UPC Vienna Capitals had to watch their competitors for a playoff spot gaining at least one point on Sunday. Last week the Caps celebrated a road win in Jesenice and after that they suffered a shutout defeat at Villacher Stadthalle firing 45 shots on goal without success. The Caps aren’t with the back to the wall but the home game against Znojmo could prove decisive. The Viennese have only won two of their six home games in 2012. When Divis conceded more than two goals in these games, the Caps suffered a defeat. “In Jesenice we did the dirty job, too, and were rewarded for that. We lacked the same in Villach. Although Reinhard Divis made an outstanding performance, we were harmless in the offense. I expect Znojmo to be very aggressive because the Czechs want to show us that they are able to get points from Vienna. We have to put up some resistance and play our game. It stands to reason that the fans have been disappointed so far and we realize when there are fewer spectators in the ice rink. But I assure that we will do everything we can and with five victories we will still be in the playoffs”, explains Daniel Nageler. Philipp Pinter is the only injury doubted for tomorrow’s game.
If someone had promised HC Orli Znojmo one point in Graz before the game, the Czechs would have been happy about that. After four defeats against the Styrians, the team of head coach Martin Stloukal had a 2:0 lead with seven minutes to go. In the end the rookie team conceded defeat in overtime. Now the next hard task awaits the Czechs because they have suffered two bitter defeats in Vienna conceding 13 goals so far. “We are a little bit disappointed because we were the better team for the whole game. Unfortunately, we made some unforgivable mistakes at the end but we gained one point against the probably best team in the qualification round. We know that our improvements work and my players will be ready in Vienna because they know what’s on the line. We have to hold a draw in the first period and then everything will be possible. Maybe the Caps get nervous and this can be our advantage”, says Stloukal. The penalty killing has worked well in their last ten games conceding only three goals. The visitors are completely healthy.

Graz shouldn’t treat the game against Jesenice lightly
Moser Medical Graz99ers celebrated their eighth successive home victory against Znojmo on Sunday. The Styrians turned the game around to retain the lead in the standings. Now the leaders of the qualification round welcome the bottom club and Graz will build on their defense again. Frederic Cloutier conceded only four goals in their last three games. “Znojmo was the expected tough opponent but we kept up and were rewarded. Now we have to be ready for Jesenice and we have to escalate, too. The Slovenes are a young team working hard on the ice. Villach celebrated only a tight victory against them and there are no easy games at this stage. Our previous games against Jesenice were close and hard-fought“, reports headcoach Mario Richer. Daniel Woger is sidelined for tomorrow’s encounter. Toni Dahlman and Sebastien Bisaillon are rated doubtful.

HK Acroni Jesenice have been the whipping boys in the last weeks. Since their 2:1 victory over Salzburg on New Year’s Day, the Slovenes lost ten consecutive games. On Sunday the bottom club was nearly able to overcome EC REKORD-Fenster VSV but in the end they suffered a 3:2 defeat. Their main problem is the offense scoring. On average they only score 1.3 goals per game in the qualification round. In Graz, the team of head coach Heikki Mälkiä is looking for their first away win after 15 successive defeats. “A victory over Villach would have been achievable, the Carinthians did not play as strongly as in our last meetings. We missed our goalscoring opportunities and they exploited our mistakes. The guys are going to fight again because we have nothing to give away and we are able to surprise against every opponent. We have to play simply: our forwards must react more aggressively and we have to be goal-hungrier”, knows assistant coach Dejan Varl. Jonathan Juliano has left the club.

Tuesday, 31^st January 2012, 19:15
UPC Vienna Capitals – HC Orli Znojmo (244)
Live-TV: Servus TV
Referees: GRABER, POTOCAN, Kaspar, Smeibidlo
Previous matches:
18.09.2011: HC Orli Znojmo – UPC Vienna Capitals 5:6 n. P. (0:1, 3:2, 2:2, 0:0, 0:1)25.10.2011: UPC Vienna Capitals – HC Orli Znojmo 9:2 (3:1, 3:0, 3:1)
27.11.2011: UPC Vienna Capitals – HC Orli Znojmo 4:1 (1:0, 3:0, 0:1)
03.01.2012: HC Orli Znojmo – UPC Vienna Capitals 2:3 n. V. (1:1, 1:0, 0:1, 0:1)

Moser Medical Graz99ers – HK Acroni Jesenice (245)
Referees: GEBEI, VEIT, Kovacs, Nagy
Previous matches:
02.10.2011: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HK Acroni Jesenice 3:2 (2:0, 1:1, 0:1)
30.10.2011: HK Acroni Jesenice – Moser Medical Graz99ers 3:4 n. V.
(2:1, 1:0, 0:2, 0:1)
06.12.2011: HK Acroni Jesenice – Moser Medical Graz99ers 0:3 (0:2, 0:0, 0:1)
20.01.2012: Moser Medical Graz99ers – HK Acroni Jesenice 4:1 (2:0, 2:0, 0:1)