Tomorrow, Friday, the spusu Vienna Capitals will meet HC TIWAG Innsbruck in the fifth game of the “best of seven” quarter-final series. Game starts at 7:15 p.m. The Tyroleans were able to equalize the series 2-2 on Tuesday with a 2-1 win after overtime. Both teams are still waiting for a home win in the playoffs.
Fourth away win possible in Innsbruck
Including the regular season, the Caps and the Haie have already met eight times this season. Both teams have each recorded four wins, only one of them in the home arena. Although the spusu Vienna Capitals lost their first away game of the current season, they were able to win the last three duels in the Tiroler Wasserkraft Arena. The fourth away win en suite would result in the renewed series lead and the first match puck. Despite not being able to score on Tuesday, Caps forward Radek Prokes remained the top scorer in the clashes between Vienna and Innsbruck with five goals so far. Haie attacker Daniel Leavens was able to close the gap on the Czechs with the goal to make it 1-0. However, the Canadian’s 13 points marked so far are unmatched.
Most efficient playoff teams among themselves
Caps goalie Stefan Stéen, who made his first playoff appearance in quarterfinal game three, has the best stats of the four goalies used in this series. The Swede has a catch rate of 92.9 percent and an average of 1.84 goals conceded per 60 minutes. The Tyroleans’ 2-1 overtime win on Tuesday was the lowest-scoring duel between the Caps and the Haie this season. There have been 62 goals in the previous eight games, which is an average of 7.75 per game. In terms of efficiency in the playoffs, both teams are also far ahead in a league-wide comparison. The Capitals also scored 10.08 percent of their shots on goal in the opponent’s box, only the Tyroleans are even more efficient with a success rate of 10.71. The Viennese were able to improve compared to the regular season, where the efficiency was 9.97 percent. In the power play, both teams still have some catching up to do, the Viennese have only been 16.7 percent successful so far, the Innsbruck team, who ended the regular season with a success rate of 27.6 percent, have a hit rate of exactly 20.0 percent in the playoffs.
Rotter: “Have to up the ante”
“The series has been very close so far. Everyone has to step up their game and play better. It will come down to that in the end. We have to make sure that we win in Innsbruck tomorrow and then get the first home win in the playoff series on Sunday.” says Caps-Angreifer Rafael Rotter.
Prokes believes in victory
“So far it’s a tight series where it’s the little things that count. It’s a great pity that we couldn’t win the home game on Tuesday. We mustn’t give Innsbruck many chances to score. If we fight for each other like I know we can, then I believe we can beat Innsbruck again. Personally, I’m lucky that my team-mates give me good chances to score and I think I can score more goals, but what’s more important is that we eliminate Innsbruck.” so caps striker Radek Prokes.
The quarter-final series at a glance
|
Datum |
Result/FO |
Heim |
Gast |
|
Of., 7.3. |
4:6 |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
married Vienna Capitals |
|
Fr., 10.3. |
0:4 |
married Vienna Capitals |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
|
So., 12.3. |
2:5 |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
married Vienna Capitals |
|
About., 14.3. |
1:2 n. OT. |
married Vienna Capitals |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
|
Fr., 17.3. |
7:15 p.m |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
married Vienna Capitals |
|
So., 19.3. |
17:30 |
married Vienna Capitals |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
|
Of., 21.3.* |
7:15 p.m |
HC TIWAG Innsbruck |
married Vienna Capitals |
*if required
Game six tickets available
Advance ticket sales for the sixth quarter-final duel between the Caps and the Sharks have already started. Today at 12:00 pm the free sale started. Subscriber seats remain protected until Friday, 12:00 p.m. Unlike other league locations, playoff ticket prices have not increased this season either. The prices have been the same since 2016. Tickets for the playoff home games of the spusu Vienna Capitals are available in the online ticket shop, in the CS Hockey Store in the STEFFL Arena, at the Vienna Ticket Pavilion at the State Opera and 1.5 hours before the start of the game at the box office.