Top clash between Bolzano and Innsbruck on Friday

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Fri, 06.01.2023, 17:30: spusu Vienna Capitals - EC-KAC
Referees: TRILAR, ZRNIC, Gatol-Schafranek, Riecken. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
For the third time this season it comes to the prestige duel between the spusu Vienna Capitals and the EC-KAC. The guests from Klagenfurt were victorious in both previous season duels (5:2 & 4:0). Last season, both teams faced each other in a dramatic quarterfinal series, which went to the Capitals with 4:3. In the deciding game, they narrowly prevailed 3:2 at home. Matt Bradley scored the game-winner with ten minutes remaining. The Canadian is currently the top scorer for the Capitals with 40 points. As eighth in the table, the Capitals are seven points behind the sixth-placed KAC, but with three games less played. On Friday, important points will be at stake in the fight for the direct playoff qualification. Both teams are currently in good shape. Klagenfurt was victorious in three of the last five games. Vienna always got at least one point in the last six games and won four of them.

Fri, 06.01.2023, 17:30: Steinbach Black Wings Linz - Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey
Referees: FICHTNER, HLAVATY, Bedynek, Bärnthaler. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
After two losses in a row lately, the Steinbach Black Wings Linz need a win against Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey to avoid losing further ground in the standings. As fifth in the table, the Upper Austrians are currently seven points ahead of the seventh place. Asiago, on the other hand, could not win any of the last four games and is therefore currently outside the Top-10 again. However, as eleventh in the table, they have the same number of points as tenth-placed Pustertal, with two games less played. In the ICE Hockey League, both teams have faced each other twice so far. In both duels the Black Wings were victorious (4:2 & 6:3).

Fri, 06.01.2023, 19:15: HK SZ Olimpija - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: RENCZ, SOOS, Hribar, Zgonc. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
With the HK SZ Olimpija and the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg, the twelfth and thirteenth in the table will face each other for the third time this season on Friday. The Slovenians were clearly victorious in both previous season duels (6:2 & 4:1). With 33 points, Olimpija has an eight-point lead over the Pioneers, but is just two points out of the pre-playoff spots. However, with just one win from their past ten games, the Dragons have the weakest form of all teams. The Pioneers have been victorious in three of their past ten games.

Fri, 06.01.2023, 19:15: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Durmis, Jedlicka. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
For the third time this season it comes to last year's final rematch between Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and the EC Red Bull Salzburg. Defending champion Salzburg is currently fourth in the table and clearly on course for the top six, while Fehérvár is seventh and one place outside the direct playoff places. The gap to sixth-placed KAC is six points, with one game less played. The Hungarians are thus dependent on a home win in order not to lose sight of the Top-6. Against the Red Bulls, however, they were unable to gain a win in last year's finals or in the first two encounters of the season. With only 59 goals conceded, Székesfehérvár hosts the best defense on Friday and also by far the best penalty killing (89.4%). It is quite possible that RBS will not concede another goal on Friday, as AVS is only the tenth-best power play unit in the league (15.7%).

Fri, 06.01.2023, 19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PIRAGIC, Pardatscher, Sparer. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
In the absolute top clash of the 37th round, the second in the table HCB Südtirol Alperia and league leader HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie face each other. Both teams are currently separated by five points, with Bolzano having played one game less. Innsbruck can be the first team to fix the Top-10 with a win, whether after regular playing time, overtime or shootout. Even with a loss after OT or SO, they would be in the pre-playoffs should Pustertal not win in the parallel game. The goal of the Sharks, however, after an outstanding season so far, is to finish the Regular Season, if possible even at the top. For this, a win in the Tyrolean derby would be particularly important. Against Bolzano, however, they could not yet win this season (5:6/OT & 1:5). With five wins in a row each, the two currently strongest teams in the ICE face each other. Of the past ten games, both teams picked up eight wins. Goals are to be expected in the derby. With 138 goals scored (4 per game), HCI has the best offense in the league. HCB has 118 goals scored (3.6 per game) and ranks third in the league. Both teams are also a power in the power play. Innsbruck is at the top with 31.2%, Bolzano follows in third place with 22.9%. In the penalty killing, the Foxes are in fourth place (83.2%), well ahead of the Sharks (78.2% - 10th place).

Fri, 06.01.2023, 19:45: HC Pustertal Wölfe - Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: BERNEKER, STERNAT, Basso, Rigoni. | >> PPV-LIVESTREAM <<
A direct duel in the fight for the Pre-Playoffs is scheduled between the table tenth HC Pustertal Wölfe and the table ninth Moser Medical Graz99ers. Both teams are separated by only three points. In tenth place, the South Tyroleans are only ahead of eleventh-placed Asiago due to their better goal differential. The 99ers experienced an upswing at the start of the new year, with two home wins in a row, against Vienna and Fehérvár. In comparison, the Styrians celebrated only two wins in the entire December. Pustertal, on the other hand, could not win any of its two games so far in January. Against the 99ers, however, the South Tyroleans kept the upper hand in both season duels so far. All in all, the Wolves have won four out of six matches in the win2day ICE Hockey League.