Release from 03.01.2019
5 facts prior the Friday-games:
1. The Austrian meeting EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz vs. Leader spusu Vienna Capitals is broadcasted live by SKY Sport HD on Friday. The match Fehervar AV19 vs. HC Orli Znojmo is broadbasted by DIGI TV on Friday.
2. EC-KAC (3.) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (3.) will face each other in the persecutor clash in Klagenfurt on Friday. The Styrians could move up to the first place with three points. Besides, Leader spusu Vienna Capitals must leave Linz with zero points too.
3. KHL Medvescak Zagreb and EC Panaceo VSV will meet in the bottom clash on Friday. The „Eagles“ will fight for their first win in Zagreb since the 2011/12-season. Each team has no chance to reach the top 6.
4. The Moser Medical Graz99ers have signed Swedish defenseman Karl Johansson.
5. HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ and HCB Südtirol Alperia will meet each other in the Tyrolean Derby.
Fri, 04.01.2019: Fehervar AV19 vs. HC Orli Znojmo (18:45, DIGI TV live)
Referees: FICHTNER, PIRAGIC, Hribar, Zgonc.
• Fehervar AV19 (7.) and HC Orli Znojmo (9.) will try to return on the winning street in Szekesfehervar on Friday and to earn their first win in the year 2019: The two clubs have been defeated in two straight games by the same teams (spusu Vienna Capitals and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz).
• The International clash is broadcasted live by DIGI TV on Friday (18:45).
• Each team needs three points to stay close to the Top 6: Fehervar AV19 is missing four points for place 6 and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44, the Czechs are already missing nine points or three wins…
• While Fehervar AV19 has been convincing at home lately, HC Orli Znojmo played strong on the road: The Devils won eight out of their last ten home-games and have earned the second most home-points (25) during that span! On the other hand, the „Red Eagles“ from Znojmo got even most road-points (18) and road-wins (6) out of the last ten road-games.
• Each team has been on fire so far! Fehervar AV19 has already netted 120 goals this season, the Czechs 119 goals! So, the two teams are among the Top 4 concerning the number of scored goals. Besides, Fehervar AV19 has the best scoring-efficiency as well (12.46%). Many goals are expected on Friday as well: 26 goals have already been potted in the first three season-meetings between this two teams…
Quotes:
Hannu Järvenpää, Head Coach Fehervar AV19: „We have an important game coming up against Znojmo. We play on Thrursday in the Hungarian Cup but that cannot be an excuse. We have to be ready from the first puck drop and focus on defence. We need to keep creating scoring chances and I bet we need 100% against the Eagles!“
Erik Nemec, forward HC Orli Znojmo: „To play at Fehervar is always tough, no matter which part of the season it is. Right now, every game is very important to us, so it will be even tougher. But we need to give our 100% performance, focus from 1st to last minute. I believe top 6 is still reachable."
Fri, 04.01.2019: HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia (19:15)
Referees: KOPETZ, M. NIKOLIC, Schauer, Tschrepitsch.
• HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“ welcomes Champion HCB Südtirol Alperia in the Tyrolean Derby on Friday. The two clubs have faced each other just 4 days ago in Bozen. The Italians won 3:1 and are leading in the season-clash (2:1) as well .
• HCB needs three points to secure their top 4 position, while the Sharks need the win to stay in contact with the Top 6.
• Innsbruck has been convincing at home lately! The team of Rob Pallin has been successful in all (three) home-games against KHL Medvescak Zagreb (3:2), Vice-Champion EC Red Bull Salzburg (5:3) and Dornbirn Bulldogs (5:1) after the December Break.
• Bozen has allowed fewest goals on the road so far! The „Foxes“ have given away just 38 goals out of 17 road-games (nine wins). But, watch out: The Italians had problems on the road lately: The Champion has earned just one win (in Zagreb) out of their last seven road-games.
• Bozen has netted at least one Power Play goal in two straight games. On the other hand, Innsbruck could not score in Power Play for 220 minutes…
Quotes:
Rob Pallin, Head Coach HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“: „We are looking forward to another fight. Little thing will decide the game!“
Marco Insam, forward HCB Südtirol Alperia: „In the last games we have made many shots on goal, even if we don't find much luck. We must continue like this but be more cynical under the net. There are very important points up for grabs, we have already lost five against Dornbirn in the last two weeks and now we want to take a good advantage over 7th place. Innsbruck is an excellent team in the offensive zone, so we will have to be careful not to take unnecessary penalties and to take care of the defensive phase.“
Fri, 04.01.2019: EC Red Bull Salzburg vs. Dornbirn Bulldogs (19:15)
Referees: IVERSON, STERNAT, Nothegger, Seewald.
• Dornbirn Bulldogs will play their first road-game of the year 2019 in Salzburg on Friday. The two clubs have faced each other just four days ago in Dornbirn. The West-Austrians have left the ice as the winner thanks four goals netted by Brendan O’Donnell (4:3).
• Each team needs three points in the fight for a top 6 position and the direct Playoff Qualification after round 44. The Mozart Citizens have earned 57 points out of 33 games so far and are ranked on place 5. The Dornbirn Bulldogs got 49 points out of 34 rounds and are raanked on place 8.
• The two teams have shown different faces lately: While the Vorarlberger have won six out of seven matches since the December Break, the Salzburger got just one (home-)win during that span.
• The DEC cracks Brock Trotter and Brendan O’Donnell have been on fire lately: Trotter has collected points in four straight games (3G/3A). O’Donnell’s scoring streak lasts already seven games, he netted 12 points (6G/6A) during that span.
• The Dornbirn Bulldogs are hunting for their 100th season-goal in Salzburg. The West-Austrians have potted 97 goals so far. EC Red Bull Salzburg has even netted most goals (132).
Quotes:
Thomas Raffl, forward EC Red Bull Salzburg: „We give 100% in each game. The success will return quickly.“
Philipp Pöschmann, Youngster Dornbirn Bulldogs: „We want to win! That’s all, that counts. We have to take advantage from our chances again.“
Fri, 04.01.2019: KHL Medvescak Zagreb vs. EC Panaceo VSV (19:15)
Referees: BABIC, GRUBER, Nedeljkovic, Nemeth.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb and EC Panaceo VSV will face each other in the bottom clash in the Croatian Capital on Friday.The Bears got 21 points (six wins) out of 32 games so far and are ranked on place 12. Villach has earned 24 points (nine victories) out of 34 rounds and is ranked on place 11.
• Each team has no chance to reach the Top 6 and will continue the Championship after round 44 in the Qualification Round.
• Each club will try to end bad runs and try to get their first win in the year 2019 as well! The Croatians have lost 14 straight games and the Eagles have been defeated in three consecutive matches. The Bears could set a new (negative) record in the next days: HDD Olimpija Ljubljana has lost 16 straight games 2016/17 and Fehervar AV19 15 straight matches 2007/08.
• The two bottom clubs have had big problems to score goals so far: The Bears have potted fewest goals so far (67) and the Carinthians second fewest goals (76). Besides, each team has netted just two goals out of the last three rounds.
• KHL Medvescak Zagreb has won six straight home-games in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga against EC Panaceo VSV. The blue & white Eagles have earned their last victory in the Croatian Capital on January 15th 2012 or 2.545 days ago.
Quotes:
„We will give our best“, was to hear from Zagreb.
Blaine Down, forward EC Panaceo VSV: "Scoring one, two goals per game is not enough. We want to score some more goals in Zagreb and get the win!“
Fri, 04.01.2019: EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz vs. spusu Vienna Capitals (19:15, SKY Sport HD live)
Referees: BERNEKER K. NIKOLIC, Kontschieder, Sparer.
• The Austrian clash EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz (6.) vs. Leader spusu Vienna Capitals is broadcasted live by SKY Sport HD on Friday (19:15)
• The two clubs had the same run after the Christmas-days (D/W/W) and earned their wins against the same teams (Fehervar AV19, HC Orli Znojmo) lately.
• EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz have lost three straight home-games for the second time this season. But, watch out: The Upper Austrians haven‘t been defeated in four straight games this season so far…
• spusu Vienna Capitals are leading in the season-clash with the Upper Austrians 2:1. The Capitals forwards Christopher DeSousa and Niki Hartl have potted at least one goal in all three season-meetings with the Steel Citizens. Black Wing Rick Schofield was successful in two consecutive meetings.
• An Overtime was neccessary in the last three meetings in Linz, twice the Upper Austrians, who are the number 1 in PK (PK%: 88.4%), had the upper hand.
Quotes:
„With the support from our fans and the confidence out of the last wins, we want to beat the Leader“, was to hear from Linz.
Peter Schneider, forward spusu Vienna Capitals: „We want to win each game. We must play our game for full 60 minutes and we have to be patient.“
Fri, 04.01.2019: EC-KAC vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (19:15)
Referees: KINCSES, SMETANA, Rezek, Soos.
• EC-KAC (3.) and Moser Medical Graz99ers (2.) will face each other in the persecutor clash in Klagenfurt on Friday: Klagenfurt has earned 63 points (21 wins) out of 33 matches so far and is ranked on place 3. The Styrians got 65 points (23 wins) out of 34 rounds and are ranked second. Each team had a good run lately as well: The Red Jackets won three straight games, the Mur Citizens five games in a row and are the team of the hour.
• The Moser Medical Graz99ers have signed Swedish defenseman Karl Johansson on Thursday. The 25-year old defenseman has already defended in 18 SHL-games for CHL-Campion Växjö Lakers 2018/19 and was on loan in Oskarshamn lately.
• The Styrians will travel with good memories to EC-KAC. The 99ers have won five straight games in Klagenfurt. The Carinthians got their last home-win against the 99ers on February 21st 2016 or 1.047 days ago.
• Defensiv-power will face offensiv-power in Klagenfurt on Friday: While EC-KAC has given away fewest goals (76), the 99ers have potted second most goals (131).
• EC-KAC (PP%: 26.4%) vs. Moser Medical Graz99ers (PP%: 27.5) is the meeting of the two best Power Play teams.
Quotes:
Mitch Wahl, forward EC-KAC: „We are looking forward to three home-games within five days. We want to beat the 99ers for the fist time this season on Friday. Therefore, we need a compact game!“
Zintis Nauris Zusevics, forward Moser Medical Graz99ers: „Graz and Klagenfurt are playing best hockey in the League right now. We are very motivated!“