Current situation
One has to look back a few years to find a start to the season for the Red Bulls as poor as the current one. In the 2018/19 season, they suffered four consecutive losses before securing their first win in their fifth regular-season game; a 9–0 home victory over Székesfehérvár not only broke their slump but also kickstarted a five-game winning streak.
However, the Red Bulls are determined to avoid a fourth straight loss this time around. That scenario was a possibility yesterday, too; they dominated play against Innsbruck but failed to convert their on-ice superiority into enough goals against a Tyrolean side that defended valiantly. A breakaway and a goal scored just after a power play ended were enough for Innsbruck to force a shootout—where, as everyone knows, anything can happen.
The Red Bulls are bracing for another tough encounter against Villach. This is partly because they are continuing to work on capitalizing on their scoring chances, and partly because they have frequently engaged in evenly matched battles with Villach in recent years. In fact, the "Blue-and-Whites" have won three of Salzburg's last four home games.
Villach: A playing style similar to Salzburg's
Villach got off to a strong start this season with a 2–1 win in Feldkirch, though they suffered a heavy 1–6 defeat in yesterday's derby against Klagenfurt. The team parted ways with several notable players over the summer—such as Adam Helewka and Nikita Scherbak—but has also made adequate reinforcements. Villach continues to be led by head coach Pierre Allard, who was brought in last December and brings with him expertise gained from, among other things, four years as an assistant coach for EHC Red Bull Munich. The 54-year-old Canadian aims to play "aggressive, fast-paced hockey and put early pressure on the opponent"—precisely the style of play that defines Salzburg's game as well.
This match marks a reunion with defenseman Lukas Schreier, who transferred from the Red Bulls to VSV over the summer. The 26-year-old Salzburg native came up through the Red Bulls' youth system and has now changed clubs for the first time.
