December might be cold, but in hockey terms it’s red hot! The race for the playoffs and CHL spots continues, while the EBEL prepares for the first of several outdoor games this season.
by Luke Fisher
Austria
The Vienna Capitals got their first win in six games at the expense of the Graz 99ers (whose losing streak continues) on Sunday night – a game that before the international break would have been 1st vs. 3rd, but was instead 5th vs. 6th due to both teams’ poor form. Red Bull Salzburg sit six points clear at the top followed by Black Wings Linz and then Vienna. Hungarian side Alba Volán Székesfehérvár have climbed up to fourth, and would make next year’s CHL based on current standings. Last-place Olimpija Ljubljana entertain Klagenfurt AC in an outdoor game this week!
Czech Republic
Having lost the lead of the Extraliga a few weeks ago, Oceláři Třinec ave responded in fantastic style – now back on top with a seven-point cushion to boost! HC Litvínov have slipped back to just five points above Sparta Prague, who are now level on points with Kometa Brno in third. Those two are, though, nine points above the chasing pack below.
Denmark
The ever-changing lead at the top of the Metal-Ligaen now belongs to Odense, who are a point above SønderjyskE Vojens despite having played a pair of games less. Herning and Esbjerg sit third and fourth respectively, with the Frederikshavn White Hawks down a place to fifth. That said, Frederikshavn have at least two games in hand on three of the teams above them, so could easily climb up the standings.
Finland
JYP Jyväskylä remain top of the Liiga, but now have to share that honour with KalPa Kuopio – also the latter has played a game more. Just behind the top two sit Kärpät Oulu, who actually have one and two games in hand over the teams above them respectively. Lukko Rauma, who were second at this point last week, now find themselves fourth and three points off the pace – although also having played a game less. HPK Hämeenlinna and IFK Helsinki complete the automatic playoff places, with a three-point gap over Ässät Pori and SaiPa Lappeenranta.
France
Genoble’s lead at the top of the Ligue Magnus is now up to six points, however the Angers Ducs – leading the chase – have played two fewer games. Level on points with Angers are Gap and Chamonix, so it’s as you were from a week ago. The Rouen Dragons have moved up to fifth, just a point behind second place.
Germany
The top of the table clash between Red Bull Munich and Adler Mannheim on Friday saw Mannheim take the win in Bavaria. Together with other points in the bag, the win helped Mannheim regain top spot by two points with two games in hand. ERC Ingolstadt still sit six points clear of fourth spot in third, with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg and the Hamburg Freezers still tied for fifth. Eisbären Berlin are up to eighth from 10th, and could overtake Düsseldorfer EG in 7th should they win their game in hand.
Great Britain
The Sheffield Steelers are now top of the Elite League outright following this weekend’s games, with a one point lead over the Braehead Clan. The Nottingham Panthers are five points behind, but do have two games in hand on the Clan, and one on the Steelers. The Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants complete the top five, but find themselves a way off the pace for top spot at this stage. At the wrong end, the Dundee Stars sit six points adrift of the 10th-place Coventry Blaze.
Norway
“Only” seven points now separate the Stavanger Oilers from the rest of the league – with the Oilers still continuing to lead the tables that they’ve sat top of since September. Lørenskog are now three points clear in second, as they continue to eat into Stavanger’s lead- albeit slowly. Frisk Asker and Storhamar complete the top four, now sitting seven points clear of the rest of the league.
Slovakia
HC Košice are back on top of the Extraliga, and have also turned around Nitra’s two point lead to a four point margin of their own. The latter sit second, three points clear of Banská Bystrica, with Poprad a further three points backs. Zvolen’s nine point lead in fifth over the rest of the league is now cut to seven – but still a healthy cushion. Žilina and Skalica ccupy places nine and ten, seven and eight points behind the rest of the league, with the national U20 team miles adrift at the foot of the table.
Sweden
Skellefteå AIK’s lead at the top of the SHL has gone from seven to 11 points since last week, putting them well clear of Frölunda Gothenburg in second. HV71 Jönköping are then a further two points back, cutting the deficit to second place in half over recent games. Only one point separates Linköping HC and Örebro HK in fourth and fifth respectively, but they have a three point lead over the Växjö Lakers and Djurgården Stockholm.
Switzerland
HC Davos remain top of the NLA, but their lead is now only one point – although they retain one game in hand over ZSC Lions Zurich in second place. Bern continue to keep track of the leading pair, now only three points off top spot in third, but comfortably 12 points clear of the teams below. The gap between Genève-Servette in sixth, and Lausanne in seventh, has now gone down to seven points. The Kloten Flyers, EC Biel, and Fribourg-Gottéron are separated by two points in places eight to 10, but some way adrift of the rest of the league. The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers remain rock bottom, still trailing by eight points.