The brilliant 7: 6 success over the Steinbach Black Wings Linz is in the rearview mirror, and tomorrow will be the next endurance test for the Vienna Capitals. At 5:30 p.m. the duel between the Viennese and series master EC Red Bull Salzburg starts in the Steffl Arena. Although the caps have been traveling in other table areas in the past two years, the Viennese won five of the cross -season against the last eight duels against the red bulls. Before the game, the long-time caps attacker Niki Hartl, who ended his career in summer, is honored.

Look back

Thanks to yesterday’s victory over the Steinbach Black Wings Linz, the Capitals remained unbeaten in the second home game of the season. After three rounds, the Viennese hold on five points. The opening of the lead with leaders Olimpija Ljubljana was followed by overtime success against FTC-Telekom Budapest and yesterday’s gate spectacle against the Stahlstädter. Defender Simon Bourque left a lasting impression in his first two competitive games for the Capitals in the Steffl Arena. The Frankocanadier scored two assists in both home wins and marked two assists at 7: 6. The 28-year-old is currently the top scorer of the Viennese with four points (two goals + two assists). This is followed by five players who could take as many points from the first three games. Carter Souch and Mitch Hults, who, like Bourque, also met in both home games, recorded three points as well as Zane Franklin and Linden Vey in the still young season.

Failure

The latter had to end yesterday’s game early in the second third. It is questionable whether the 34-year-old captain of Viennese can appear. The decision on an assignment is made on the match day. On the other hand, it is certain that Jérémy Grégoire, Felix Koschek and Senna Peeters will be missing again tomorrow. As a weapon, the power play turned out to be in the first three games. The Capitals generated four goals from seven overpayings, the success rate of 57.14 percent is the second highest of Win2day Ice Hockey League.

The opponent

Master EC Red Bull Salzburg started the new season of the Win2day Ice Hockey League with three wins. The Eisbulls defeated the HCB South Tyrol Alperia (4: 3) and the EC-KAC (4: 1) after 60 minutes, only in overtime victory over the EC IDM heat pumps VSV (2: 1) left the second-placed Mozart town of points. Before the start of league operations, the Salzburg played four games in the Champions Hockey League. From these, the series master took two victories against the Polish champion GKS Tychy (3: 1) and the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (3: 2) and two brief defeats against the Finnish first division clubs Ilves (1: 2) and Kalpa (2: 3).

After the fourth championship title in a row there was some change around the professional team. Head coach Oliver David moved together with the players Ryan Murphy, Philipp Krening and Phillip Sinn to Red Bull Munich, Assistant Cooper Ben Cooper is currently the Win2Day Ice Hockey League as Head Coach by Olimpija Ljubljana. Ex-team boss Manny Viveiros is the new boss behind Salzburg gang. With the long-time NHL player Michael Raffl, the Salzburgers also made one of the most spectacular new commitments in the summer. In the past two years, the Vienna Capitals have been a hard nut for the league leader. The caps won five of the past eight meetings, including the last two in January of this year.

Statement Gerry Fleming, Head coach of the Vienna Capitals

“I expect Salzburg to reward us everything tomorrow. It is no secret of how they will play. You will try to crush ourselves with your forecheck. We therefore have to find ways not to allow this and subsequently play out our strengths. Regardless of who our opponent is, we did a lot against Linz yesterday.” We have to build on that. “

vienna-capitals.at Image: Christian Bruna-EC Red Bull Salzburg