Three top-6 duels on Friday

win2day ICE Hockey League, 13.01.2023:

19:15 spusu Vienna Capitals - Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: FICHTNER, RENCZ, Gatol-Schafranek, Konc

In the duel spusu Vienna Capitals vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers two teams meet, which are currently on a pre-playoff place. While the Viennese are only just behind a place among the top-6 - and thus the direct playoff qualification - the Styrians are in the middle of the fight for the top-10. Currently, the 99ers have a cushion of seven points on the eleventh-placed Asiago, which, however, has played two games less so far. The team from Graz got off to a good start in the new year with three wins from four games, but then suffered a minor setback in an overtime loss to the league's bottom team. The Caps also had to admit defeat this week. Against HCB Südtirol Alperia, a goal in the final period made the difference. There was no lack of excitement in the previous encounters between Vienna and Graz. The previous three duels were all decided in overtime by the hosts - twice in favor of the Styrians, once the Caps prevailed. The last time the two teams faced each other was just ten days before the upcoming encounter. On that occasion, Zintis Zusevics ensured the decision just four seconds before the supposed penalty shootout. Matt Bradley is back for the Vienna team after his suspension. Max Sheppard, on the other hand, already celebrated his comeback on Tuesday after a 49-day injury layoff.

19:15 EC-KAC - HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Hribar, Zgonc | >> Live in PPV-Stream.

EC-KAC welcomes HC TIWAG Innsbruck, the current leader of the win2day ICE Hockey League. This duel is one of three clashes between two top-6 teams on Friday. The Sharks could only win one of two games during their South Tyrolean trip - against chaser Bolzano they lost 1:5, before the leader got back on track against Pustertal. Before that, the Tyrolean team had five successes in a row. EC-KAC played their last league game last Friday, a 1:4 loss at Vienna Capitals meant the KAC went without a point for the second time in their last nine games. In the table, the KAC currently have a cushion before one point on the seventh-placed Viennese, who, however, played one game less. In this duel, the Sharks prevailed in the two previous duels. In the first encounter, Daniel Leavens scored a brace. The 29-year-old Canadian also impressed in his last league game against Pustertal, where he also recorded two goals and an assist. However, Brady Shaw and Adam Heleweka are still the most dangerous duo of the league leader in terms of points and together they have already scored 107 points. For EC-KAC, David Maier, who has been out of action due to illness, returns to the lineup and will form a defensive pair with Jesper Jensen Aabo. However, the next long-term absence for the KAC is added: Finn van Ee, who has just returned from the U20-A World Championship in Canada, suffered an upper body blister, which is still being examined more comprehensively, but will definitely result in a break of several weeks. In addition to the center forward on the list of long-term absences are seven other players. For the Sharks, Daniel Jakubitzka is about to make his comeback.

19:15 EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: PIRAGIC, STERNAT, Miklic, Snoj | >> Live in PPV-Stream.

In the duel ED iDM Wärmepumpen VSV against EC Red Bull Salzburg two table neighbors meet. The Bulls, who have played one game less but still have a lead of 14 points in the table, have the clearly better starting position. Between the third and the fourth place there is by far the biggest difference between two ranks. If the Villach team still wants to launch an attack on the top three ranks and thus on a right to choose a quarterfinal opponent, this match is doubly valuable. In case of a defeat, however, the Eagles could suddenly find themselves back in the middle of the fight for the top-6 and thus for direct playoff qualification. Crucial for this situation were three Villach defeats around the turn of the year, before they recorded a success against the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg in their last match. The match-intensive weeks were much more successful for EC Red Bull Salzburg, who currently have the longest winning streak of all teams this season with seven wins in a row. With their victory on Tuesday against Fehérvár, the Salzburgers have surpassed their self-established season record. In the duel against Villach, captain Thomas Raffl also returns to the lineup, Only in the first of these seven games, captain Thomas Raffl could be used, who now faces his comeback against the Sharks. This means that the Red Bulls are only missing Troy Bourke, Dominique Heinrich and Peter Hochkofler. The reigning champions have won all three of their season duels with the Villach Eagles so far, but all of the games - the last one only on New Year's Day in Salzburg, which ended 3:1 - were always decided in the final third.

19:15 Steinbach Black Wings Linz - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: OFNER, SMETANA, Bedynek, Riecken | >> Live in PPV-Stream.

HCB Südtirol Alperia has another chance to take the lead in the win2day ICE Hockey League on Friday. After Tuesday's 4:3 win against the spusu Vienna Capitals, the South Tyroleans are only two points away from Innsbruck, who will face EC-KAC in the parallel match. However, the Foxes will also face anything but an easy opponent on Friday. The Steinbach Black Wings Linz, however, did not get off to the best possible start in 2023 and were defeated in three of four games. Above all, the Upper Austrians' defense, which has otherwise been so disciplined this season, has become vulnerable in the last four games - the Linzers have conceded just under four goals per game. HCB Südtirol Alperia recorded six wins in a row between 26.12. and 6.1. and thus temporarily equaled the record of Salzburg, which has since been surpassed again by the same team. The winning streak was then halted by Hydro Fehérvár AV19, however, before the South Tyroleans recorded a narrow success against Vienna. In the three duels between Linz and Bolzano so far this season, the home team has prevailed in each case. In none of these games were more than four goals scored in total. The Foxes will have to do without suspended forward Mike Halmo.

win2day ICE Hockey League, 14.01.2023:

19:15 spusu Vienna Capitals - HC Pustertal
Referees: NIKOLIC K., NIKOLIC M., Durmis, Sparer

In the only Saturday game the spusu Vienna Capitals will meet the HC Pustertal. While the Viennese play the second game within 24 hours, it is the only game this weekend for the South Tyroleans. The Wolves were defeated in three of the last four games, but are still in the top-10. Currently, the lead over tenth-placed Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey is three points, but the Yellow-Red by two games less. For the Caps, Pustertal is something of a favorite opponent this season. The Viennese have won all three duels so far - the goal difference of these encounters is +13 for Vienna.