The playoff race is getting more and more exciting

win2day ICE Hockey League
Fri, 26.01.2024, 19.15: EC-KAC - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: KAINBERGER, OFNER, Mantovani, Puff | >> live.ice.hockey <<

In the past seven days, the EC-KAC has recorded three wins in regulation against Graz (3:1) and Asiago (12:0) as well as in Vorarlberg (4:2). This puts the league leaders on 83 points after 40 games; the last time the Carinthians had a higher points average than their current one (2.08) at the end of the regular season was 23 years ago in the 2000-01 campaign. Innsbruck is on course for direct playoff qualification. With the exception of the home games against EC-KAC at the beginning of January and HCB Südtirol on Tuesday, the current fifth-placed team has scored at least one point in each of its last 13 league games and has even won six in a row away from home. The EC-KAC can boast an outstanding record in home games so far this season: 17 of 20 encounters in the Heidi Horten Arena have ended in a red and white victory. The "Red Jackets" have also won two of the three duels so far this season.

"Trophy on Tour" makes a stop in Klagenfurt
The Karl Nedwed Trophy is coming to Klagenfurt as part of the "Trophy on Tour".

Fri, 26.01.2024, 19.15: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: HUBER, M. NIKOLIC, Bärnthaler, Bedynek | >> live.ice.hockey <<

Despite a good performance, VSV were beaten in Hungary lately, leaving Villach two points behind the top six in seventh place. The Graz99ers' chances of reaching the pre-playoffs are now only theoretically possible. The team at the bottom of the table has been waiting three games for a win. Although the Carinthians are the fourth-best home team in the league, they have only won one of their four home games in the new year. The Styrians have collected more points on the road than at home (17/15). The last five head-to-head encounters have all gone to the Draustadt side, who have scored a total of 26 goals. Alexander Rauchenwald and Co. won the last meeting in Graz by a clear 7:1. Marco Richter is expected to return to the VSV line-up. The 99ers once again have to cope with five absentees. Goalie Wieser as well as Schira, Grafenthin, Kirchschläger and Sam Antonitsch are out injured. Daniel Viksten is set to make his comeback.

Fri, 26.01.2024, 19:15: HK SZ Olimpija - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: E. SEEWALD, ZRNIC, J. Seewald, Wimmler | >> live.ice.hockey <<

Ljubljana is currently one of the best teams in the league with eight wins from the last ten games. The ninth-placed Slovenians are just seven points off the top six, while the Pioneers have won just one of their last five games and are in tenth place and on course for a pre-play-off spot. The upcoming away double weekend at the Tivoli and in Graz therefore promises to be very exciting. All three season duels against Olimpija have gone clearly in favour of Dylan Stanley's team, in each of which they have scored at least five goals (7:1, 6:2, 5:2). Pioneers forward Steve Owre leads the win2day ICE Hockey League scorer rankings. Trevor Gooch of Olimpija, who has a twelve-game point streak, is also among the leaders.

Fri, 26.01.2024, 19.45: Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: GROZNIK, K. NIKOLIC, Pardatscher, Sparer | >> live.ice.hockey <<

After Asiago made it to the pre-playoffs in their league debut season, the Italians are currently 13 points off tenth place. With a 0:12 debacle in Klagenfurt on Tuesday, the Italians, who were decimated by injuries, even suffered their lowest point of the season so far. The Capitals, on the other hand, reduced the gap to the last pre-playoff place to five points with a home win against Graz. With 36 goals (15 goals + 21 assists), Canadian Matteo Gennaro is the Italians' top scorer. On the other hand, a newcomer from Vienna put in a strong performance: Reid Stefanson has six points (2 goals + 4 assists) after five appearances. Asiago Hockey have won all three duels against the Capitals so far this season, most recently on 9 December 2023 at the STEFFL Arena. The last Caps win over the Italians was on 17 February 2023 at Odegar Stadium.

Fri, 26.01.2024, 19.45: HC Pustertal - Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: PIRAGIC, SCHAUER, Fleischmann, Zgonc | >> live.ice.hockey <<

Linz recently returned to the top 6 with two shootout victories. The Upper Austrians currently have a two-point lead over Villach and Pustertal - which makes the upcoming duel very itneresting. Pustertal have won six of their eight games in the new year, but the "Wolves" were beaten in Ljubljana on Tuesday after over time. After a defeat at home at the start of the season, the Upper Austrians won the second encounter in Linz and the first showdown in Bruneck. In the last five head-to-head meetings, the team that scored first has won - with the final score being 4:1 on four occasions.

Following the "promotion" of Kasper Vuorinen from interim coach to head coach, HC Pustertal has appointed Ivo Machacka as assistant coach.

Sat, 27.01.2024, 18.00: HK SZ Olimpija - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: HUBER, M. NIKOLIC, Gatol-Schafranek, Riecken | >> live.ice.hockey <<

Innsbruck travels to the Tivoli on Saturday. The Slovenians lead the direct season duel 2:1, most recently winning 3:0 in Tyrol on 8 December. HKO goalie Lukas Horak has recorded the most shutouts (4) of all goalies in the win2day ICE Hockey League this season.

Sat, 27.01.2024, 19.15: Moser Medical Graz99ers - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: HRONSKY, SOOS, Durmis, Muzsik | >> live.ice.hockey <<

The second stop of the Pioneers road trip takes the Vorarlberg team to the bottom of the table. The 99ers may be the last-placed team in the league, but the two teams have always fought close duels this season. With two wins and one defeat, the Styrians even have a positive record.

Sat, 27.01.2024, 19.45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - spusu Vienna Capitals
Referees: OFNER, PIRAGIC, Pardatscher, Zgonc | >> live.ice.hockey <<

The Capitals conclude their Italian double-header with a game in Bolzano. The reigning runners-up have won their last three games and are currently in fourth place - head coach Glen Hanlon's team is five points ahead of seventh place. The South Tyroleans have decided the last five duels with Vienna all in their favour in regulation time.

Photo: Foppa Iwan - HC Pustertal