All to play for: high tension ahead of the Ö Eishockey Liga quarter-final second legs

Quarter-final 1: SC Hohenems vs. 1. EHC Althofen

SC Samina Hohenems __OEHV_NUM_E_A__ go into Saturday's quarter-final second leg against __OEHV_NUM_G_A__. EHC Althofen at the Herrenriedstadion carrying a __OEHV_NUM_F_A__ deficit.SC Samina Hohenems 1974 will take a 2:4 deficit into Saturday's quarter-final second leg against the at the Herrenriedstadion1. EHC Althofen at the Herrenriedstadion carrying a __OEHV_NUM_F_A__ deficit.

Despite a short line-up of only 14 skaters, the Carinthians were perfectly prepared by head coach Gerald Ressmann last Saturday. Goaltender Fabian Horn also delivered a strong performance, stopping 42 of 44 shots for a save percentage of 95,5 %.

The Rhinos were efficient in front of the opposition net, with the spa town side scoring four goals from 25 shots on goal to put themselves in a good position for the return match in Vorarlberg. Althofen arrive at Herrenried with a real playoff feeling, as the Carinthians are also contesting the Carinthian AHC Division 1 semi-final against Spittal this week. Althofen won the first match on Tuesday 10:0.

Hohenems were dominant at the Stadthalle Althofen but not clinical enough in converting their chances. The Steinböcke are relying on their home strength in the second leg, having lost just two of their ten home games in the Group West regular season.

The Vorarlberg side averaged six goals per game in the process. Head coach Bernd Schmidle is demanding that his players refocus on their assigned tasks and season objectives in the second leg. Fans can look forward to a dramatic and highly exciting return match.

Bernd Schmidle, Head Coach SC Samina Hohenems 1974: "Althofen were highly motivated on Saturday and wanted the win more than we did. Their goaltender is also certainly one of the best in the league. But if everyone now refocuses on their tasks and season objectives at the right time – namely in next Saturday's game – then it should be possible to overturn the deficit!"

Quarter-final 2: ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. WEV

The Ö Eishockey Liga semi-final line-up will only be decided definitively on Sunday. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf host Wiener Eislauf-Verein in the quarter-final second leg at the Ossiacher See Halle.

The team coached by Robert Moser were dominant in the open-air encounter at Lothringerstraße, at times pinning the Viennese side in their own defensive zone. As in the Hohenems versus Althofen match-up, the shots-on-goal statistics here were 44:25 in favour of the away side.

The team led by player-coach Mario Kubeczka held firm and took their chances perfectly. Eleven seconds after Steindorf pulled one back, WEV appeared to be on course for victory with nine minutes remaining, but had to concede the equaliser in the final minutes despite leading 4:2.

This makes the situation for Sunday's second leg in Carinthia clear and simple: the winner after 60 minutes, overtime or a penalty shoot-out progresses to the semi-finals. Like fellow Carinthian side Althofen, Steindorf are also playing in the Carinthian AHC Division 1 playoffs during the week, with USC Pirates Velden their opponents. Steindorf won Tuesday's match 9:6.

Robert Moser, Head Coach ESC SoccerZone Steindorf:"Given the double burden of the Carinthian League semi-final and the ÖEL playoffs, I do see an advantage for WEV, as it will be our third game this week. However, given our quality, I am convinced that we will clear this hurdle and advance to the ÖEL semi-finals."

Mario Kubecka, player-coach, Wiener Eislauf-Verein:"First of all, I would like to praise my team. The self-sacrificing way they fought and stood up to Steindorf was remarkable. Unfortunately, we let a fairly comfortable lead slip, which is naturally bitter. On Sunday, we have another absolute showdown in Steindorf. We will try everything to reach the semi-finals and are looking forward to a great game!"

Quarter-final 3: Kapfenberg vs. VEU Feldkirch

Favourites Kapfenberger SV host VEU Feldkirch at Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday for the quarter-final showdown.

The Vorarlberg league newcomers delivered a strong performance in last weekend's 5:5 goal fest on home ice and pushed the Styrian title contenders all the way over 60 minutes in an intense, fast-paced game. In particular, the spectacular middle period featuring seven goals was a great advertisement for the Ö Eishockey Liga. The situation ahead of the return leg in the Mürztal is clear: the winner after 60 minutes, overtime or a penalty shootout will advance to the semi-finals.

The roles remain unchanged: the Kangaroos are the favourites in this tie, while the young VEU side can play with freedom. The key will be which team can keep their nerves under control better and operate more compactly defensively alongside their goaltenders. There is no scope for calculating goal difference following the draw in the first leg.

In the first leg, Kris Reinthaler's team, who will allow no excuses on Saturday, held a marginal 28:24 advantage in the shot statistics. Feldkirch head coach Thomas Sticha wants to force Kapfenberg into mistakes through active, fast play and is relying on the pace his young team can produce.

Kris Reinthaler, player-coach, Kapfenberger SV:"The situation is very simple: we know about VEU's strengths. There is no calculating goal difference; there is only one thing, and that is to play full-throttle hockey from the first minute through to the 60th minute. We should know what to do tactically and simply have to implement it. There will be no excuses on the day!"

Thomas Sticha, Head Coach VEU Feldkirch:"After the good result in the home game against Kapfenberg, we are naturally travelling to the away game with confidence. It is not an easy task for us, but we know that we can cause an upset. The roles have not changed; Kapfenberg remain the favourites. They are a compact team that ruthlessly capitalises on mistakes. We will try to force Kapfenberg into mistakes with our active and fast play. This time, we will take the chances that we failed to convert in the home game. Despite the young age of our team, we have already proved many times this season that we can also beat supposedly stronger teams. The team is ready and we want to continue our journey in the championship. It will be a decisive game, and we want to be the team that leaves the ice as winners in the end."

Quarter-final 4: Kufstein vs. Zeltweg Murtal Lions

The HC Kufstein earned themselves a two-goal cushion for the quarter-final return leg at Eisarena Kufstein against the EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions with their 4:2 away win, but it is not a cushion they can rest on.

In a very intense and hard-fought playoff game, the Styrians produced their best period of the season in the final 20 minutes and drew fresh hope from Oliver Setzinger's power-play goal while trailing 1:4. The key to progressing will be which of the two teams plays with greater discipline, both tactically and in terms of penalties. The game in Styria, with more than 40 penalty minutes, was the most emotionally charged quarter-final.

As in the first leg in Zeltweg, there will be a palpable buzz in the Kufstein Arena too. Kufstein chairman Roland Luchner is expecting a full house and a fitting playoff atmosphere on Saturday. The season record stands at 1.018 fans for Kufstein's local derby against EHH Crocodiles Kundl in November.

Ivo Novotny, Head Coach HC Kufstein: "The 4:2 win has given us a good starting position for the second leg in Kufstein on Saturday. The first leg in Zeltweg was very intense and hard-fought. We will train well this week and use the insights from last weekend to prepare for our opponents in even greater detail. If we can produce a similar performance to Saturday, I am optimistic that we can win the series."

Christian Mayerl, Chairman EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: "Despite the deficit, we are clearly travelling to Kufstein with great confidence. We have seen that we are on an equal footing, that we certainly played our best period of the season in the final period, and that is our benchmark for Saturday. To build on that and turn the game around! We also owe that to our fans, who turned out in such large numbers and gave us tremendous support. We want to have more playoff games in Zeltweg!"

Playoff format

From the quarter-finals onwards, the ties are decided over two legs in the Champions Hockey League (CHL) format. The club that finished higher in the regular season starts with the away game. The aggregate score from the two matches played is used. The team leading on aggregate after the first and second legs advances to the semi-finals. Should the aggregate score be tied at the final buzzer after 120 minutes, the decision will be made in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime period and, if necessary, a penalty shootout with five shooters per team. This means there is no overtime in the first leg. The respective first leg ends after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

Ö Eishockey Liga playoff quarter-final second legs

Quarter-final 1 – second leg:

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. 1. EHC Althofen
Sat, 18 February 2023, 17:30, Herrenriedstadion

First-leg result 2:4

Quarter-final 2 – second leg:

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sun, 19 February 2023, 16:30, Ossiacher See Halle

First-leg result 4:4

Quarter-final 3 – second leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat, 18 February 2023, 19:00, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

First-leg result 5:5

Quarter-final 4 – second leg:

HC Kufstein vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Sat., 18 February 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

First-leg result 4:2

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Further article:

Althofen take the lead against Hohenems – goal fest as VEU Feldkirch face Kapfenberger SV