A fine line in the fifth season

It’s show time! Anyone who reveals weaknesses in the hottest phase of the ice hockey championship is on vacation faster than he would like. The Steinbach Black Wings have chosen the Graz 99ers for the pre-play-offs – equivalent to the round of 16 in the “best of 3” mode – who are not exactly considered their favorite opponents.

Away today (7.30 p.m., live ticker on nachrichten.at) it is necessary to reduce all statistics and balance sheets ad absurdum. The first of a maximum of three duels with the opponent from Styria is on the program at the Lower Danube Lände.

Is it a pleasure to see you again?

Curtain up for the knockout phase, which is often referred to as the fifth season in hockey circles. There is a reunion with six players who have worn the Linz jersey in the past: Mario Altmann, Erik Kirchschläger, Kevin Moderer, Daniel Woger, Zintis Zusevics and Daniel Oberkofler, who was in the only play-off pairing between the two so far clubs was the key factor.

The 34-year-old scored ten points in 2019 when Graz prevailed 4-2 in the quarter-finals. But neither that result nor the negative haul this season – EHC lost three out of four duels, including both at home – stopped the Wings from picking the 99ers. For the latter, this is of course an extra motivation – if it is still needed at all.

The people of Linz will do a hell of a job on this fine line to pour oil on the fire in advance. Striker Andreas Kristler, for example, who put EHC back on the road to victory with two goals in the 4-2 win against Fehervar, hardly wants to say a word about the opponent: “We took them, there’s nothing more to say about it.”

The Carinthian then becomes a bit more specific: “I lacked commitment and passion a bit against Graz, it will definitely be different this time.” Because from now on there is no longer a gentle cycle, it will be a relentless fight for every square centimeter of ice.

The EHC approaches the task with all due respect. “We looked at facts and figures and came to the conclusion that Graz is the right choice – even if the balance sheet doesn’t speak for us. We stand by that now,” explained coach Philipp Lukas: “We’ll have to fight hard for it . It is more than clear to us that it will not be an easy task.”

Especially since the one-set around the weakening center Michael Haga was not as productive as hoped.

Graz one-goalie injured

Kristler is not lacking in confidence: “We’ll see that we can get the two wins, then we’ll take the momentum into the quarter-finals.” But there is still a (short) way to go. The score will be settled after game two on Friday or only on Sunday after a decisive match that would take place again on Linz ice. So the enthusiastic fans of the EHC could tip the scales.

Maybe it’s the goalkeeper. Christian Engstrand, one goalie for Graz and one of the best in the league (catch rate 91.8 percent), was injured on Friday in the 2:4 against record champions KAC. The 99ers remain silent about the health of the 34-year-old Swede, now nobody wants to play with open cards.

The Engstrands from Linz may have identified representative Nicolas Wieser (91.4%) – the 25-year-old from Villach only played eleven matches this season – as a weak point.

The Styrians secured the pre-play-off ticket with four wins in the last six rounds, including a 4-2 at third Innsbruck and a 6-2 against second Salzburg. Doesn’t matter. A new era begins today.

In our icebreaker podcast you can hear Robert Lukas’ memories of the first Linz championship year 2002/2003: