Three Games - Three wins for both EC VSV and KHL Medvescak Zagreb. Tomorrow evening, on of these superb Series will find its end. Whose will? We asked Robert Kristan, Bears Goalie, who posted his first shut-out n Friday night. His Reply: „Nobody expected this great start from our team. Everybody’s really happy here in Zagreb, but it’s only three games into the season. The game versus Ljubljana is already behind us. We’re focussed on the match versus VSV!”  The Team is concentrated, as we can see, and had only one casualty form the first three Games. Yong Mato Mladenjovic is still out with an injured shoulder.  

VSV continue to miss Captain Mike Stewart, whose broken Ribs still give him no chance to feature on the ice. Günther Lanzinger picked up a Knock versus Salzburg and is rated doubtful. Coach Johann Strömwall likes what he has seen so far: „We wouldn’t have thought we could start with three wins, even though we hoped to. The players are ready for our next mtach wnad we want to continue what we started. We can do it, if we stick to our system, meaning a lot of work and using our bodies well.”  Four games in the next eight days make Strömwall wonder wheter he should give Star-Goalie Gert Prohaska a break and hand Bernd Starkbaum a start. His mind isn’t made up yet, though.

„Iberer to win“ is a no-risk bet
Brothers Matthias and Florian Iberer will face each other when EHC Blackwings Linz host Moser Medical Graz 99ers. While third brother Martin minds the net in Salzburgs Farmeteam, Matthias plays as forward in Linz. He banks on his goalie: „Alex Westlund is in a monster-form at the moment and our defence doesn’t let the opposition get in many shots. We’re always good for scoring a few goals in a game“, the 24-year-old forward vowed.  
26 –years-old Florian Iberer will face his brother directly. He used to play in Linz but protects young Fabian Weinhandl in the Graz net since this season. “There aren’t going to be presents or a less aggressive attitude towards my brother. He knows how hockey has to be played – I am looking forward to see what he will show.” While Kim Collins can pick form a complete Black Wings Roster, Bill Gilligan has continuing injury concerns. Martin Hohenberger, Sven Klimbacher and Goalie Sebastian Charpentier are all long-term-absentees.

Mistakes prove costly when big boys meet
Both hosts EV Vienna Capitals and visitors EC Red Bull Salzburg would have expected better records after three Games, both only have one win to date, giving them two points apiece. Young Caps–Defender Youssef Riener sees his team on the way up in the game that is available LIVE on Sky Sports Austria: „Of course, winning took a load of our shoulders. We want to continue controlling the game like we did in Hungary. I expect an open fight, and I expect us to win - because we’ve found our confidence and have the crowd behind ourselves in this important home game”. Headcoach Kevin Gaudet only misses Christian Dolezal, a nearly complete Roster constituting another asset for his team.

Salzburg, on the other hand have every player available for selection, but lost two games on the trot after defeating EC-KAC in the opener.  Forward Daniel Welser reckons it’s time to get the season back on track: „We produce too many turnovers, too many lapses in our build up. This is sloppy play. We’ve conceded 15 Goals in three Games and we’ve got brilliant Goalies in front of the net. That just can’t happen. We need to show what we did in pre-season. Do the simple things right, and success will come back to our team.”  

Sunday, September 20th, 2009, 18:00, SKY Sport Austria live.
EV Vienna Capitals – EC Red Bull Salzburg (017).
Referees: BERNEKER, SCHIMM, Wohlmuth, Zehenthofer

EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz – Moser Medical Graz 99ers (019).
Referees: CERVENAK, Erd, Hütter

EC VSV – KHL Medvescak Zagreb (016).
Referees: VEIT, Hollenstein, Newerkla.