The Steinbach Black Wings Linz will have the last two duels in the regular season next weekend, which will decide whether the season will be extended to include the pre-playoffs. In the last away match, Linz will face the league newcomers from Budapest on Friday evening.
After last weekend’s home double, which head coach Philipp Lukas’s team was unable to use in their favor, the Stahlstadt team now faces the final spurt in the regular season. The Upper Austrians are already making their way to Hungary today, where they will face Budapest for the fourth time this season this evening. Linz won two of the previous duels. Only on Hungarian ice did the Stahlstadters fail to take control of the game – that should change today. Since the last direct duel between the two teams, the Hungarians played nine more games, three of which they won. Including a 4:2 home win against the Bulls from Salzburg and a 4:2 away win against the Pioneers. Budapest also scored points away from home in their match last Saturday in Innsbruck.
The new league team is currently in eleventh place in the table, but could still fight for a place in the pre-playoffs. Fehérvár is ahead of them with just one point, Linz with three points. In their first season in the ICE Hockey League, Timo Saarikoski’s team is currently second to last in both power play and penalty killing. In the saves & shots, the Hungarians were able to work their way up to ninth place and were already ahead of their compatriots from Fehérvár. In the fair play statistics, Budapest even ranks fourth. Budapest’s top scorer, Braeden Shaw, who has recorded 19 goals and 30 assists so far, is also in sixth place on the league-wide scorer list, just behind Graham Knott, the Stahlstädter’s top scorer. Within the team, Tyler Coulter ranks behind Shaw and has already collected 42 scorer points with 16 goals and 26 assists in the current season.
Locker room update
After the less than pleasant weekend at home, Brian Lebler and Co. had Monday off to regenerate before they began preparations for the final weekend in the regular season. The 24th and final away match in the first phase of the championship is also the decisive one in the fight against the premature end to the season. Despite the blatant differences in performance on foreign ice and only 17 points scored so far, only one success counts for the Upper Austrians this evening. Accordingly, head coach Philipp Lukas and his staff are trying to create the best conditions for the second guest appearance in the Hungarian capital. After today’s final training in the steel city, the Linz team made their way to Budapest. Particularly pleasing: Shawn St-Amant, who was recently absent due to illness, is back and ready to play. In addition, all available staff, such as Martin Reder, Paul Eder, Tim Geifes and Luka Maver, are traveling with us. Also on board is Julian Pusnik, who is still out due to a lower body injury in order to give his team morale for the important duel.
Two fan buses and German stream commentary
In addition, the Stahlstadters received a lot of support from their own fans in their last away game in the regular season. Two full fan buses from Overtime, Bully:Absolut, Powerplay Enns and Stahlhart make the long journey to Hungary and cheer on the Upper Austrians. For everyone who follows the match via live stream on sporteurope.com, this time there is a second audio track with German commentary.
After tomorrow’s match away from home against Budapest, the last home game of the regular season will take place next Sunday, March 1st. Tickets against the Graz99ers are available online at tickets.blackwings.at and at the box office.
Voices
Head coach Philipp Lukas: “The importance of the game is known to everyone and it is important to give our best performance. We need a top game in all respects today. We have to show discipline, stay away from the penalty box and stay true to our game. We need every single one of us and I am convinced that our team is good enough.”
Greg Moro: “Despite the current situation in the table, the team is in a good mental state. There are a few things that we still need to work on, but hopefully we can do that in the next few days. Today feels like a do-or-die game, but I think we’re ready for the challenge and I’m looking forward to the weekend. We just have to stick to our game plan. Their team has good quality on offense and they make you pay in defense. We just have to play our game and take advantage of the opportunities.”
Ferencvárosi Torna Club Budapest – Steinbach Black Wings Linz
📅 Basic round 51: Friday, February 27th, 6:30 p.m., Tüskecsarnok
📺 Live stream: sporteurope.tv
blackwings.at , Image: Fradimedia
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