Althofen secure second place in the South Group after over­time defeat against VSV

The Jungadler of EC iDM VSV hosted Steindorf's closest challengers, 1. EHC Althofen on Friday for their final meeting of the regular season. Head coach Gerald Ressmann's team underlined their status as favourites in the opening period and took a 1:0 lead through Sandro Seifried in the fourth minute, following a fine pass from Kevin Schettina.

The Rhinos pressed on and made it 2:0 on the power play. Florian Kurath set up Marc Ettinger perfectly, and he scored from close range in the twelfth minute. Two minutes later, Althofen even had a 5:3 power-play advantage: this time, Kurath passed to Maximilian Isopp, who unleashed a rocket for 3:0, leaving VSV netminder Jakob Sprachmann with no chance.

For a long time in the second period, the two netminders — Fabian Horn for Althofen and Jakob Sprachmann for VSV — were the focus of attention. Both goalkeepers denied good chances. The game was wide open again in the 35th minute: Christof Tschurnig set up Lukas Florianschitz, who fired home from the left face-off circle to make it 1:3.

At the start of the final period, Althofen, who had started with a short bench of 13 skaters, initially tried to protect their lead. However, that plan did not work for long, as VSV closed to 2:3 on the power play through a superb wrist shot from Johannes Tschurnig in the 45th minute.

After a strong burst down the right wing, Marco Steiner sent the puck into the net 102 seconds later to level the score at 3:3. Villach were now fully alert and pressed on: Patrick Bruckner set up Lukas Florianschitz in front of goal, and he scored with the backhand for 4:3 in the 52nd minute.

Althofen equalised almost out of nowhere: two minutes before the end, the puck came in front of goal from a tight angle, and Marc Ettinger made it 4:4 to send his team into overtime. There, VSV forward David Baloh danced through the Althofen defence during three-on-three play and, after almost two minutes, lifted the puck under the crossbar with his backhand for the 5:4 win.

This means that ESC SoccerZone Steindorf are confirmed as South Group winners before Saturday. Steindorf will face either ATSE Graz or WEV in the playoffs. Althofen, as runners-up, will play either SC Hohenems or HC Kufstein.

West Group: Kundl beat HC Innsbruck II

In the final match of the season between HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II and EHC Crocodiles Kundl at Innsbruck's TIWAG Arena, an entertaining end-to-end contest developed from the outset, with both teams playing freely.

The hosts made the most of their first power play to take a 1:0 lead, as Felix Platzer fired from the blue line and beat Kundl netminder Johann Bauer. The Crocodiles had a swift response: three minutes later, Samuel Schönthaler won the puck in the offensive zone and sent a precise shot from the slot into the net to equalise at 1:1.

Kundl initially turned the game around in the second period: Daniel Mitterdorfer fired from the blue line and Kayson Arthur Gallant deflected the puck for 2:1 in the 30th minute. Four minutes later, Kayson Gallant appeared in front of the Kundl goal again and slid the puck home for 3:1.

The Young Sharks battled back and closed to 2:3 through Nicholas Schintler in the 37th minute, as he surprised Kundl netminder Johann Bauer with a shot from the right. Just nine seconds after the face-off, Sandro Wille fired home to equalise at 3:3. Half a minute later, the Crocodiles were back in front, with Adrian Schuster scoring into the near corner for 4:3.

At 39 minutes, Matko Pavetic levelled the score for Innsbruck once again, picking out the far corner with a precise shot as Kundl netminder Bauer was screened. Just 14 seconds after the equaliser, Julian Wieser scored from the slot to give the visitors a 5:4 lead, the fifth goal within two and a half minutes.

The lively scoring continued seamlessly in the final period. Alexander Erlacher made it 5:5 at 42 minutes for the Tyrolean capital side. 40 seconds later, Christian Baierl fired home to put Kundl back in front. At 45 minutes, Matthias Haas confidently converted a penalty shot to make it 7:5 for the Crocodiles.

Just under four minutes from time, Daniel Mitterdorfer converted a rebound to increase the lead to 8:5, before Kayson Arthur Gallant finished off a quick counter-attack 39 seconds later to seal a 9:5 final score for Kundl. The Crocodiles thus won their fifth consecutive game.

Matchday, West Group

HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 5:9 (1:1,3:4,1:4)
Fri, 03 February 2023, 19:00, TIWAG Arena
HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II goalscorers: Felix Platzer (05:18 min./PP1), Nicholas Schintler (36:26 min.), Sandro Wille (36:35 min.), Matko Pavetic (38:44 min.), Alexander Erlacher (41:58 min.)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Samuel Schönthaler (08:14 min.), Kayson Arthur Gallant (29:31 min., 33:39 min., 56:54 min.), Adrian Schuster (37:06 min.), Julian Wieser (38:58 min.), Christian Baierl (42:38 min.), Matthias Haas (44:25 min./PS), Daniel Mitterdorfer (56:15 min.)

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat, 04 February 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1974
Sat, 04 February 2023, 19:00, Alpenstadion Wattens

Already on Thursday:

VEU Feldkirch vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 4:3 after overtime (2:2, 1:1,0:0,1:0)
Thu, 02 February 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch goalscorers: Jannik Fitz (16:08 min.), Ricardo Bell (18:12 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (35:52 min./PP2), Joonatan Kyllönen (60:29 min./SH1)
WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Fabian Nußbaumer (17:47 min.), Nico Burkhart (19:47 min.), Julian Jagersbacher (31:49 min.)

Matchday, South Group

EC iDM VSV vs. 1. EHC Althofen 5:4 after overtime (0:3,1:0,3:1,1:0)
Fri, 03 February 2023, 20:00, Ossiacher See Halle
Scorers for EC iDM VSV: Lukas Florianschitz (at 34:34, at 51:12), Johannes Tschurnig (at 44:14/PP1), Marco Steiner (at 45:56), David Baloh (at 61:53)
Scorers for 1st EHC Althofen: Sandro Seifried (at 03:45), Marc Ettinger (at 11:46/PP1, at 58:03), Maximilian Isopp (at 13:48/PP2)

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. USC Pirates Velden
Sat, 04 February 2023, 18:00, Steindorf Ossiacher See Halle

EC LiWoDruck Spittal vs. UECR Eisbären Huben
Sat, 04 February 2023, 18:15, Eis-Sport-Arena Spittal

ÖEL games are shown on the Austrian Ice Hockey Federation's new livestreaming platform at LIVE.eishockey.at.

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!