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Today the Steinbach Black Wings conclude the 2021/22 season with an away game in Innsbruck. There is nothing to shake about that, missing the playoffs was already sealed for several weeks. The certainty about the end of the season after the regular season – that hasn’t existed in Linz for a long time. Even in the pre-season, Linz was able to get close to the playoffs through the qualifying round, but ultimately had to give VSV a one-point lead into the quarter-finals. But the decision was not made until the last lap – in a penalty shootout. It was exciting until the end. There can be no question of that this year. For the fourth time (2005, 2006, 2021 and 2022) the playoffs will start this year without the Black Wings since the league merger in 2000/01.
But today’s opponent also has the same problems: Innsbruck also goes on summer vacation after today’s game. Incidentally, one of the people from Linz was to blame for this. Innsbruck needed a win in Salzburg on Friday, but lost 4:5. Black Wings captain Brian Lebler scored the goal to make it 3-2 in his first game for the Eisbullen. In retrospect, a win would not have been enough for Innsbruck because the Graz 99ers games (on Friday at home against Znojmo and today at home against KAC) had to be canceled after a corona cluster in the Styrian dressing room. The Haie needed support for the pre-playoff qualification.
With the Black Wings only the long-term injured Julian Pusnik is fixed. A decision on the use of defender Chris Rumble will be made at short notice.
Master memories
As announced last week, we started our podcast special season for the second Linz championship title on Monday. Former striker Patrick Spannring started and remembered the time ten years ago – of course with one or the other anecdote and many statements to smile about. On Friday we followed up with part two with Fabian Scholz.
Ten years ago, the ex-defender was responsible, among other things, for the good mood in the dressing room and collected the pucks from the playoff victories and placed them on a specially purchased shelf. Here you can hear why the last puck was labeled with the wrong result and how “Pumpgun-Ronny” experienced the season and the championship celebrations:
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Almost all places are taken
For HC Innsbruck, the Dornbirn Bulldogs and the Black Wings, today’s round marks the end of the season – that much is certain. Because Klagenfurt, Bozen and Graz are no longer playing, they are already cemented in the pre-playoffs. Salzburg, Villach, Fehervar, Vienna and Ljubljana are in the top 6 (equivalent to reaching the quarter-finals) and can no longer be pushed aside. The biggest unknown is the sixth and seventh place – and ironically, it is played out in a direct duel – between Znojmo and Pustertal.
If the Czechs win, they jump into the top 6 and send the South Tyroleans into the pre-playoffs. If the Wolves win, quarter-final hockey will be played in Brunico and Znojmo has to go to the pre-playoffs. If the Adler lost after 60 minutes, the South Moravia would even slip behind Klagenfurt – and the champions would then be able to choose their pre-playoff opponent. If the game is undecided after 60 minutes, Znaim has to go to the pre-playoffs, but would stay ahead of Klagenfurt.
Incidentally, VSV’s long-distance duel with Fehervar is still about the second CHL ticket, which will be awarded for second place after the basic round. Between Vienna and Ljubljana it is a direct duel for fourth place, i.e. the home right in the quarter-finals.
Pre-Playoffs – how it works
The team in seventh place can choose their opponent (ninth or tenth place). The unpicked club must play away at the eighth in the first round of the best-of-three series. So KAC has home rights, Bozen and Graz have to play away. By the way, game dates in the coming week are on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
After the last two quarter-finalists in the pre-playoffs have been determined, the quarter-final pick follows. Salzburg is the first team to choose an opponent (places five to ten). Second place then pecks, then third place and fourth place still has home rights, but has to take what was not pecked. The first round of the playoff quarterfinals starts on March 9th.
Tonight’s games (all from 5.30 p.m.)
- Villacher SV – Red Bull Salzburg
- Fehervar AV19 – Dornbirn Bulldogs
- HC Orli Znojmo – HC Pustertal
- Vienna Capitals – HK Olimpija Ljubljana
- HC Innsbruck – Black Wings Linz
Source: Nachrichten
