Result of the regular season:
1. Bolzano
2. Klagenfurt
3. Fehervar
4. Vienna
5. Salzburg
6. Dornbirn
7. Bratislava
8. Graz
9. Innsbruck
10. Villach
11. Linz
The season is now entering stage 2 with two separate groups.
- Teams 1-5 are qualified for the playoffs, they form one group. They will play the "pick-round" among each other. The team that finished first gets to pick its QF opponent.
- Teams 6-8 play the "qualification round" among each other. The top 3 will advance to the playoffs.
Pick-round:
1. Bolzano – starting with 4 bonus points from the regular season
The best roster in the league. The "Foxes" often looked like a well-oiled machine, but the results in January weren't exactly up to the expectations. Klagenfurt, Fehervar, Vienna and Salzburg all managed to give Bolzano a hard time. HCB will have to up their scoring if they want to stay on top.
2. Klagenfurt – 2 bonus points
Best record in the league after Christmas, the number one challenger. Has improved much offensively since December, but chances still don't always translate to goals. If the "Red Jackets" can become more clinical, then Bolzano is in trouble.
3. Fehervar – 1 bonus point
The "Devils" concede more goals than the other top teams, but have shown the ability to tighten up in important games. Very dangerous offensively. Their roster remains a question mark though: it's incredible what their coach has gotten out of them this season, but how long can they keep going?
4. Vienna
Impressive season so far with a weakened roster and plenty of icetime for young and unheralded players. A hard-working and chippy squad that makes for an unpleasant opponent, Vienna could still overtake some of the higher-ranked clubs if they get healthy and ride their best players harder.
5. Salzburg
After a strong start, Salzburg has looked rather pedestrian too often. Roster depth isn't what it used to be, but at least the youngsters have provided some passion and compete the rest of the team has been lacking. At the moment nothing suggest this teams is bound to more than a QF exit.
Qualification round:
6. Dornbirn – starting with 8 bonus points from the regular season
Based on performance, clearly the best out of the bunch. Consistency has been an issue, but they're bound to make the playoffs and will provide a tough opponent for anyone who gets them. Certainly not a team anyone will pick for the QFs.
7. Bratislava – 6 bonus points
Not entirely sure how they got into this position. Performance-wise they have been underwhelming from start to finish of the regular season. Lately they had some stretches with more structure, but without any consistency. Could still fall out of the playoff ranks and if they don't, a winless QF exit looks like a certain outcome.
8. Graz – 4 bonus points
An extremely disappointing season for the 99ers. Based on the roster, they should be better, despite of an inbalance between offense and defense. The quality to gain ground and give a QF opponent an actual run is there, but will their coach ever manage to squeeze it out of them with any consistency?
9. Innsbruck – 1 bonus point
Respectable season by the cash-strapped team, but their defensive shortcomings keep coming back to haunt them. A good run that takes them into the playoff ranks is not out of question, but a sweep there would be the expected outcome. Still, reaching the playoffs would make their season a full success.
10. Villach
The most disappointing team in the league. There is no justification for some of their woeful showings considering the roster they have. Their new coach has been in charge since two months now, if he couldn't move the needle enough until now, why should it be different in the qualification round?
11. Linz
A disastrous year for Linz, the once respectable club has descended into a mess due to front office issues and civil wars. However, the one-ice performance has been decent lately, the team has shown spirit and work ethic. A surprise appearance in the playoffs is not entirely out of question. It wouldn't solve the off-ice problems though.