Release from 02.02.2023

Top match in Bolzano | Duel of the top 6 chasers in Székesfehérvár

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Five important games are scheduled for Friday in the win2day ICE Hockey League. While EC iDM Wärmepumpen visits HCB Südtirol Alperia in the top match, the top-6 chasers EC-KAC and Hydro Fehérvár AV19 meet in Székesfehérvár. In the long-distance duel for the pre-playoff places, HC Pustertal faces EC Red Bull Salzburg away, while Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey hosts Steinbach Black Wings Linz.

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win2day ICE Hockey League, 03.02.2023:

19:15 spusu Vienna Capitals - HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: NAGY, SOOS, Kis-Kiraly, Riecken

The spusu Vienna Capitals welcome HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana in the fight for the playoff qualification. While thePre-Playoffs seems to out of reach for the Slovenians - even if the leap into the Top-10 would still be mathematically possible - for the Caps it's about every point. Currently, the Viennese still have an advantage of one point in the direct comparison with the KAC, against whom they were defeated last week. The Caps missed some chances to increase this advantage in the last games and won only one of the last four games. That makes it all the more important not to drop any points against beleaguered HK SZ Olimpija. The Slovenians have not won any of their last nine league games. Even since new coach Antti Karhula took the reins, the Slovenians have failed to pick up a point. The Viennese team has won two of the three duels so far this season. While some important players have left Ljubljana since then, the Viennese managed to sign Ben Finkelstein. In only 17 games, the defender recorded 18 scoring points. After a scoring streak of six games, however, Finkelstein has now gone three games without a scoring point.

19:15 EC Red Bull Salzburg - HC Pustertal
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Durmis, Jedlicka  | LIVE in PPV-Stream

A difficult task is waiting for HC Pustertal on Friday evening. In the race for the pre-playoff places, the Wolves visit the reigning champions in Salzburg. While the Red Bulls are playing in a long-distance duel with Bolzano for the lead in the standings, Pustertal is fighting for a ticket for the post-season. With eleventh place, the season would already be over in less than a month. The gap to tenth-placed Graz, who are match-free on Friday, is two points. So with a surprise win in Salzburg, the Wolves would knock their direct rivals out of the top-10. The team from Bruneck at least managed a small surprise in their last game against the Steinbach Black Wings Linz, when they ended their three-game losing streak with a 4:1 victory. EC Red Bull Salzburg is already unbeaten for six games. Equipped with the colorful and unique Wings for Life jerseys, the Red Bulls not only want to extend the streak, but also play for a good cause in front of their own fans.

19:15 Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC-KAC
Referees: HRONSKY, ZRNIC, Hribar, Vaczi | LIVE in PPV-Stream

In the duel Hydro Fehérvár AV19 against EC-KAC two teams meet, which are still in the middle of the race for the direct quarterfinal places. Currently, both teams are still outside the top-6, but the sixth-placed spusu Vienna Capitals are not far away. The EC-KAC is just one point behind after last week's win against the Viennese. The Hungarians still have a gap of six points, but played one game less. With a win against the KAC, the Devils would be back in the thick of things, but with a defeat it could already be difficult. The Hungarians have won two of the three direct duels so far this season. The KAC prevailed only in the first meeting in overtime. Paul Postma was responsible for the game-winning goal.

This weekend, the "Karl Nedwed Trophy" is back on tour - first on Friday in Székesfehérvár and then on Sunday in Linz at their "Retro Night". In both arenas, the 18.25-kilogram object of desire can be examined, selfies and photos included.

19:45 Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey - Steinbach Black Wings Linz
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Pardatscher, Rigoni | LIVE in PPV-Stream

Migross Supermercati Asiago Hockey is currently one of the hottest teams in the league. The newcomer won five of its last six games and is on a good course towards the pre-playoffs. The lead over eleventh-placed HC Pustertal is already four points. They also managed to leave the Moser Medical Graz99ers behind them with an impressive 5:2 win on Wednesday. Steinbach Black Wings Linz, on the other hand, are in the thick of the fight for the top six. Most recently, the Upper Austrians managed a small liberation against HK SZ Olimpija Ljubljana after two defeats in a row. However, the seventh-placed EC-KAC is only five points behind. Asiago seems to be a sort of favorite opponent for the Upper Austrians, who won all three duels in a commanding manner. If the Black Wings also manage a three-point win on Friday, the first regular-season sweep with maximum points for the Upper Austrians would be perfect.

19:45 HCB Südtirol Alperia - EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV
Referees: HUBER, TRILAR, Basso, Miklic | LIVE in PPV-Stream

HCB Südtirol Alperia is still the measure of all things. Recently, the Moser Medical Graz99ers made the league leader wobble. But they did not fall. In the penalty shootout, the South Tyroleans finally celebrated their seventh win in a row and thus equaled the season record of EC Red Bull Salzburg. If the South Tyroleans manage another success on Friday against EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV, a new record would be set with eight wins in a row. However, the Villach side are certainly buoyed after their first derby away win in seven years. The direct playoff ticket should only be a formality since this victory at the latest. Against the league leaders, the Eagles could once again launch an attack on the top three teams. But the third-placed Tyroleans still have a respectable lead of ten points. In the three duels so far this season, VSV celebrated two victories. However, the last meeting of these two teams was more than a month ago.

win2day ICE Hockey League, 04.02.2023

19:15 spusu Vienna Capitals - BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, RENCZ, Bedynek, Zgonc LIVE in PPV-Stream

In the only Saturday game this weekend, the spusu Vienna Capitals will face the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg. For the Viennese this is the second game within 24 hours. The team from Feldkirch plays its only game this weekend in Vienna. For both teams, the nine-day national team break already begins after this encounter, before the finals of the Regular Season start from mid-February.

Photo ©HCB/Vanna Antonello