ICE Hockey League 2020-2021 (Klagenfurt wins championship)

[Theokritos]

Tuesday, February 23:
Vienna vs Salzburg 3-4 OT
Innsbruck vs Linz 5-2
Villach vs Graz 2-4
Bolzano vs Fehervar 4-3

Wednesday, February 24:
Bratislava vs Dornbirn 4-3 SO

Thursday, February 25:
Dornbirn vs Bratislava 2-1 OT

Friday, February 26:
Fehervar vs Bolzano 5-6
Graz vs Villach 1-5
Klagenfurt vs Salzburg 3-5
Linz vs Innsbruck 5-4 SO

Sunday, February 28:
Salzburg vs Bolzano 0-4
Vienna vs Fehervar 1-6
Dornbirn vs Graz 4-1
Villach vs Innsbruck 4-3
Bratislava vs Linz 4-2

Placement round:
1. Bolzano 18
2. Klagenfurt 9
3. Salzburg 8
4. Fehervar 7
5. Vienna 7

Qualification round:
1. Dornbirn 18
2. Bratislava 18
3. Villach 16
4. Graz 13
5. Linz 11
6. Innsbruck 8

Great stretch by Bolzano that earned them a big lead. Other teams have given them a hard time this season (including Fehervar in two close games now), but Bolzano has shown more consistency than them. As for the other four teams in the placement round, everything is close and placements can still change.
Linz has dropped the ball, their playoff hopes are fading – not undeservedly so, considering the entire season. Bratislava is the big surprise to me. Dornbirn keeps playing worse than you'd expect them to play after some of their earlier showings. Villach got two important wins (at Graz and vs Innsbruck), Graz is still in the race but in danger.

 

[Theokritos]

Last rounds of play before the playoffs:

March 2:
Bolzano vs Klagenfurt 2-3
Salzburg vs Vienna 3-2
Linz vs Villach 5-3
Graz vs Bratislava 2-3
Innsbruck vs Dornbirn 3-5

March 5:
Vienna vs Klagenfurt 4-5 OT
Fehervar vs Salzburg 0-7
Villach vs Bratislava 3-2 OT
Linz vs Dornbirn 5-3
Innsbruck vs Graz 4-3

March 7:
Klagenfurt vs Fehervar 4-2
Bolzano vs Vienna 1-3
Dornbirn vs Villach 5-6 OT
Graz vs Linz 3-5
Bratislava vs Innsbruck 2-3

Final table placement round:
1. Bolzano 18
2. Klagenfurt 17
3. Salzburg 14
4. Vienna 11
5. Fehervar 7

Final table qualification round:
1. Dornbirn 22
2. Bratislava 22
3. Villach 20
4. Linz 20
5. Innsbruck 14
6. Graz 13

Dramatic decision on the last day as Linz looked like they had their playoff ticket secured. With 10 minutes left in the last game, Villach (18 points) was trailing Dornbirn while Linz was about to get 3 points against Graz (17+3=20 points). Then Villach got the equalizer, which put them at 19 points. No goals in the overtime, so the decision literally came in the shootout: Villach beat Dornbirn and that extra point brought them to 20, just enough to edge out Linz.

Graz put the finishing touch on a horrible season by crapping the bed with five consecutive defeats in the last games of the qualification round. Going by the roster, there is no justification at all for finishing dead last or even outside of the playoffs. The group they have there is broken for whatever reason and the club has already announced they're sending several players packing.

Innsbruck finished as expected prior to the season, but in between they showed a little more promise, so they outcome is still a little disappointing letdown. The coming season doesn't promise to be any better since Innsbruck's top scorers will all look for greener pastures and the club will have a hard time replacing them.

Linz had a forgettable season overall, but also a decent run in the qualification round that almost got them a playoff spot. Regardless, the coming season holds big question marks. At the moment it looks very questionable whether the club will be able to bounce back financially. More of the same seems the more likely prospect.

Playoff picks:
Bolzano as the #1 team picked first and they choose Bratislava. At least I'm not entirely alone with my not-so-high opinion on that club.
Klagenfurt as the #2 picked next and opted for Villach. One the one hand a logical choice considering Villach's performances this season, on the other hand it's like the Toronto Maple Leafs picking the Montreal Canadiens or vice versa.
Salzburg was #3 and picked Dornbirn. Another logical choice.
The remaining playoff pairing is Vienna vs Fehervar.

Playoff rounds:

Bolzano vs Bratislava
I don't see how Bratislava should be able to match Bolzano in any regard. My prediction: 4-0 Bolzano.

Klagenfurt vs Villach
KAC is better, no matter how you slice it. If their #2 defenceman Paul Postma wasn't injured I'd predict a sweep. As it is, 4-1 Klagenfurt. If Villach can find their fightning spirit, then maybe 4-2.

Salzburg vs Dornbirn.
Dornbirn was underwhelming lately while Salzburg was good. Over the season Dornbirn has shown signs of rising with the challenge, but due to an injury they now have to make way with Oskar Östlund in goal who has been shaky all along. I guess 4-2 Salzburg.

Vienna vs Fehervar
Fehervar had a great season, but a disappointing placement round. Are they out of steam or were they saving energy for the playoffs? If they are back at their best this series will be a battle from beginning to end with seven close games and an outcome that is anybody's guess. If not, then Vienna takes it, maybe even in 6.

Games today (QF, Game 1):

Klagenfurt vs Villach
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
Stream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

Salzburg vs Dornbirn
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
Stream (free): EC Red Bull Salzburg

Vienna vs Fehervar
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
No stream

Bolzano vs Bratislava
20:15 CET = 14:15 EST
Stream (€6,90): ICE Hockey League TV

 

[tobu]

A surprise in Bolzano. I will be honest, this was the first game of this league that I ever watched and it was meh. Will need to watch some more to get a proper opinion.

 

[Theokritos]

A surprise in Bolzano. I will be honest, this was the first game of this league that I ever watched and it was meh. Will need to watch some more to get a proper opinion.

The series is bound to be meh and if you ask Bolzano fans they will tell you their team played their worst game of the season in that game.

Vienna vs Fehervar is the series to watch. To a lesser degree, Salzburg vs Dornbirn.

 

[Theokritos]

Games on Friday:

Klagenfurt vs Villach 5-1
Everything as expected. KAC outplayed Villach and went ahead 2-0 in the first period. VSV scored one in the second period, but KAC added two more. Trailing 1-4, Villach tried to rough it up in the last period to no avail other than piling up penalties (9 minors, 1 major, 2 game misconducts; meanwhile KAC got 4 minors). After the game, Villach defenceman Josef Hrabal (who was tossed out) was handed a two-game suspension for a check against the head of KAC captain Thomas Koch.

Salzburg vs Dornbirn 0-2
Once again Dornbirn raised their game with the quality of the opponent. They played very well defensively and use a PP chance to make it 1-0. Salzburg had more of the game and kept trying to score, but couldn't get the puck in. Late in the game, as Salzburg was taking more risk, Dornbirn managed to score another goal and that was the game.

Vienna vs Fehervar 6-1
A game that was much closer through two periods than the result suggests. Fehervar started well and Vienna struggled to keep them from scoring. However, they took 5 minors in a game in which Vienna only took one and Vienna went ahead 2-0 on two powerplays in the first and second period. Then both teams traded ES goals to make the score 3-1. In the last period, Fehervar ran out of steam and Vienna scored three unanswered goals.

Bolzano vs Bratislava 1-2
Bratislava keeps surprising me (but not only me). In the first period, Bolzano had them bottled in but a good performance by goalie Jared Coreau kept the sheet clean and in the other end Bratislava made it 1-0 out of the blue. The rest of the game, Bratislava showed their best defensive performance this season while Bolzano had a forgettable game.

Games today:

Villach vs Klagenfurt
17:30 CET = 11:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

Fehervar vs Vienna
17:30 CET = 11:30 EST
Livestream (€6,90): ICE Hockey League TV

Bratislava vs Bolzano
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
Livestream (€6,90): ICE Hockey League TV

Dornbirn vs Salzburg
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
No stream, Pay TV (Sky)

 

[SoundAndFury]

Salzburg down 2-0... Absolutely a must-win at home tonight, would probably be the biggest sensation in European hockey so far this season if they lose the series.

 

[Theokritos]

Games last Sunday:

Villach vs Klagenfurt 6-3
Finally VSV managed to string together an entire game. Their best match this season. They skated and forechecked hard and got a deserved win.

Fehervar vs Vienna 2-3
This time the score reflects that the game was close, but Fehervar is down 0-2 now.

Bratislava vs Bolzano 2-7
After another lead for Bratislava out of the blue, Bolzano finally took it out on them in the second period with six (!) goals. That was the game.

Dornbirn vs Salzburg 6-3
Disastrous start into the game by a Salzburg team that looked disengaged and passive once again. Dornbirn on the other hand was in playoff mode. After 8 minutes, the score was 3-0 and Salzburg switched goaltenders, which didn't prevent Dornbirn from making it 4-0. There was no way back from this for Salzburg.

Game 3 in all series: Today.

Salzburg down 2-0... Absolutely a must-win at home tonight, would probably be the biggest sensation in European hockey so far this season if they lose the series.

It would be a surprise, but not a sensation. Salzburg has looked pedestrian for good stretches of the season and Dornbirn has played really well against the better teams in the league (not so much against the weaker teams). As mentioned a few times throughout the season here, there were several occasions when Salzburg was displaying an alarming lack of intensity. They seem to be carrying that attitude into the playoffs.

 

[SoundAndFury]

It would be a surprise, but not a sensation. Salzburg has looked pedestrian for good stretches of the season and Dornbirn has played really well against the better teams in the league (not so much against the weaker teams). As mentioned a few times throughout the season here, there were several occasions when Salzburg was displaying an alarming lack of intensity. They seem to be carrying that attitude into the playoffs.

Well yes and no. Of course, if we were to evaluate the on-ice performance #6 seed beating #3 seed isn't a huge sensation. But if we were to compare the budgets/rosters, it's the team that can afford to pencil in one of the league's biggest stars for a must-win game on the 4th line vs. the team that has Vitalijs Pavlovs as a 1C for the very same game.

 

[Theokritos]

Well yes and no. Of course, if we were to evaluate the on-ice performance #6 seed beating #3 seed isn't a huge sensation. But if we were to compare the budgets/rosters, it's the team that can afford to pencil in one of the league's biggest stars for a must-win game vs. the team that has Vitalijs Pavlovs as a 1C for the very same game.

If you look at it from the outside / on paper, then yes, you have a point. I'm just saying that no-one who followed the league this season would have gone as far as saying it would be a sensation if Dornbirn won. While Klagenfurt losing their series against Villach or Bolzano losing their series against Bratislava would be true sensations.

 

[Theokritos]

Games on Tuesday:

Salzburg vs Dornbirn 4-1 (Series: 2-1 Dornbirn)
Vienna vs Fehervar 1-0 (Series: 3-0 Vienna)
Klagenfurt vs Villach 3-2 (Series: 2-1 Klagenfurt)
Bolzano vs Bratislava 2-1 OT (Series: 2-1 Bolzano)

 

[SoundAndFury]

Ooof, what a tough, tough way to end such a great season for Feher. Feels bad for them, very anticlimactic.

Salzburg, meanwhile, straighten the ship so looks like neither surprise nor sensation is going to happen. That quality difference is just too much.

 

[Theokritos]

Games on Friday:

Fehervar vs Vienna 0-6 (Vienna wins the series in 4 games)
Dornbirn vs Salzburg 4-6 (Series tied 2-2)
Villach vs Klagenfurt 2-3 (Klagenfurt leads 3-1)
Bratislava vs Bolzano 3-4 (Bolzano leads 3-1)

Ooof, what a tough, tough way to end such a great season for Feher. Feels bad for them, very anticlimactic.

Absolutely. They skated hard all season and I guess their lack of roster depth did finally catch up with them. Already in the placement round, actually. They didn't have enough in the tank to keep going.

Games today:

Klagenfurt vs Villach
17:30 CET = 11:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

Bolzano vs Bratislava
18:15 CET = 12:15 EST
Livestream (€6,90): ICE Hockey League TV

Salzburg vs Dornbirn
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
No stream

 

[Theokritos]

Games on Sunday:

Klagenfurt vs Villach 4-1 (Klagenfurt wins the series in 5 games)
Bolzano vs Bratislava 3-2 (Bolzano wins the series in 5 games)
Salzburg vs Dornbirn 1-0 (Series: Salzburg leads 3-2)

Game today:

Dornbirn vs Salzburg
19:30 CET = 13:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

 

[Theokritos]

Game on Tuesday:

Dornbirn vs Salzburg 0-3 (Series: Salzburg wins 4-2)

A little review of the teams eliminated in the QFs:

Fehervar: As mentioned, a terrible way to end the season. Fehervar were one of the best teams in the league from September through January, then struggled a little bit in February and finally crashed hard in the playoffs. Will they be able to repeat next season and perhaps even improve? Depends on whether they can keep their roster together and add some depth.

Bratislava: They underrated the league and had to upgrade their roster big time over the course of the season. By mid-January they showed signs of improvement and were solid enough to edge out several of the other bottom teams. I wouldn't have expected them to keep four of their five QF games competitive, to kudos to coach Peter Draisaitl. What to expect next season: with the same roster, they should be competitive from the start on.

Villach: A somewhat consoling end of the season cannot hide the big disappointment. Villach were far below their own expectations and even after edging their way into the playoffs in the last minute, they weren't a real contender for Klagenfurt. The roster will be turned upside down during the offseason, very few of their foreign players should get another chance.

Dornbirn: Good season overall, but that is somewhat masking the fact that the club dropped the ball big time in the playoffs. After going ahead 2-0 in the series, Dornbirn shouldn't have lost four games in a row with an overall score of 5-14. That's a fail, no matter how one looks at it. Nevertheless, the prospect for the upcoming season is good. Most of the roster should stay intact with an established coach and system. Expect more of the same from Dornbirn.

Semi finals starting this upcoming Saturday:

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg
Bolzano vs Vienna

 

[SoundAndFury]

Bratislava is a bit of a mystery to me. Their late additions clearly showed they do have a reasonable budget. Why start the season with the team which would have struggled even in Slovak Extraliga? I mean nobody goes into the season with the goalie who struggled in Mestis and thinks it's a good idea.

 

[Theokritos]

Forgot to announce Games #1 of the playoffs are today.

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg can be watched for free here: Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

 

[Theokritos]

Last Sunday (Game 1):

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg 4-2
Bolzano vs Vienna 2-1

Today (Game 2):

Salzburg vs Klagenfurt
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
No livestream

Vienna vs Bolzano
19:30 CET = 13:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

 

[Theokritos]

Last Tuesday:

Salzburg vs Klagenfurt 2-3 OT
Vienna vs Bolzano 2-1

Today (Game 3):

Bolzano vs Vienna
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
No livestream

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg
19:30 CET = 13:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

 

[Theokritos]

Last Thursday:

Bolzano vs Vienna 6-3 (Bolzano leads series 2-1)
Afer two very tight games, everything was turned upside-down in this one: Vienna had a clear advantage, but Bolzano defended well and took advantage of their counterattacks. Result: a three-goal win for Bolzano. Still, more close matches to be expected in this series, starting today with Game 3 (see below).

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg 6-0 (Klagenfurt leads series 3-0)
It's getting very near the end for Salzburg. They looked demotivated and indifferent once again. Even if they can scrape up some fighting spirit for Game 4 now, they won't win four games in a row against this Klagenfurt team.

Games today:

Vienna vs Bolzano
19:15 CET = 13:15 EST
No livestream, unfortunately.

Salzburg vs Klagenfurt
19:30 CET = 13:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

 

[Theokritos]

Last Saturday:

Vienna vs Bolzano 4-1 (Series: tied 2-2)
Salzburg vs Klagenfurt 4-3 (Series: Klagenfurt leads 3-1)

Today:

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg
19:30 CET = 13:30 EST
Livestream (free): Die ICE Hockey League auf PULS 24 | PULS 24

Bolzanov vs Vienna
19:30 CET = 13:30 EST
No livestream, game is on Pay TV.

 

[jaco]

Bolzano vs Vienna 4-2 was one of better games I saw during this season. Real play-off hockey with a lucky, but not undeserved win for BZ. My bet is that Vienna will take game 6 and we will finally have a game 7

 

[Theokritos]

Yesterday:

Klagenfurt vs Salzburg 1-0 (Klagenfurt wins series 4-1 and advances to Finals)
Bolzano vs Vienna 4-2 (Bolzano leads series 3-2)

Bolzano vs Vienna 4-2 was one of better games I saw during this season. Real play-off hockey with a lucky, but not undeserved win for BZ. My bet is that Vienna will take game 6 and we will finally have a game 7

This series would certainly deserve a Game 7.

 

[Theokritos]

This series would certainly deserve a Game 7.

But it doesn't get one.

Game 6:

Vienna vs Bolzano 2-3 OT

The Finals between Bolzano and Klagenfurt start on Sunday, April 11.

 

[Theokritos]

Disastrous start into the finals for Bolzano: Reduced to three regular lines by injuries and suspensions, they were thrashed 0-6 by Klagenfurt in the first game of the series – on home ice, no less. No-one would have expected that outcome. Three goals were scored by Nick Petersen.

Game 2: Tomorrow (19:30 CET = 13:30 EST) in Klagenfurt.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Will they get bodies back for game two?