Thursday, 19. February 2026 |
Red Bulls vs. EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
After the three-week break, the Red Bulls aim to quickly regain their footing in the league, using the remaining four games to best prepare for the upcoming playoffs and thus maximize their chances of remaining in contention for a CHL berth next season.
Statement Nash Nienhuis
Background
The Red Bulls' last game before the league break was not to their liking, as they suffered a painful 1-5 defeat in Ljubljana. It is therefore all the more important for the current third-place team to deliver a solid performance upon their return to action against VSV and maintain a perfect record in this direct encounter with Villach. The Red Bulls have won all three previous league meetings, although they had to go to overtime twice.
VSV is currently eighth in the standings and on track to secure a pre-playoff spot. Nevertheless, Villach, who incidentally achieved a resounding 8-5 home victory against Ljubljana in their last game before the break, will do everything in their power to improve their position before the pre-playoffs. Advantage for the Blue-Whites: They've already played two games after the break – a double-header weekend in Hungary with a 4-2 win against Budapest and a 4-5 loss against Székesfehérvár – and have warmed up for the upcoming challenge.
Personnel situation
The Red Bulls have almost their full roster available as they head into the final stretch of the season. Tyler Lewington is suspended; the defenseman still has three games to serve. Travis St. Denis is expected to return on Sunday after recovering from an injury. New defenseman Cole Krygier is looking forward to his Red Bulls debut.
For VSV, forward Joël Teasdale will make his first appearance in Salzburg. The 26-year-old Canadian is Villach's newest signing and has already played in both of the Carinthian team's games in Hungary (1 assist).
Highlights EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV vs. Red Bulls | 16.1.26
Statement by Nash Nienhuis
"We're incredibly excited that the season is finally starting again; the break has been going on for far too long. There are still four games until the playoffs, and we want to quickly pick up where we left off before the break. We expect Villach to be an offensive team that likes to score goals. We need to be fully prepared from the very start."
Season Matchup: Red Bulls vs. EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV | 3:0
September 19, 2025 | EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 0:1) OT
December 12, 2025 | EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV – EC Red Bull Salzburg 3:4 (1:0, 1:2, 1:1) OT
January 16, 2026 | EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV – EC Red Bull Salzburg 2:5 (0:3, 1:0, 1:2)
All-time record Red Bulls vs. EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV
Since 2004: 141 games | 85 wins RBS | 56 wins VSV
Last ten games: L L W L L W L W W L W W
Last ten home games: L W W W W L L W
win2day ICE Hockey League
EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV
Fri, February 20, 2026 | Salzburg Ice Arena, 7:15 PM
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