Release from 06.03.2024

Two quarterfinal series are tied ahead of round three

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The third games of the "best-of-7" quarterfinal series in the win2day ICE Hockey League will be played on Thursday. While EC-KAC against BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg and EC Red Bull Salzburg against Steinbach Black Wings Linz are virtually back to square one at 1-1, both Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and HCB Südtirol Alperia have the opportunity to make a preliminary decision with their third win.

PULS24 will broadcast the clash between Bolzano and EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV live from 7.05 pm, while the other three games will be offered on www.live.ice.hockey (PPV).

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Win2day ICE Hockey League | 07.03.2024 | QF3 | Schedule:
Th, 7.3.2024, 7.15 pm: EC-KAC – BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg
„best-of-7“ series: 1:1
Referees: FICHTNER, SMETANA, Bärnthaler, Bedynek. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
The quarterfinal series between the EC-KAC and the BEMER Pioneers Vorarlberg began with shutout victories on foreign ice: First, the Vorarlberg team surprised everyone with a 2-0 win in Klagenfurt; on Tuesday, the "Rotjacken" earned a 1-0 victory. The goalies stood out for both teams: Pioneers' David Madlener recorded a save percentage of 97.8% in the two encounters, Klagenfurt's Sebastian Dam 95.2%. The offensive potential lies dormant for both teams, as the EC-KAC has only scored one goal in its last 180 minutes of play, scoring 3.9 per game before that. The team from Vorarlberg impressed in the pre-playoff against Innsbruck with 5.5 per game – currently it is two in two games.

A series score of 1-1 (in the "best-of-seven" format) has historically existed in 23 cases involving the KAC, in 13 of which the Klagenfurt team ultimately won the confrontation, in 14 of which the respective winner of game three also won the series.

Raphael Herburger will still be out at Klagenfurt side. Jan Muršak is fully fit for action. Homegrown player Fabian Hochegger will return to the EC-KAC lineup for the third quarterfinal game.

Th, 7.3.2024, 7.15 pm: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
„best-of-7“ series: 1:1
Referees: HRONSKY, STERNAT, Durmis, Nothegger. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
EC Red Bull Salzburg and Steinbach Black Wings Linz are also tied after the first two confrontations (1-1). While the defending champions flexed their muscles in the opener with a 4-0 win, the Upper Austrians proved to be much more compact and efficient in front of the net in game two, winning 3-2. Both teams have their veterans to thank for their offensive productivity: Thomas Raffl netted in both games for Salzburg, while Linz's game-winner on Tuesday was scored by Brian Lebler. Another veteran on the Red Bulls' side, Peter Schneider, might miss game three due to an injury.
Both encounters were dominated at times by the special teams: In the first meeting, Salzburg scored twice on powerplay and once shorthanded. In the second encounter, Linz scored once in powerplay and once shorthanded. Salzburg have been unbeaten at home for four games and have also won the last four meetings with the Upper Austrians on home ice.

Th, 7.3.2024, 7.30 pm: HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
“best-of-7” series: 2:0
Referees: HUBER, ZRNIC, HRIBAR, Zgonc. | >> LIVE auf PULS24 und JOYN <<
HCB Südtirol Alperia is 2-0 ahead in its quarterfinal series against EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV. After their dominant home win in the opener, the "Foxes" went one better on Tuesday evening in Villach. Although VSV were much more present and fought hard, they did not have the necessary punch at the end to turn the game around.
Speaking of turning the game around: Villach have turned around a series deficit five times. The last time was in the 2022 quarter-final against HK SZ Olimpija. The "Adler" overturned a 0-2 deficit in the semifinals against Klagenfurt in 2002. HCB Südtirol Alperia have never lost a series in which they were 2-0 ahead.
Villach will still be without Marco Richter, Arturs Kulda, Maximilian Rebernig and Paolo Wieltschnig tomorrow due to injury. Alex Wall is also very doubtful due to a lower-body injury sustained in Tuesday's match. Blaz Tomazevic will replace him in the line-up.

Th, 7.3.2024, 7.45 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
“best-of-7” series: 0:2
Referees: GROZNIK, OFNER, Mantovani, Snoj. | >> live.ice.hockey <<
Hydro Fehérvár AV19 also have match points at stake, as the Hungarians are 2-0 ahead in their best-of-7 quarter-final series against HC Pustertal Wölfe. It is the lone playoff pairing that has switched to the H/H/A/A mode - meaning that the games will now be played on two consecutive days in the Intercable Arena. David Kiss' team have won both games so far. And the Magyars showed their morale in each of them, always overturning a deficit – very late on. However, HC Pustertal hopes to win its third home game in the current postseason, even though Daniel Catenacci, its top scorer so far, is suspended.
Win2day ICE Hockey League | 8.03.2024 | QF4 | Schedule:

Th, 7.3.2024, 7.45 pm: HC Pustertal Wölfe – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
“best-of-7” series: 0:2
Referees: NIKOLIC M., PIRAGIC, Mantonvani, Zgonc. | >> live.ice.hockey <<