Release from 29.12.2022
Win2day ICE Hockey League | 30.12.2022 | Schedule:
Fr, 30.12.2022, 7.15 pm: EC-KAC – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: OFNER, ZRNIC, Puff, Zgonc. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The EC-KAC invites to the duel with the Steinbach Black Wings Linz, as both teams are currently ranked among the top six. The advantage on the seventh-placed AVS is four (BWL) and two points (KAC). The winner of this game will take a lot of points in the fight for direct playoff qualification. Both teams are also in form: Klagenfurt scored in its last five consecutive games, Linz in the last four. On home ice, the Austrian record champions have won five of their last six appearances, and the red-white defense in particular has been very stable in the home games of recent weeks: in none of the last eleven games in the Heidi Horten Arena did the EC-KAC concede more than three goals, and in total they have only conceded 19 goals in front of their home crowd during this period. The two previous season duels, were decided by the Upper Austrians, they have strengthened on Thursday with the defender Matt Murphy, with 5:3. The team of Head Coach Philipp Lukas had problems recently in the special teams, as in the month of December, only one of 18 power plays (and none of the recent 17) could be converted into a goal (efficiency: 5.6%), while at the same time 29 shorthanded situations resulted in no less than nine goals conceded during this period (penalty kill ratio: 69.0 percent). The EC-KAC is missing Nick Petersen, Lukas Haudum, Thomas Koch, Johannes Bischofberger and Daniel Obersteiner as well as Jesper Jensen Aabo and Samuel Witting.
Fr, 30.12.2022, 7.15 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – HK SZ Olimpija
Referees: BERNEKER, RENCZ, Bärnthaler, Durmis. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
For the second time in eight days, EC Red Bull Salzburg and HK SZ Olimpija face each other. The champion won the duel before Christmas clearly with 7:0, three goals were scored by the fourth in the table with numerical superiority. The "Red Bulls" have always scored in their last three games (two wins, one loss after a shootout) and have been particularly convincing defensively: in the last almost 200 minutes of play, the seven-time league champions conceded only one goal. Goalie Atte Tolvanen posted two consecutive shutouts, and in each of his last four appearances he has impressed with a save percentage of over 96%. The Slovenians have lost their form in the last weeks: The "Dragons" have lost the last seven games and conceded at least five goals in the last four games. Especially on the road things are not going well for Mitja Sivic's team, the last ICE road win dates back to October 21st (3:2 SO @G99). Forward Paul Huber is available to RBS again after almost a month of injury, but convalescents Ty Loney, Troy Bourke and Aljaž Predan are missing.
Fr, 30.12.2022, 7.15 pm: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Bedynek, Riecken. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The second game between two teams from the top-6 is EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV and HCB Südtirol Alperia, after both teams caught the attention with victories on Wednesday: While the Carinthians outclassed Graz 8:1, the South Tyroleans turned around a 0:3 against Asiago in overtime. For the "Foxes" it was already the second win in a row after overtime and after trailing in each game. On the road, the two-time league champions are without a win for two games. With only 17 points from 13 road games, HCB is the fourth-weakest away team in the league. From its last five appearances in Villach, the league runner-up picked up just one win. The two previous meetings were won by the Eagles, who could close the gap to Bolzano to one point with an outright victory. To do so, however, the Carinthians will have to get back on track at home, where they recently suffered two heavy defeats. Nicolas Mattinen, the league's best defender in terms of points, was not available to Villach on December 28. It is not yet clear whether he will be available this time.
Fr, 30.12.2022, 7.15 pm: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: GROZNIK, PIRAGIC, Kis-Kiraly, Vaczi. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
For the fourth time this season Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and spusu Vienna Capitals meet each other. All three previous games ended with only one goal difference - but always with a victory of the Hungarians: 2:1 SO at home, 2:1 and 4:3 OT away. In all three encounters the vice-champion was trailing by one goal. Fehervar presented itself enormously strong in home games recently: four of the last five games on home ice were won, in none of the four games Kevin Constantine's team conceded a goal. On December 28th, the Hungarians took a break, while Vienna managed an OT win over Linz (2:1). For Vienna, Niklas Würschl should return to the lineup.
Fr, 30.12.2022, 7.15 pm: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: REZEK, SCHAUER, Hribar, Wimmler. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
The third West Derby of the season between HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie and BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg is the duel first against last. Innsbruck leads the table with 65 points, while the Vorarlberg team has only one third of the points on their account with 22. The first two meetings of the season went to the "Haie", which are currently at home for four games without defeat. The league newcomer is still the weakest away team, picking up only nine points from 13 games. While the offense is running like clockwork for the Tyroleans (4.03 goals per game), goal scoring is the Vorarlbergers' shortcoming: the "Pioneers" score 1.79 goals per game, and there was no goal celebration in the last two games - the current goal drought is 128 minutes and 41 seconds long. Innsbruck goalkeeper Tom McCollum is also in very good form at the moment: The goalkeeper has only conceded one goal in each of his last two games after Christmas and has twice recorded a save percentage of over 96.7%. Valentin Ploner (upper body injury), Philipp Maurer (lower body) and David Madlener are missing for the Pioneers.
Fr, 30.12.2022, 7.15 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: HUBER A., Nikolic M., Basso, Weiss. | >> PPV-Livestream <<
Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey has after the duel with Bolzano only two days later the second ICE representative from South Tyrol as opponent. HC Pustertal Wölfe welcomes the league newcomer, for Asiago it is the ninth game within the last 18 days. But in this period (since December 13) the Italians have given strong performances: Won five of the eight games, scored one more time - only on December 28 (3:4 OT @HCB). As a result, Tom Barasso's team moved up to ninth place in the standings and can increase their advantage to one of the three spots outside the pre-playoffs with another win. Asiago has improved especially its penalty killing lately, holding at 85.5% and being the second best team in shorthanded. In the last nine games, Asiago has not conceded a single goal in the box play, surviving 27 shorthanded situations in a row. Pustertal, on the other hand, continues to struggle with form, winning only two of its last ten games and also succumbing to Asiago in their previous encounters this season. Both teams should be able to play with their best lineup.