The Steinbach Black Wings Linz have two tough matches abroad next weekend. At the start, the Linzers await the last key game in Villach on Friday evening, in the direct battle for the (pre-)playoffs.
Five days after the home game against the record champions KAC, the second Carinthian opponent awaits head coach Philipp Lukas’ team on Friday evening, this time the VSV. It is the fourth and last meeting between the two teams in the current regular season. Two of the previous three duels went to the Stahlstadters – one of them in overtime, another with a confident 3-0 win in front of the home crowd. Since the last direct duel, the Eagles have played five more games and were able to score points in overtime twice.
With 46 points, with two games less, the Villachers are currently in eleventh place in the table and are in the middle of the fight for the pre-playoff places. A look at the team statistics shows an almost balanced picture. Both teams are close together in the power play: Linz has a success rate of 22.61 percent, VSV has a success rate of 22.88 percent. The Stahlstadters, however, have an advantage in penalty killing, where they have a rate of 80.31 percent, while the Carinthians have 75.68 percent. In Villach’s internal scorer ranking, Nikita Scherbak leads the team with nine goals and 30 assists. Behind him is Adam Helewka with 17 goals and assists each.
Locker room update
The Upper Austrians got off to a good start against the KAC, but as so often this season, they deprived themselves of success. An unfortunate shorthander and double hit initiated the turnaround for the league leaders. Our own insecurity, which has persisted throughout the season so far due to individual mistakes, needs to be overcome, especially away from home. The disastrous record on foreign ice of only 11 points gained so far and the penultimate place in this ranking shows the greatest potential. Now the Stahlstadters are in demand right here and are facing two important games for the pre-playoffs with the duels against VSV and the Innsbrucker Haien. With Travis Barron, an important supporter is returning to head coach Philipp Lukas’ line-up for tomorrow’s game. The center reports back after recovering from illness. There is also good news from Ryan MacKinnon. The defender has successfully completed his hard journey back onto the ice and is back in full team training. A decision about his deployment will be made at short notice.
After tomorrow’s game, the Steinbach Black Wings will move on to the next round on Sunday in Innsbruck. On Wednesday, January 28th, Linz’s next and last home game before the Olympic break will take place. Tickets for the duel with HCB Südtirol are available online at tickets.blackwings.at and at the box office.
Voices
Emil Romig: “We have to make sure that intensity comes back and that we feel good. It will be hard fought tomorrow, there are always varied games in Villach with big swings in momentum in which you can never be sure of victory. They are extremely dangerous and have many strong players offensively and they are fighting for survival just like us.”
Head Coach Philipp Lukas: “We had time to recover and we used it. I think we know what to expect. It’s the fourth and final duel with Villach. They are a good team on the offensive and have their strengths in the rush and can create a lot out of nothing. We have to be on our guard and defend well. We’re still concentrating on our performance, on the structure and energy in our game. That’s what will count.”
www.blackwings.at, Image: Black Wings Linz/Eisenbauer
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