VSV has recharged its batteries

The KAC is no longer in the mood for the “Ländle”

Steven Strong wants to avoid another trip to the "Ländle".

(Bild: F. Pessentheiner)

The KAC wants to make the most of its first match puck in Vorarlberg today, Monday, and is counting on a good omen to do so. After all, 4:1 is almost a standard result for Klagenfurt when they win a play-off series. For VSV, however, it's "win or go" once again! To do so, they need Villach's first win of the season on Bolzano ice.

Match puck today in the home arena for the Red Jackets! The score of 3:1 is an excellent omen. The KAC has led 15 times in the play-offs with this score - and has never lost the series. They even managed to advance in game five 14 times. "Of course the plan is to end the series immediately. But the fourth win is the toughest, Vorarlberg has nothing to lose," says defenceman Steven Strong.

We always come home so late from Vorarlberg that our regeneration suffers.

Steven STRONG, KAC-Crack

In addition, victory could save another exhausting bus journey (seven hours each way) to the "Ländle": "We always get home at five o'clock in the morning, so regeneration suffers - we don't have to do that again."

Captain Thomas Hundertpfund (right) wants to seal the deal with his Red Jackets against Vorarlberg today.

(Bild: f. pessentheiner)

Outnumbered is terrific
The 31-year-old and his colleagues are currently impressing above all with their defensive work. Until the 1:1 in Vorarlberg, they had gone 164:03 minutes without conceding a goal (also thanks to two shutouts before that!). That's even a new club record in the play-offs - and the key to success. Strong: "A good defense wins championships, that's our focus. We're really stable at the moment and have the Vorarlberg powerplay under control." That's right! They haven't conceded a single goal in 21 minutes.

Things are also going really well for Strong personally. In the league's plus/minus statistics, he's number one in the league with +39: "I've never been first in a statistic before, of course that's an honor. But what's more important to me is success with the boys - I'll give it my all!"

First win on Bolzano ice is a must
VSV must bring the series back to Villach in the fifth quarter-final match. To reduce the deficit to 2:3, however, they need their first away win of the season in Bolzano. The Italians have won all four encounters so far and have not lost four home games in a row. "It will be a completely different game to the 6:1 win in Villach - we're expecting a really tough match, they can score from anywhere at home," warned coach Marcel Rodman.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Tomazevic justified his call-up with a top performance
One thing is certain: A solid defense is needed again, as was the case last time in Villach - where Rodman deliberately opted for defensive ace Wall as the eighth legionnaire and had Tyler Steenbergen sit out. And fortunately not Blaz Tomazevic, who justified his return to the team with a hat-trick. "I've been waiting a long time for my chance, I've always given my all in training - now was a good time to score again," said Tomazevic. "We needed a result like this mentally, we've come together as a team."

I've been waiting a long time for my chance. It was a good time to score again.

Blaz TOMAZEVIC, VSV-Stürmer

The line-up will not be changed this time either, Villach will probably play with three lines - so the youngsters will be called upon again. "We have to take the energy and passion with us to Bolzano," says Rodman, who lost a series against Linz 14 years ago with the Capitals after leading 3-0.

Rodman knows how Bolzano feels
"The last win is always the most difficult - we're going to Bolzano knowing that. They don't want to come to Villach again," said Rodman, who also told the team about his experience. "So they see that anything is possible. If the series comes home to us again now, Bolzano can only lose!" Stefan Plieschnig