackets have been defeated (4:5) by Fehervar AV19 on Tuesday and the Upper Austrians have even lost two straight games lately.
• Klagenfurt will welcome the Upper Austrians with good memories. The Austrian Record Champion has won three straight meetings with the Black Wings.
• EC-KAC has been convincing at home so far this season: The team of Head Coach Petri Matikainen has been successful in ten out of 13 home-games 2018/19 and has given away fewest goals as well. Lars Haugen and Company have allowed just 27 goals at home or 66 goals out of 27 matches in total. The Black Wings have also given away just 78 goals so far.
• EC-KAC vs. EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz is the meeting of a strong Power Play-team with the best Penalty Killers. Klagenfurt has already potted 29 goals out of 106 Power Plays (PP%: 27,4%), while the Upper Austrians have allowed just 13 goals out of 111 Penalty Killing situations (PK%: 88,3).
• Klagenfurts Nicholas Petersen (36 points – 15G/21A) and Linz‘ Brian Lebler (30 points – 16G/14A) are their teams best scorers and goalscorers.
Quotes
Siim Liivik, forward EC-KAC: „The Black Wings are a dangerous team. We have to stop their offense as we did in the first two season-meetings, than we can beat them again.“
„We want to return on the winning street. We need the points to secure our Top 6 position. But, we are looking forward to a difficult game. Klagenfurt ist playing strong at home“, was to hear from Linz.
Fri, 21.12.2018: KHL Medvescak Zagreb vs. Fehervar AV19 (19:15)
Referees: GRUBER, PIRAGIC, Nagy, Nemeth.
• Fehervar AV19 (8.) is in action twice within just 22 hours! The Hungarians will visit Zagreb (12.) on Friday and will welcome HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (9.) on Saturday.
• The two teams have shown different faces lately: While Fehervar AV19 has won three consecutive matches vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (5:2), EC Panaceo VSV (4:1) and EC-KAC (5:4) scoring 14 goals, the Croatians have been defeated in eight straight matches.
• But, watch out! KHL Medvescak Zagreb will welcome the Devils with good memories. The Bears have earned their last victory against Fehervar AV19 at home on November 20th November 2018 (4:2).
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb has collected fewest PIM (242) so far. The Bears spend Ø just 9,3 minutes per game in the penalty box.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb needs at least two points to stay ahead of bottom club EC Panaceo VSV for sure. Otherwise, the Eagles have the chance to overtake the Croatians in the ranking with a home-win against EC Red Bull Salzburg on Friday.
Quotes
Daniel Kolombo, Head Coach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „We try to make our opponents life difficult. We have to play smart and give our best!“
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „I am satisfied with our play 5 on 5. We have to keep up this good energy and fully concentrate in front of our net. Even though Zagreb is in a very hard situation now, we have to stick to our game play and focus on our own game.”
Fri, 21.12.2018: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (19:15)
Referees: BALUSKA, STERNAT, Bärnthaler, Gatol.
• HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (9.) will be in action twice within just 22 hours! The Sharks will visit Vienna (1.) on Friday and Szekesfehervar (8.) on Saturday.
• Each team has been successful in their first match after the December Break. The Tyroleans have beaten KHL Medvescak Zgareb at home (3:2), while Leader spusu Vienna Capitals has earned their fourth straight win in Salzburg (4:3/SO).
• Vienna has been impregnable during the last weeks: The Leader has left the ice as the winner in all (five) home-games since the November Break and has allowed just seven goals during that span. On the other hand, Innnsbruck had problems on the road lately: The team of Head Coach Rob Pallin has been defeated in four straight road-matches, allowing 21 goals in total.
• With Andrew Yogan (HCI – 20 goals) and Christopher DeSousa (VIC – 17 goals) the Erste Bank Eishockey League’s best goal-scorers will face each other. Besides, the brothers Jean Philippe Lamoureux (Vienna) and Mario Lamoureux (Innsbruck) will face each other too.
• Each team is hunting for their 100. goal of the season. The Caps have netted 94 goals so far, the Sharks have already potted 98 goals during this season. Besides, the first, two season-meetings have ended with goal-festivals and home-wins (8:2 in Vienna and 4:3 after Shoot Out in Innsbruck).
Quotes
Ali Wukovits, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „Innsbruck has a dangerous offense. We have to play solid defense, with discipline and we need to be effective with our Special Units. We want to extend our winning streak in front of our fans.“
Sacha Guimond, defenseman HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We have to make a big step forward. Each game starts 0:0 and everything is possible for us, when playing with effort and discipline!“
Fri, 21.12.2018: EC Panaceo VSV vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (19:15)
Referees: SCHUTZ, ZRNIC, Hofer, Hribar.
• EC Panaceo VSV (12.) has the chance to leave the bottom of the table in their home-game against EC Red Bull Salzburg (2.) on Friday. The Eagles must earn two points more then KHL Medvescak Zagreb against Fehervar AV19. On the other hand, EC Red Bull Salzburg could move up to the first place. The Red Bulls need three points and big support from Innsbrucks Sharks in Vienna.
• EC Red Bull Salzburg is the best team on the road. The Mozart Citizens have already earned 26 points (8 wins) out of 14 road-games. Besides, the Red Bulls have potted most goals as well (116).
• The Mozart Citizens will travel with good memories to the Drau City. The Vice-Champion has won four straight meetings with the blue & white Eagles. Villach got their last home-win against the Red Bulls on December 20th 2016 or two years ago. Since that day, the Red Bulls have earned three straight wins in Villach (3:1,4:1,4:0) and have given away just two goals in total.
• But, watch out: EC Panaceo VSV has earned their first road-win of the season in Znojmo on Tuesday, while the Red Bulls have been defeated by Vienna (3:4/SO) after nine straight games without a lost (including CHL).
• EC Red Bull Salzburg is ranked better than Villach in all special statistics (Power Play, Penalty Killing, Fair Play, scoring efficiency).
Quotes
Jerry Pollastrone, forward EC Panaceo VSV: "We are satisfied about our first road-win. The atmosphere in the team is good. We want to continue this way against the Red Bulls. Salzburg is the favorite, but we will try to compete and get the win."
Raphael Herburger, defenseman EC Red Bull Salzburg: „Villach will be very motivated for sure. We need our best performance!“
Fri, 21.12.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. HC Orli Znojmo (19:45)
Referees: KELLNER, K. NIKOLIC, Pardatscher, Sparer.
• HCB Südtirol Alperia (5.) will welcome HC Orli Znojmo (7.) in their last home-game prior Christmas on Friday. For each team it will be a „six-point-game“ in the fight for a top 6 position after 44 rounds, which would mean the direct Play-off Qualification. Bozen has earned 49 points so far and is ranked fifth, while Znojmo got 41 points so far and is ranked on place 7.
• The team playing on the road has been successful in the first two season-meetings (0:4 in Znojmo, 1:2 in Bozen).
• HCB Südtirol Alperia is still unbeaten at home in December, the Foxes have won both home-games this month. But, watch out: HC Orli Znojmo has been successful in both road-games this month as well: The „Red Eagles“ have left Graz (4:3) and Zagreb (7:1) with three points in December. Lately, Znojmo lost against Villach at home.
• The Foxes are ahead of Znojmo in all special statistics (Power Play, Penalty Killing, scoring efficiency, Fair Play and number of viewers).
• Bozens Brett Findlay (33 points – 5G/28A) and Znojmos Marek Kalus (30 points – 16G/14A) and CJ Stretch (30 points – 7G/23A) are their clubs best scorers.
Quotes
Ivan Deluca, player of HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We earned an important win against Graz lately. Against the 99ers, we did not give away a lead as we have already done sometimes during this season and we finally got a clear victory. In our last two games prior Christmas against Znojmo and Zagreb, we want to be successful too to secure our Top 6 position. “
Jakub Stehlik, defenseman HC Orli Znojmo: „We need to be better than on Tuesday, play in higher tempo, be active. We know it is an important game and our goal is to reach the top 6, so we want to get points!“
Sat, 22.12.2018: Fehervar AV19 vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (17:30)
Referees: BABIC, FICHTNER, Nagy, Soos.
• Fehervar AV19 (8.) vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (9.) is the meeting of two neighbours in the standing, who will try to get closer to the Top 6 on Saturday.
• Each team will play their second match within 22 hours: The Devils visit Zagreb first on Friday and the Sharks are guest in Vienna.
• The team having home-advantage has left the ice as the winner in four straight meetings.
• Each team is very effective infront of their opponents net: The Tyroleans have the best scoring efficience (12,16%) and the Hungarians the third best (11.52%).
• Innsbrucks Andrew Yogan has potted at leat one goal in five straight meetings (!) with Fehervar AV19 and HCI-Captain Tyler Spurgeon has netted at least one goal in three consecutive clashes with the Hungarians.