Release from 16.02.2019
3 facts before 3rd intermediate round:
- The pursuer clash of Vienna against Klagenfurt is also a battle of the two hottest Champions Hockey League aspirants
- With Znojmo and Dornbirn the only unbeaten teams of Qualification Round will meet
- The Servus Hockey Night shows the important clash between EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz und HC TWK Innsbruck
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 3rd Pick Round:
Sun, 17.02.2019: Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg (17:30)
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, SIEGEL, Nagy, Nemeth.
- Graz has a 6-game winning-streak, on Friday they beat Bolzano for the first time this season
- After suffering two defeats to start Pick Round Salzburg has a 10-point deficit to the leader
- In this season's meeting it's tied at two with all four games being decided by only one goal
- While Graz has the best PP available, Salzburg leads the PK stats
- Ty Loney, Daniel Oberkofler (both Graz) and Bobby Raymond each scored three goals in this season's meetings
Oliver Setzinger (Moser Medical Graz99ers): „Salzburg is a really good team, they will fight for a win. We have to skate as hard as they do and play our game.“
Matthias Trattnig (EC Red Bull Salzburg): „Yesterdays game was a step into the right direction. We want to continue against Graz. They play good hockey for 60 minutes with some strong offnsive skill.“
Sun, 17.02.2019: spusu Vienna Capitals vs. EC-KAC (17:30)
Referees: GARON, STOLC, Kaspar, Soos.
- The Caps won the first two games of Pick Round with taking an shootout win in Salzburg on Friday
- Klagenfurt got the maximum of six points in the las two - overall they have a five-game winning streak
- This season's head-to-ead is tied at two with both earning one home and away win each.
- KAC won seven of their last eight road games, five of them by just one goal
- Vienna's Chris DeSousa scored three times in these games
Patrick Peter (spusu Vienna Capitals): „It will be a great game. Klagenfurt is a good team, they are solid defensively. We have to avoid mistakes.“
Thomas Hundertpfund (EC-KAC): „We expect a hard-fought game, I think that the special teams will be a key factor. I'm optimistic that we can take some points again.“
Sun, 17.02.2019: HCB Südtirol Alperia vs. Fehervar AV19 (18:00)
Referees: M. NIKOLIC, OFNER, Sparer, Tschrepitsch
- Bolzano and Fehervar both opened Pick Round with two defeats
- They even have not won a single period in intermediate round
- Bolzano won the first two season meetings, Fehervar the last two
- Fehervar forward Janos Hari, who leads the league's scoring charts with 63 points (20G, 43A) , scored four goals and three assists against Bolzano this season
- Bolzano captain Anton Bernard earned at least one point in their last four home games
Ivan Deluca (HCB Südtirol Alperia): „Fehervar is a solid team, they ahve made a hughe step since christmas time. They have physical defenders andgood quality on the offense.We want to earn three points at home, though.“
Hannu Järvenpää (Head coach Fehervar AV19): „Bolzano is a good team. They have their struture and keep it simple. Both goalies played well this season. Maybe we can surprise against a strong hometeam.“
Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, 3rd Qualification Round:
Referees: BALUSKA, SMETANA, Gatol, Nothegger.
- After having a bye-week at the beginning of Qualification Round, Linz lost their opener in Villach 2:5
- Innsbruck even suffered two defeats, being at the bottomof the league now
- The Tirolese won four of six road games in 2019
- Linz won three of four season meeting with Innsbruck taking the win in the first road game
- Corey Locke earned at least one point in all these games, the Linz forward has two goals and six assists against Innsbruck
Dan DaSilva (Liwest Black Wings Linz): „We have to do better, there are no excuses. They are a high offensive scoring team and we have to do a good job against their top players. We just have to play a simple game.“
Mario Lamoureux (HC TWK Innsbruck): „We should not talk about the standings or playoffs. Now we have beat Linz and believe in ourselves.“
Sun, 17.02.2019: HC Orli Znojmo vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (17:30, SPORT5 live)
Referees: STERNAT, TRILAR, Bärnthaler, Zgonc.
- Znojmo won the last four games, including the first two Qualification Round games
- Dornbirn won their first game against Innsbruck, they are just behind the playoff spots
- Znojmo won the first two season meetings, Dornbirn the last two
- In the Dornbirn wins, Brendan O'Donnell, who leads the scoring charts with 31 goals, had five goals and three assists
- Despite being the weakest team on PP, Znojmo used two of eight occassions in QR
- Dornbirn signed 23-year-old Czech goalie Miroslav Svoboda as replacement for injured Rasmus Rinne
- Adam Sedlák´s start is doubtful due to medical reasons
Anthony Luciani (HC Orli Znojmo): „We said to ourselves before the Qualification Round that we want to take it one game at a time and that´s what we are doing right now. We have a gameplan, we follow it and it brings results. We don´t want to get ahead of ourselves and continue to go step by step. Dornbirn at home is a challenge, we hope to succeed and push through to the playoffs.“
Brendan O'Donnell (Dornbirn Bulldogs): „I expect an intense game, it's about big points for both teams. They play fast and have skill up front. We have to play a good road game and find a way to win.“