The starting position
The Red Bulls need to make amends. After the 1:8 defeat in Klagenfurt on Sunday, the deficits that came to light were analyzed and worked through. In tomorrow's supplementary game against the Vienna Capitals, the Salzburg team wants to get back on track and show that the game in Klagenfurt was just an unpleasant slip-up.
The Red Bulls have slipped to third place in the table, but are tied on points with Linz (1st) and Székesfehérvár (2nd) and can regain the lead with a win in Vienna. Nevertheless, it will take not only a physical but also a mental performance of energy to simply put the past behind them and immediately get back to their old successful game.
The Capitals' 2:1 win after overtime, with which they inflicted their first home defeat on the Red Bulls at the end of October, should give them a mental advantage. However, the situation in the table has not changed for the Viennese, who remain in second-last place after their three recent defeats against Székesfehérvár, Asiago and Linz.
The line-up
In accordance with the rule that only those players who were on the scoresheet for the abandoned game can be used in the rescheduled game, the Red Bulls will be without Ryan Murphy and Tim Harnisch. Benjamin Nissner and Tyler Lewington will be absent due to convalescence.
Vienna will be without at least defensemen Kilian Zündel and Evan Wardley as well as goalkeeper Adam Ohre, who were all signed later in the capital. However, top scorers Trevor Cheek, Evan Weinger, Rok Ticar and Lukas Kainz, who together (25) have scored more than half of all Vienna's goals (48), will be on board.