Release from 28.02.2020

Three teams fight for one remaining playoff spot | Direct duel for third place in Pick Round

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With HC Orli Znojmo, HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie“ and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 three teams fight for the last remaining playoff spot on the last gameday of regular season. Further, the spusu Vienna Capitals try to defend third place in the Pick Round against EC-KAC to keep third pick right.

In Vienna, Sky Sport Austria broadcasted the game as well as the live pick, which will be free to air on www.skysportaustria.at/live too. Moreover, the Servus Hockey Night shows EC Panaceo VSV hosting HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie”. 

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6 facts ahead of 10th intermediate round:

  • The spusu Vienna Capitals and the EC-KAC fight in a direct duel for the third place in the Pick Round and thus the right to choose from two remaining quarterfinal opponents.
  • With HC Orli Znojmo, HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 a trio is fighting for the last place in the playoff. All scenarios per team can be found below. In case of a tie at the end of the Qualification Round, the better ranked team after regular season phase one (8th ZNO, 9th AVS, 10th HCI) will be promoted to the postseason.
  • All games of the last round of the Regular Season will be played simultaneously at 17.30.
  • Two games will be shown live:
    • EC Panaceo VSV - HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" on servushockeynight.com
    • spusu Vienna Capitals - EC-KAC on Sky Sport Austria 1 HD
  • The live pick will be broadcast live on https://www.skysportaustria.at/live/ and the Facebook page of Sky Sport Austria directly after the game between Vienna and Klagenfurt. The Live-Pick will also be broadcast at the outlets of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
  • The HCB Südtirol Alperia is free of play on the last gameday of the intermediate round.

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Pick Round:
Sat, 29.02.2020, 5.30 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: BULOVEC, STERNAT, Kainberger, Kontschieder.

  • The game between EC Red Bull Salzburg and Moser Medical Graz99ers has no more impact on the final standings of the Pick Round in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
  • Salzburg will finish the intermediate round in second place, Graz will finish the top group in fifth and last place.
  • EC Red Bull Salzburg will finish the Pick Round in the top 2 for the sixth time, as the “Red Bulls” won Pick Round three times.
  • Both teams have recently suffered defeats: The "Red Bulls" lost twice in a row, scoring only one goal each, the 99ers even lost the last four games and are still without a win in the Pick Round after regulation.
  • Salzburg have won four of the five games of the season so far. The away team has won four times this season so far.
  • The two teams are competing in their 91st duel against each other, 62 games were won by the Red Bulls.
  • Salzburg's froward Alexander Rauchenwald is looking forward to make his comeback, 154 days after his cancer.
  • Alongside Alexander Rauchenwald, Florian Baltram is also fit again, leaving only convalescents Yannic Pilloni and János Hári missing from the Red Bulls tomorrow.
  • Lukas Kainz could be back in the line-up at Graz, Oliver Setzinger and Travis Oleksuk will be spared for the playoff start.

Sat, 29.02.2020, 5.30 pm: spusu Vienna Capitals – EC-KAC (live auf Sky Sport Austria 1 HD)

Referees: NIKOLIC M., SMETANA, Nothegger, Weiss.
  • The spusu Vienna Capitals and the EC-KAC fight live on Sky Sport Austria 1 HD for third place in the Pick Round and thus the last pick right for the quarter finals.
  • The Viennese are two points ahead of Klagenfurt, which can only pass the "Caps" by winning after regulation.
  • Vienna last had no picking rights in the 2014/15 season (#5). In the last three years it has always won the Pick Round.
  • The KAC could not choose a quarterfinal opponent in the season 17/18 at last, became fourth then.
  • In the last five matches of the intermediate round both teams were less convincing: Vienna scored six of 15 possible points, the KAC only four.
  • The champion from Carinthia won the last four matches against the runner-up this season, only the first match of the season - on 15 September - was won by the "Caps" after Shootout.
  • Rafael Rotter (VIC) scored three goals and dished five assists in the seven games of the intermediate round, only in one game he remained without points.
  • The two teams have played their 123 duels since the 2003/04 season. The KAC has won 64 games and lost only two of the last ten duels.

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 10. Qualification Round:
Sat, 29.02.2020, 5.30 pm: HC Orli Znojmo – Dornbirn Bulldogs
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Nagy, Soos.
  • HC Orli Znojmo is the only one of the three teams still eligible for the playoffs to have the qualification in their own hands:
  • A win after regulation puts the Czechs in the quarter-finals for the second time in a row, the eighth time ever.
  • In addition, the "aagles" will contest the postseason if they score as many points as Innsbruck.
  • If Fehérvár wins after regulation and Innsbruck did not grab more points than Znojmo, the Czechs are through with after an OT- resp. SO-loss.
  • The Dornbirn Bulldogs will definitely finish the QR at the last place for the second time in a row.
  • While Znojmo won all four duels of the first phase of the regular season after regulation, they had to admit defeat in the QR in the first duel with 1:2 after overtime.
  • The two teams are competing against each other for the 50th time, Znojmo won 32 games.

Sat, 29.02.2020, 5.30 pm: EHC Liwest Black Wings Linz – Hydro Fehérvár AV19

Referees: NIKOLIC K., STOLC, Pardatscher, Bedynek.
  • Hydro Fehérvár AV19 has the smallest chance to reach playoffs. The Hungarians are two points behind Znojmo and Innsbruck respectively - and can't make it on their own:
  • The Hungarians have to win after regulation and at the same time Znojmo is not allowed to grab points and Innsbruck can only get one point at most.
  • The Hungarians would miss the postseason for the eighth time since joining the league at the start of the 2007/08 season.
  • Both Linz and Fehérvar celebrated a victory on Thursday. The Upper Austrians took the lead in the Qualification Round with their overtime victory against Innsbruck.
  • Of the five encounters of the season so far, Linz has won three. Four times this season the home team has won.
  • Of the last ten home games against Fehérvár, the Upper Austrians have only lost two.
  • Of the 63 matches played so far, Linz have won 41.
Pregame Statement: Antti Karhula (AVS)



Sat, 29.02.2020, 5.30 pm: EC Panaceo VSV – HC TWK Innsbruck “Die Haie” (LIVE on Servus Hockey Night)
Referees: OFNER, PEARCE (CAN), Seewald, Zgonc.
  • The HC TWK Innsbruck "Die Haie" has the opportunity to qualify for the playoffs of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga again after a one-year break. The "sharks" are qualified if they score more points than Znojmo. If Innsbruck gets only one point, Fehérvár is not allowed to win after regulation.
  • Both Villach and Innsbruck were defeated on the past gameday of the intermediate round. The "eagles" even had to admit defeat 0:4, but spared some players with regard to the playoffs.
  • Innsbruck has won three of five duels with Villach this season, beating VSV 5:3 in the last meeting.
  • Innsbruck's Tyler Spurgeon is the second-best scorer in the intermediate round with eight goals.
  • The two teams fought out 86 duels, 50 of which VSV won.
Pregame Statemtent: Luc Snuggerud (HCI)