Friday, 26. January 2024 |
On Sunday, EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV is on the program (15:00, livestream, ALPQUELL CheckerBande Family Day). After that, Székesfehérvár (Tuesday) and Graz (Friday) will be guests at the Eisarena Salzburg. However, the focus is initially only on the home game against Villach. The Carinthians have already beaten Salzburg twice this season, now the Red Bulls want to equalize the series on home ice.
The starting position
The Red Bulls have lost their last three away games and are in third place in the table with eight rounds to go in the basic round. In the battle for top spot in the table and a place in the CHL 2024/25 - the first two teams after the basic round are already in - Salzburg must and want to score again and are also relying on their home strength, as the last home victories against Klagenfurt, Asiago and Linz have shown. In addition to Peter Schneider (injured) and Thomas Raffl (ill), Ryan Murphy will also be missing, as he will be at home to support his wife during the birth of their child. Chay Genoway (sick) is questionable.
VSV is a team that has already snatched two wins from the Red Bulls in Villach this season. Villach are in 7th place in the table in a group of five teams separated from 4th to 8th place by just five points and are fighting for promotion to the top six teams that qualify directly for the play-off after the basic round.
Close season duel
The Red Bulls and Villach have played each other toe-to-toe in every game this season. All three games ended with only one goal difference. In the last five games, both struggled to score goals; Salzburg scored 11, Villach 12.
The comparison of the special teams: The Red Bulls have a success rate of 20.5% in the power play, Villach holds at 17.2%. VSV has an advantage when playing shorthanded with almost 85% Penalty Killing Percentage, the Red Bulls only save 77% when shorthanded. This is certainly also due to the fact that Salzburg have already taken 142 minor bench penalties, while Villach have only taken 95.
This will be Villach head coach Marcel Rodman's first appearance with VSV in Salzburg. At the end of November last year, the 42-year-old Slovenian took over from Rob Daum, who had to step down after almost four years in Villach.
Statement Troy Bourke
"We've mostly played well at home and are looking forward to seeing our fans. Nevertheless, we have to be well prepared again against Villach, they are a strong team. I'm expecting playoff field hockey and we want to show our fans that we'll be ready for it when the time comes. But first we want to bring the energy into the game on Sunday to score one more goal than them again. I have a good feeling about that."
Head to Head Season 2023/24 | 1:2
29.09.23 | EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 4:3 (1:0, 0:1, 3:2)
22.10.23 | EC IDM Wärmepumpen VSV - EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:1 (1:0, 1:0, 0:1)
03.12.23 | EC IDM Wärmepumpen VSV - EC Red Bull Salzburg 4:3 (2:1, 1:1, 1.1)
28.01.24 | EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC IDM Wärmepumpen VSV 3 p.m.
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EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Sun, 28.02.2024; Eisarena Salzburg, 15:00 h
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