In our first round-up of 2015, Luke Fisher takes a look at how the European leagues are shaping up after the holiday season. Some of the leagues have some pretty intense races going on, either at the top or to make the playoffs.
by Luke Fisher
The festive season is over, and while some leagues took a break over the Christmas period, many other of Europe’s top competitions played through the holiday season. As the ‘business end’ of the season starts to kick in, we take a look at how the race for the playoffs across Europe is shaping up – plus, there are two outdoor games!
Austria
With six games to go in the regular season in the EBEL, Red Bull Salzburg look to be odds-on favourites to secure first place – with a five-point lead over Black Wings Linz and sitting in a position that they’ve occupied for well over a month. The Vienna Capitals, who led the league for much of the early season, have stopped their rot and hold on to third, but are just two points above Villach SV. Orli Znojmo and HC Bolzano occupy the remaining two direct playoff places, with Alba Volán Fehérvár of Hungary just a point behind. The Graz 99ers, who at one point were six points clear in third, now find themselves in eighth place – a dozen short of the automatic playoff positions.
The EBEL Winter Classic took place outside in Klagenfurt over the New Year period, with hosts KAC losing out to state rivals Villach 4–1. The game was also notable for a problem with the ice, caused by drilling for the goal pegs – the unfortunate rink official drilled through the ice surface and into the cooling system pipes, causing green liquid to spill out. Luckily, for Villach at least, after a delay of around 40 minutes, the game was able to re-start and play through to its conclusion.
Czech Republic
Oceláři Třinec stay top of the Czech Extraliga, extending their pre-Christmas lead of three points to nine – and also with a game in hand on the teams directly below them. HC Litvínov stay second, while Sparta Prague remain third, although the latter are now only three points above Kometa Brno as opposed to the six-point cushion they had several weeks back. HC Pardubice, placed fifth, remain eight points behind the top four. PSG Zlín, who occupied last place for much of the early season, have seen themselves up to 11th now, while Slavia Prague have dropped to 12 points off the pace at the foot of the table.
Denmark
Before the Christmas period, it was SønderjyskE Vojens leading the Metal-Ligaen; however, a poor run of form has seem them slip down to third and a huge 12 points off the lead. Herning are up to second, but also trail the leaders Odense, though only by seven. Frederikshavn might be fourth, but with games in hand they could easily move at least a place up, while at the wrong end Gentofte are six points adrift.
Finland
It’s all change in the Liiga, as it is most weeks, although several teams are now starting to break away from the rest of the league. Kärpät Oulu take a five-point lead at the top of the table, followed by IFK Helsinki, who in turn are five points clear of JYP Jyväskylä in third. KalPa Kuopio and Lukko Rauma are both a point behind JYP, but some seven points clear of Ässät Pori and Tappara Tampere – both of whom tie for the sixth, and the last automatic playoff, place. With only five points separating sixth from 10th, it remains a very tight race indeed for the post season.
France
The Ligue Magnus had a reduced schedule over the holidays, but returned to full swing just after New Year. Grenoble’s once five-point lead at the top has been cut to just two, though they have played a game less than Rouen and so could extend it out back to four. It’s been a steep climb for Rouen, who were in sixth place just a few weeks before Christmas, largely due to their unbeaten 10-game home record. Gap sit third, four points back from the lead, Angers and Chamonix both a point further back each. Epinal’s slump down the table continues, now down in ninth.
Germany
The outdoor game in Düsseldorf against local rivals Kölner Haie saw the hosts take a regulation 3–2 win, which helped keep them inside the top eight. Adler Mannheim are back on top, having temporarily surrendered their lead last month to Red Bull Munich, and have extended out a 12-point lead over the Bavarians. The Hamburg Freezers, who had such a poor start to the season, have now got themselves into third, four points ahead of ERC Ingolstadt. Eisbären Berlin go from 10th pre-Christmas to sixth post-holidays, but will be wary of the two teams below them having played a game less.
Great Britain
An equally close finish is going on with the Elite League, where the Braehead Clan have taken an outright lead by six points. However, the three chasing teams, all six points behind, have games in hand – the Belfast Giants (2), Cardiff Devils (3), and Nottingham Panthers (3), meaning that the latter two could tie for top spot if they win those. The Sheffield Steelers sit seven points back, but also have played a trio of games less.
Norway
Since the pre-Christmas period, the Stavanger Oilers have seen their lead cut in half – first from 10 to seven, and now down to just five points. However it’s no longer Lørenskog leading the chase, but Storhamar who have gone up a place from third to four points clear in second over Frisk. Lørenskog have in fact dropped to fourth, but have a healthy lead over Sarpsborg to keep themselves in the top four. Konsvinger, with just one regulation win all season, remain last, with just seven points from 32 games.
Slovakia
As the Extraliga enters round 41, Košice are back on top and have a four-point lead in first place. Hot on their heels are Banská Bystrica, who are three points clear of one-time leaders Nitra in second place. The top three are four points clear of Poprad, while Zvolen’s lead over sixth place is now down to even points from nine. Dukla Trenčín are, in turn, some 13 points clean of seventh and the rest of the league.
Sweden
Up in Sweden, Skellefteå AIK have now doubled their pre-Christmas lead to 14 points, with HV71 Jönköping moving up into second and leading the chase behind the leaders. They are only a pair of points above Örebro HK, who are third, while Linköping HC and Frölunda Gothenburg are both just one point behind further back. Färjestad Karlstad have moved from 10th up to seventh, with Luleå Hockey up one place into eighth. At the foot of the table, Modo Örnsköldsvik find themselves five points adrift.
Switzerland
Finally, lots of changes at the top of NLA, with a very close race going on for the top three places. SC Bern now lead the way, two points clear of HC Davos in second, and three ahead of ZSC Lions Zurich in third. All three clubs have played the same number of games now. HC Lugano are fourth, but trail Zurich by only four points and have played a game less. EV Zug, in fifth, find themselves five points further back. The Zurich city derby between ZSC and the Kloten Flyers ended in a road victory for the Lions Sunday evening.