Release from 03.11.2018
On Sunday, the last gameday before the international break, three teams are battling for the lead. The Moser Medical Graz 99ers, the HCB Südtirol Alperia and the spusu Vienna Capitals have the chance to spend the break on the top position. Before the final gameday, six teams are in action on Saturday.
Facts:
- Sunday is the last gameday before the break
- The Moser Medical Graz 99ers, the HCB Südtirol Alperia and the spusu Vienna Capitals have the chance to spend the break on the top position.
- John Hughes (499) and Thomas Koch (498) are the first players with the chance to score the 500 Assists in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 17th round:
Sun, 04.11.2018: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. Fehervar AV19 (17:00 Uhr)
Referees: BULOVEC, STOLC, Pardatscher, Seewald.
- The HCB Südtirol Alperia has the chance to capture the lead in standings on Sunday. To do so, the Caps and the 99ers have to leave points.
- Fehervar AV19 has a “Tyrolian-double” this weekend. Before playing against Bolzano on Sunday, the Hungarians are facing Innsbruck on Saturday.
- Both teams won the past two games before Saturday.
- The away team won the past three games of this duel.
- Fehervar still has a lot of room for improvement in their Penalty Killing (72,3%), whereas Bolzano is one of the most stable team in numerous disadvantage (84,1% PK).
Hannu Järvenää, Headcoach Fehervar: „The past games give me and the team hope we can also be competitive on Saturday in Innsbruck and also on Sunday in Bolzano. Both teams showed that they are good teams that is why we have to be sharp from the beginning, stay humble and work hard for 60 minutes against them.”
Sun, 04.11.2018: EC Panaceo VSV vs. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ (17:30 Uhr)
Referees: KINCSES, SIEGEL, Gatol, Nagy.
- The EC Panaceo VSV didn’t capture a single point in the past seven games.
- Innsbruck won the past for duels the last two seasons combined.
- Innsbruck is battling Fehervar on Saturday, before heading to Villach on Sunday.
- With two wins this weekend, Innsbruck could connect to the top-6 again.
- The EC Panaceo VSV is playing against the red lantern in a distance duel with Znojmo.
Corey Trivino, VSV: "It’s the last game before the break and we aim to go with a success into it. Innsbruck has strong offense. We need to convert our chances.“
Sun, 04.11.2018: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. HC Orli Znojmo (17:30 Uhr)
Referees: KELLNER, K. NIKOLIC, Schauer, Soos.
- The spusu Vienna Capitals couldn’t capture a single point in the past four rounds. A negative streak in regular season like that, they had in February 2015, when they lost seven consecutive games. Four games without a single point of the Caps was in December 2014.
- The Caps could be overthrown on Sunday for the first time till short after the beginning of the season.
- Znojmo has the double chance to get rid of the red lantern this weekend, as they are facing Dornbirn on Saturday.
- The Czechs are the most inefficient team in front of the goal. Less than 7% of the shots find their way into the goal.
- Despite of the negative streak of the Caps, three players of Vienna are on the top in the +/- statistics. DeSousa (+13) , Peter Schneider (+11), Philippe Lakos (+11).
Phil Lakos, Player of the Capitals: „Znojmo is a tough team in checking and is paying very physical. We need to keep the pace and aim to go with a good feeling into the break.”
Sun, 04.11.2018: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (17:30 Uhr)
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Kontschieder, Zgonc.
- The Bulldogs celebrated two wins recently, after having a negative streak of nine defeats.
- The Bulldogs won the first duel of these two teams in this season.
- Dornbirn is facing Znojmo, before continuing their road trip to Linz.
- Both teams still have troubles with their powerplay this season. Black Wings 13,6%, Bulldogs 14,8%. But Linz is the most successful team in Penalty Killing (88,2%).
- Dornbirn couldn’t win a single road game since September.
Troy Ward, Head Coach Black Wings: „We are on a good way, but we need to work on our consistency.”
Joel Broda, Bulldogs: “We won the past two games and have a little momentum. We need to build on that and are not allowed to fall in old patterns.”
Sun, 04.11.2018: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. EC-KAC (17:30 Uhr, www.servushockeynight.com live)
Referees: SMETANA, STERNAT, Hribar, Kaspar.
- The Moser Medical Graz 99ers have to chance to capture the lead in the league for the first time since 2010. To do so, the Caps need to leave at least one point.
- Since November 2016 the away team won every game in this duel.
- The 99ers are still undefeated in their home arena this season.
- Graz is the only team with three shut-out wins this season.
- The EC-KAC could keep the connection to the top-4 with a win.
Doug Mason, Headcoach 99ers: „It will be a other a game as against the Capitals. The KAC is focusing on defense and is efficient with the chances. We try to set a good pace and create many chances.”
Lars Haugen, Goaly EC-KAC: „We are getting better. We have a compact defense and have a good energy level. This will also be the key against the 99ers.”