Three Austrian teams are still in the fight for place 1

>Vienna Capitals try to end their bad run in Zagreb on Friday. The Champion was left without points in three consecutive games and fell in the ranking to place 3. Rafael Rotter and Company have not lost four consecutive games this season. Besides the Champion is still in the race for place 1. The Capitals are just one point behind Leader EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz and have the same number of points as EC Red Bull Salzburg (2).

>KHL Medvescak Zagreb is still in the fight for place 4 and home-advantage in the Quarterfinals. The Croatians are on place 5, three points behind place 4. Medvescak found back on the winning street lately: The Bears have won two consecutive games and have scored in total ten goals.

>The Capitals got fewest points in the last five rounds: The Champion has collected only four points (one win) during that span and has allowed in total 21 goals. The Croatians have collected five points (two wins) during that span.

>The Vienna Capitals travel with good memories to Croatia. The Austrians have won four consecutive Capital-clashes and allowed in total just three goals.

>Brandon Buck returns with the Capitals for the first time as an opponent to Zagreb. The Canadian played for the Bears 2012/13 and scored 58 points in 58 games.

Quotes:

Doug Bradley, Headcoach KHL Medvescak Zagreb: „We want to take the momentum into the next games and get the next win."

Serge Aubin, Headcoach Vienna Capitals: „It’s never easy in Zagreb, we expect a game on an equal level. We must play solid defense and we have to create offense with fast combinations.“

 

>HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (6) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (2) still need points to finish in the best possible position. The Sharks are still in the fight for place 4 and home-advantage in the Quarterfinals, while the Mozart Citizens are still in the fight for place 1. Place 1 would mean home-advantage until a possible final and the first pick right, when choosing the opponent for the Quarterfinals. Besides the Red Bulls would qualify for the Champions Hockey League. Salzburg is one point behind place 1, Innsbruck is three points or one win behind place 4.

>Innsbruck and Salzburg have had some problems lately. Both teams have won just one from their last three games. The Red Bulls were defeated even in two consecutive games.

>EC Red Bull Salzburg has been the best Power Play team (PP-efficiency: 26,9%) so far and has had the best scoring-efficience (11,13%) as well. The Red Bulls have netted already 190 goals from 1.707 shots on net.

>EC Red Bull Salzburg has been the best road-team in the Pick Round so far. The Mozart Citizens have collected already eight points (three wins) from four games and they have conceeded fewest goals (11). But watch out: Innsbruck has won two consecutive home-games and scored in total eight goals.
>Manuel Latusa is out of the EC Red Bull Salzburg roster for the entire season.

Quotes:
Sacha Guimond, defenseman HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „Salzburg has much quality in their team. But we have already beaten them. We are looking forward to this big challenge. Our aim is place 4!“
Dominique Heinrich, defenseman EC Red Bull Salzburg: „The Top 6 teams are facing each other in the Pick Round. Each game is close. We need three points in the race for place 1. To be successful in Innsbruck, it needs full concentration.“

 

>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz would qualify for the Champions Hockey League 2018/19 with three points in Klagenfurt and the help from HC TWK Innsbruck „die Haie“ against EC Red Bull Salzburg. To qualify for the CHL, Linz has to be four points ahead of Salzburg after the Friday-games. EC-KAC still needs four points out of their last two matches against the top-clubs - Leader EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (Fri/H) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (Sun/A), to settle on place 4 after the Intermediate Round and to have home-advantage in the Quarterfinals.

>Zintis Nauris Zusevics comes on loan from Graz to Linz. The 23 years old forward has already scored 15 points from 52 games this season.
>EC-KAC (4.) and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (1.) were convincing lately: The two teams collected most points in the last five Pick Round games. Linz has collected 12 points (four wins) during that span, Klagenfurt nine points (three wins).
>EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz has collected points from all five season-meetings with EC-KAC (four wins).
>With EC-KAC (age Ø: 27,23 years) and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (age Ø: 27,82 years) the two oldest Erste Bank Eishockey Liga teams will face each other.
Quotes:
Andrew Kozek, Forward EC KAC: „We have to work hard in the defense and offense!“
Troy Ward, Headcoach EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz: „We are on the right way. The aim is to play the best hockey in the Playoffs!“

 

Referees: KINCSES, SIEGEL, Nagy, Nemeth.
>HC Orli Znojmo has still a little chance to make the Playoffs. To stay in the race the Red Eagles need three points against Dornbirn Bulldogs and Bozen must win in Szekesfehervar in Overtime or Shoot Out in the mean time.
>Dornbirn Bulldogs will finish the Qualification Round on first place and is already qualified for the Playoffs.
> Czech forward Tomas Plihal has joined Heilbronner Falken in DEL2 from Orli Znojmo. Plihal has spent two seasons in Znojmo, logging 15 points in 45 games this season.
>Dornbirn Bulldogs travel with good memories to Czech Republik. The Vorarlberger left the ice as the winner in four consecutive meetings with Znojmo and have scored in total 23 goals.
>Jamie Arniel (DEC) netted at least one goal in the last three meetings with HC Orli Znojmo.
Quotes:
Marek Spacek, Forward HC Orli Znojmo: „We made much pressure against Villach and fired from every chance. We must play the same way against Dornbirn to be successful again!“
Dave MacQueen, Headcoach Dornbirn Bulldogs: „Yeah we are going to Znojmo on Friday. We are going to continue playing with our young guys because we don’t want to wear anybody out before the playoffs. Rinne will be in the net.“

 

Fri, 02.03.2018: EC VSV – Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15)
Referees: GRUBER, TRILAR, Ettlmayr, Hribar.
>EC VSV (5.) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (6.) will face each other in the bottom clash of the Quaification Round in Villach on Friday. Both teams are already out of the Playoff race. The Styrians need three points in Villach, otherwise the Mur Citizens will settle on the last place. Both teams have been defeated lately, Villach has lost even four consecutive games.
>The worst home-team (VSV) will face the worst road-team (G99). The Eagles have collected 37 points (12 wins) from 26 games, the 99ers got just 15 points (five wins) from 26 road-games. Besides the 99ers were defeated in five consecutive road-games and have allowed in total 27 goals.
>EC VSV is leading in the season-clash 3:2. The Carinthians have won both meetings in the year 2018 so far.
>Forward Zintis Nauris Zusevics switched on loan from Graz to Linz, while Forward Miha Verlic leaves Villach and continues his career at JYP in Finland.
>EC VSV Captain Niki Petrik is automatically suspended for one game after his second fighting major in Znojmo on Tuesday.
Quotes:
Sam Labrecque, defenseman EC VSV: „We are disappointed about missing the Playoffs. We will try our best to win our last home-game.“

 

Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SMETANA, Kontschieder, Seewald.
> Fehervar AV19 would qualify for the Playoffs as the eight and last team with three home-points against HCB Südtirol Alperia.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia needs at least one point in Szekesfehervar to stay in the Playoff race. The Foxes would move up in the ranking to place 2 with a win in Hungary. To win the direct duel with Fehervar AV19 having the same number of points after the Qualification Round, Bozen needs a three point win in Szekesfehervar!
>Both teams were convincing lately: Fehervar AV19 has collected points in five consecutive games (three wins), while HCB Südtirol Alpera has even won five from the last six matches.
>HCB Südtirol Alperia is leading in the season-clash 3:2. The last four meetings ended by just one goal difference. The Devils started the Intermediate Round with a 2:1 win in Bozen.
>Fehervar AV19 had thrilling games at home in the last weeks. The last six home-games of the Hungarians ended by one goal difference. But watch out: Fehervar AV19 collected points in all four home-games (two wins) in the Qualification Round.
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Headcoach Fehervar AV19: „We have to remember that we have two games left in the qualification round, we have to focus on the right things now. It is possible that we get a playoff spot on Friday and that’s our main concern right now.“
Alexander Egger, Captain HCB Südtirol Alperia: „We must be ready from the start. Everybody will fight. It is the game of the year.“