The playoff qualification is an almost impossible task for HK Acroni Jesenice. After a 4:1 defeat in Znojmo, the Slovenes are still without a point. All young players will benefit from this situation because as you sow, so you shall reap. Around the turn of the year the bottom club was able to gain their last two home victories. Then Villach arrived and the Slovenes suffered four consecutive defeats. “We played really well for 40 minutes and the guys tried hard. But a lack of concentration cost us the second goal. We are missing the experience in these situations because the individual mistakes repeat themselves. We are happy about the special teams, so we scored on power play and defended well shorthanded. It’s gonna be a tough game because Villach aimes to qualify for the playoffs. We have to fight and stick to our game plan. We’ll try everything to score goals again and maybe we get chances on rebound. Our young guys have the chance to compete and they have to make the most of that”, says assistant coach Lajos Enekes. Antti Pusa is the big winner of this situation in a sporting way. The Finn has scored 30 points so far. Jure Dolinsek, who complained of neck pain after a check against Znojmo, is sidelinded for tomorrow’s game.
EC REKORD-Fenster VSV owed the 1:0 victory over UPC Vienna Capitals to one man: Bernhard Starkbaum. The goaltender saved all 45 shots and now leads the goalie statistics. The other side of the coin is the offense. The Carinthians have scored only three goals out of 96 shots of their first three games of the qualification round. The Eagles were able to win seven of their last eight visits to Jesenice. „It was a really big game because we had a slow start into qualification round. We played well and in the end it was enough to take two points. Bernhard is a great goaltender and now we only have to score more goals. I don’t know why we are having these problems in front of the goal at the moment. Tomorrow a win is necessary and nothing else counts. We know about the situation of Jesenice and with a victory our chances will get better. Hopefully our experienced players can make the difference to lead the team to the playoffs”, reports Tomaz Razingar, who will return home tomorrow. Since he is playing for Villach, the forward has scored three goals against his home club. Kevin Mitchell is the best scorer (three goals) with seven points against the bottom club.

Battle of the unbeaten teams
Moser Medical Graz99ers are powerful at home again. The Styrians defeated Villach on Tuesday for their seventh successive home victory. Their defense contributes to their success with only conceding three goals out of their last three games. In the next eight days the Styrians have to play four times. Now they host Znojmo, a team they have beaten four times this season. „We have to get to work with the same passion again. We are heading in the right direction. It will be a very intense game against Znojmo. We have to be ready right from the beginning because the Czechs will be focused from the first minute, too”, knows head coach Mario Richer. Brett Lysak is the topscorer with 45 points and Zdenek Blatny is the best goal scorer with 18 goals.
HC Orli Znojmo surprisingly has gained four points out of their first two games of the qualification round. On Friday the Czechs beat Jesenice due to a great final period with scoring thrice. “We missed too many chances in the first period. We have to be more effective in our next games. We improved in the defense and the players know what it is all about. Every player wants to take part in the playoffs. In Graz, we have to be concentrated from the beginning because we started badly in our two previous games against them. Now the team has confidence in front of the goal. Furthermore, I’m happy with the debut of Ales Sova”, explains head coach Martin Stloukal. Filip Landsman remains sidelinded.

Sunday, 29^th January 2012, 17:30
HK Acroni Jesenice – EC REKORD-Fenster VSV (239)

Live-TV: Sport TV SLO
Referees: BOGEN, KELLNER, Mathis, Piragic
Previous matches:
30.09.2011: HK Acroni Jesenice – EC REKORD-Fenster VSV 3:1 (1:0, 0:1, 2:0)18.11.2011: EC REKORD-Fenster VSV – HK Acroni Jesenice 4:0 (1:0, 2:0, 1:0)27.11.2011: EC REKORD-Fenster VSV – HK Acroni Jesenice 6:0 (1:0, 3:0, 2:0)03.01.2012: HK Acroni Jesenice – EC REKORD-Fenster VSV 1:5 (0:2, 1:2, 0:1)

Moser Medical Graz99ers – HC Orli Znojmo (240)
Referees: SMETANA, TRILAR, Hofer, Smeibidlo.
Previous matches:
25.09.2011: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HC Orli Znojmo 7:1 (2:1, 5:0, 0:0)
06.11.2011: HC Orli Znojmo – Moser Medical Graz99ers 0:3 (0:1, 0:1, 0:1)
02.12.2011: HC Orli Znojmo – Moser Medical Graz99ers 1:2 (0:2, 0:0, 1:0)
13.01.2012: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HC Orli Znojmo 2:1 (2:0, 0:1, 0:0)