Starting position
“We have to travel to Linz as rested and healthy as possible and full of energy.” Salzburg's Head Coach Oliver David knows what awaits the Red Bulls in Linz. And indeed: The Upper Austrians have played an impressive series in recent weeks. In the last 13 games, they have only suffered one defeat, and that was the 2:5 in Salzburg on December 1st. As a result, the Black Wings have worked their way up to third place in the table, just four points behind leaders Székesfehérvár and Bolzano, who are tied on points.
However, the fourth-placed Red Bulls are happy to accept the challenge, as they have also kept the level very high in recent weeks despite some injury worries - at least defenceman Dennis Robertson is back after serving his two-game suspension. After Tuesday's 6-3 loss in Villach, they bounced right back yesterday against the Graz99ers, forcing a 3-2 OT win against a team loaded with league stars.
Men to watch
Brian Lebler is and remains the absolute top scorer for the Linzers. The 36-year-old Austro-Canadian now has 17 goals in 26 games, making him the league leader. The Linz captain also scored twice on the power play in the last defeat in Salzburg.
Scott Kosmachuk is the Red Bulls' hottest commodity at the moment. The 30-year-old Canadian made his debut with the Red Bulls on November 22nd in Székesfehérvár and has scored 5 goals - including the decisive one in overtime yesterday - and 7 assists in 8 games so far. On Tuesday in Villach, the goalgetter even scored a brace for his former employer.