The spusu Vienna Capitals are entering the semifinals of the win2day ICE Hockey League tomorrow, Friday. There, the Viennese meet the regular season winner HCB Südtirol Alperia. The first game in the “best of seven” series begins at 7:45 p.m.
Defense increased, offensive top
The spusu Vienna Capitals won the “best of seven” series against HC TIWAG Innsbruck 4:2, on Sunday a 5:1 victory in the STEFFL Arena led to promotion. The Caps managed the first home win of the current playoffs, with wins in all three away games, strength abroad was the key to success. Head coach Dave Barr’s team gradually got a better grip on the Haie’s offensive, which was the best in the win2day ICE Hockey League in the regular season. While the Viennese conceded four goals each in the first two games of the playoff series, the Tyroleans were only able to score twice in games three and four. In games five and six, the Haie were only allowed to celebrate one goal per game. But not only defensively it runs smoothly, also in attack. The Viennese have the most efficient playoff offensive in the win2day ICE Hockey League. From 179 shots on the opponent’s goal, 21 goals were scored, which results in an efficiency of 11.73 percent. In the basic round, this was 9.97 percent. For comparison: Bozen has the second most efficient offensive of all remaining playoff teams with a hit rate of 9.85 percent. The foxes needed 203 shots to score 20 goals. The 21 playoff goals of the Viennese, together with the Steinbach Black Wings Linz, are the most in the win2day ICE Hockey League. The Upper Austrians, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals, needed 10 games to do so, while the Viennese only needed six. League top scorer Max Zimmer can also show top scores. The American, who has 34 goals this season, is the top remaining playoff scorer with six goals from six games. Zimmer and linemate Matt Bradley lead the playoff standings with ten scorer points each in this category.
Historical comparison per HCB
HCB Südtirol Alperia, who superiorly won the regular season, only eliminated the Steinbach Black Wings Linz in overtime of the seventh quarter-final game. The team from Bozen has won three out of four duels against the spusu Vienna Capitals this season. Only on November 19 could the Viennese defeat the strongest team in the win2day ICE Hockey League at home. Even in a historical comparison, the foxes have the edge. Bolzano won two of the previous three playoff series against Vienna (2018 & 2021). The spusu Vienna Capitals were only able to defeat HCB in the 2016/17 championship season. As in this season, playoff duels between the Caps and the Foxes always took place in the semifinals. Bozen’s goalie Sam Harvey can claim the highest value in the win2day ICE Hockey League with a catch quota of 92.6 percent (main round + playoffs). The Foxes’ top scorer is Mitch Hults, who has 61 points (23 goals + 38 assists) this season. In the playoffs, too, the American is at the top of the internal team ranking with seven points. The South Tyrolean’s top playoff scorer is Luca Frigo, who scored five times in seven games.
Season off for Bauer and Pilloni
Sascha Bauer and Yannic Pilloni will no longer be available to the spusu Vienna Capitals this season due to injury. Both players have had successful operations in the past few days. Bauer played a total of 40 games this season, most recently against Innsbruck on March 14. The 28-year-old Viennese scored 12 points (6 goals + 6 assists). Due to injury, Pilloni only played 22 games for the Caps, with the Carinthian scoring three goals.
Grégoire focuses on defensive performance
“It’s going to be a tough series, Bozen finished first in the regular season. They have everything, good offense, good defense and strong goalkeepers. It will be difficult, but we will be ready. We’ve been more defensive in the last couple of games. Our goalies do a good job, but our strong penalty-killing ability also helps us. We have to continue that, because I think the way to a championship is through defense.” said Caps striker Jérémy Grégoire.
The semi-final series at a glance
|
Datum |
Face-Off |
Heim |
Gast |
|
Fr., 24.3. |
7:45 p.m |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
married Vienna Capitals |
|
So., 26.3. |
17:30 |
married Vienna Capitals |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
|
About., 28.3. |
19:30 o’clock |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
married Vienna Capitals |
|
Fr., 31.3. |
7:15 p.m |
married Vienna Capitals |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
|
So., 2.4.* |
6:00 p.m |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
married Vienna Capitals |
|
Of., 4.4.* |
7:15 p.m |
married Vienna Capitals |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
|
Do., 6.4.* |
7:45 p.m |
HCB Südtirol Alperia |
married Vienna Capitals |
*if required
Home playoff tickets available
Advance ticket sales for the first two home games against HCB Südtirol have already started. Tickets for the playoff home games of the spusu Vienna Capitals are available at Online-Ticketshopin the CS Hockey Store in the STEFFL Arena, at the Vienna Ticket Pavilion at the State Opera and at the box office.