Playoff quarterfinals

Pioneers could face “favorite opponent”

The Pioneers have won three times against Bolzano this season.(Bild: Vanna Antonello)

"In their current form, nobody really wants to pick the Pioneers," says "Krone Salzburg" ice hockey expert Robert Groiss. In other words, head coach Dylan Stanley's sensational squad, who made it into the play-offs by complete surprise, could face the quarter-final opponent against whom they should have the best statistical chances on Thursday evening.

"Everything that comes next is a bonus," was the consensus in the Vorarlberghalle on Tuesday evening after the Pioneers finally ended the season of the favored Sharks from Innsbruck thanks to a 5:2 win and secured their place in the playoff quarter-finals. Who the Ländle-Cracks will face from there on Sunday will be decided tonight when a winner is determined in the second pre-playoff duel between Pustertal and Ljubljana.

KAC

Eternal Pioneers record:
3 wins, 5 losses, goal differential: 25:25
Pioneers record season 2023/24:
1 win, 3 losses, goal differential: 9:17
The four season duels:
Oct. 13, 2023: 0:4 (0:1, 0:1, 0:2) [a]
Oct. 29, 2023: 2:1 SO (1:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0) [h]
Jan. 12, 2024: 5:8 (2:3, 2:3, 1:2) [a]
January 21, 2024: 2:4 (1:1 0:0, 1:3) [h]
Form curve - the last twelve KAC games:
January 14: Salzburg 1:4 [a]
January 19: Graz 99ers 3:1 [h]
January 21: Pioneers 4:2 [a]
January 23: Asiago 12:0 [h]
January 26: Innsbruck 2:3 SO [h]
January 28: Black Wings Linz 1:2 [a]
February 2: Pustertal 7:1 [a]
February 4: VSV 6:1 [h]
February 13: Fehervar 5:2 [h]
February 16: Vienna Capitals 2:1 [a]
February 18: Ljubljana 8:1 [h]
February 23: HCB Südtirol 0:3 [a]

One thing is certain: a club from the quartet of KAC, Fehervar, Salzburg and South Tyrol will be the winner. The Pioneers don't have to hide from any of their potential opponents, as they have already won against all of them this season. And their current form - nine wins from the last twelve games - is impressive. Nevertheless, the statistics clearly speak in favor of one opponent: Bolzano!

Fehervar

Eternal Pioneers record:
2 wins, 6 defeats, goal difference: 18:30
Pioneers record season 2023/24:
1 win, 3 defeats, goal difference: 13:16
The four season duels:
October 20, 2023: 3:6 (2:2, 1:1 0:3) [h]
November 4, 2023: 4:2 (1:0, 2:0, 1:2) [a]
December 4, 2023: 4:5 (0:0, 2:3, 2:2) [a]
Feb. 18, 2024: 2:3 OT (1:0, 0:2, 1:0, 0:1) [h]
Form curve - the last twelve AVS games:
Jan. 12: Salzburg 4:2 [h]
January 13: Pustertal 2:0 [h]
January 19: HCB Südtirol 4:2 [a]
January 20: Asiago 4:3 [a]
January 23: VSV 3:2 [h]
January 30: Salzburg 2:1 [a]
February 2: Vienna Capitals 2:1 [h]
February 13: KAC 2:5 [a]
February 16: Black Wings Linz 2:1 [h]
February 18: Innsbruck 2:3 OT [a]
February 21: Ljubljana 6:3 [a]
February 23: Graz 99ers 9:1 [a]

The South Tyroleans are the only ICE Hockey League club apart from Ljubljana against whom the Vorarlberg team has a positive record after two seasons. The Pioneers have won five of their eight matches so far and have only lost three. The goal difference: 25:25! In the current season, the cracks of head coach Dylan Stanley have even won three times, most recently on February 4 in Bolzano.

Red Bulls Salzburg

Eternal Pioneers record:
2 wins, 6 defeats, goal difference: 12:32
Pioneers record season 2023/24:
1 win, 3 losses, goal differential: 8:18
The four season duels:
September 24, 2023: 2:6 (0:3, 1:1, 1:2) [a]
December 1, 2023: 3:6 (2:3, 0:0, 1:3) [h]
January 6, 2024: 3:2 OT (0:0, 1:0, 1:2, 1:0) [h]
February 18, 2024: 0:4 (0:1, 0:3, 0:0) [a]
Form curve - the last twelve RBS games:
January 14: KAC 4:1 [h]
January 19: Innsbruck 3:4 [a]
January 20: HCB Südtirol 1:4 [a]
January 23: Black Wings Linz 1:2 SO [a]
January 28: VSV 4:1 [h]
January 30: Fehervar 1:2 [h]
February 2: Graz 99ers 9:1 [h]
February 4: Asiago 3:2 SO [a]
February 16: Ljubljana 5:4 SO [a]
February 18: Pioneers 4:0 [h]
February 21: Vienna Capitals 6:1 [h]
February 23: Pustertal 2:3 [a]

But how realistic is it that the desired opponent actually exists? The KAC, who have the first pick, have said that they would like to avoid the long trips to the Ländle and tend to pick the winner of the duel between Pustertal and Ljubljana. This could also indicate that Fehervar, who finished second in the first round, will leave the Pioneers out in favor of Linz.

HCB South Tyrol

Eternal Pioneers record:
5 wins, 3 defeats, goal difference: 25:25
Pioneers record season 2023/24:
3 wins, 1 loss, goal differential: 14:11
The four season duels:
October 3, 2023: 5:4 (1:0, 2:2, 2:2) [h]
November 26, 2023: 1:4 (0:0, 1:1, 0:3) [a]
January 3, 2024: 4:1 (2:0, 0:0, 2:1) [h]
February 4, 2024: 4:2 (2:0, 2:1, 0:1) [a]
Form curve - the last twelve HCB games:
January 14: Ljubljana 0:3 [a]
January 19: Fehervar 4:2 [h]
January 20: Salzburg 4:1 [h]
January 23: Innsbruck 0:2 [a]
January 27: Vienna Capitals 7:3 [h]
February 2: Black Wings Linz 3:4 [a]
February 4: Pioneers 2:4 [h]
February 13: Pustertal 5:4 OT [a]
February 16: VSV 3:7 [a]
February 18: Asiago 7:4 [h]
February 21: Graz 99ers 0:7 [a]
February 23: KAC 3:0 [h]

Should this actually happen, the big question is what Salzburg will do! Should the defending champions overcome their aversion to Villach - they have yet to win at VSV this season - and pick the Carinthians, the way would be clear for a quarter-final clash between HCB Südtirol and the sensational Pioneers, who have exceeded all expectations so far.