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

1. EHC Althofen defeat SC Samina Hohenems 1974

The playoff buzz could be felt at Althofen Stadthalle from the very first shift. After a brief feeling-out period, the 1. EHC Althofen made a dream start against Western Group winners SC Samina Hohenems 1974: Benjamin Kogler deflected a shot to make it 1:0 for the Rhinos in the sixth minute.

An intense game then developed. Three minutes after Althofen took the lead, Christian Haidinger made it 1:1 for the Vorarlberg side with a precise finish following a solo rush. Having equalised, the team coached by head coach Bernd Schmidle took control and held the upper hand, with Althofen goaltender Fabian Horn having no shortage of work. Althofen initially killed off a penalty in the second period, before Florian Kurath had the equaliser on his stick shortly afterwards but was denied by Hohenems goalie Karlo Skec.

Both teams continued to play at a high tempo in the second period. Following a quick attack, Stefan Schuming scored from close range to make it 2:1 for Althofen at the halfway point of the game. Five minutes before the end of the period, the Carinthians intercepted a Hohenems pass in the offensive zone, combined neatly and Philipp Waldner made it 3:1 for the Rhinos.

Exactly three minutes later, it was 4:1 to 1. EHC Althofen. Martin Zeloth took possession of the puck and fired it in unstoppably past Karlo Skec. Matthias Fritz replaced the Hohenems goalie, who was not at fault for any of the goals conceded.  

Early in the final period, SC Hohenems pulled back to 2:4; after a shot, the puck rebounded off the boards and Christian Haidinger was able to slot it into the empty net after two minutes. The Vorarlberg side then pushed for another goal, but Althofen were well organised, waited for counter-attacking opportunities and ultimately saw out the 4:2 result. This guarantees a dramatic return leg at Herrenriedstadion next Saturday.

Draw between WEV and ESC SoccerZone Steindorf

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein hosted Southern Group leaders ESC SoccerZone Steindorf in the first leg of their quarter-final at the open-air arena on Lothringerstraße, with the magnificent Vienna Konzerthaus providing the backdrop.

From the opening minute, the game was a gripping, fast-paced duel with chances at both ends. Benjamin Petrik gave Steindorf a 1:0 lead just under four minutes in, converting from close range with a backhander after a pass from Christof Martinz.

WEV found the right response with a quick double. Stefan Nador equalised at 1:1 with a backhander in the tenth minute. Straight from the face-off, Xaver Emslander put Vienna 2:1 ahead just 16 seconds later. The match lost none of its intensity in the second period either. Both teams looked to attack and played at pace.

As the middle period progressed, the visitors had the edge in terms of possession and were repeatedly able to establish themselves in the offensive zone for spells. However, it was the team led by player-coach Mario Kubeczka that scored: Stefan Nador converted a penalty at 32 to make it 3:1 for WEV.

In the final period, the team coached by head coach Robert Moser pressed for a goal back, while the Viennese defended their net skilfully as a unit, supported by the strong performance of goalie Mathias Lichtenecker. The closing ten minutes then saw the action come thick and fast. Steindorf scored the long-awaited goal back through Manuel Wuntschek at 51. Just eleven seconds later, WEV restored their two-goal lead through Patrick Böhm, making it 4:2.

The Southern Group winners refused to give in: on the power play, Markus Pöck passed to the far post, where Kristian Kravanja was waiting and scored to make it 3:4 at 56. Steindorf even equalised at 58. This time, Kravanja found Markus Pöck, who appeared alone in front of WEV goalie Lichtenecker and fired home to make it 4:4. The draw leaves an exciting situation for the return leg at Ossiacher See Halle next Sunday.

Goal festival as VEU Feldkirch face Kapfenberger SV

League newcomers VEU Feldkirch went into their quarter-final meeting with dominant North-East Group winners Kapfenberger SV as underdogs.

The Vorarlberg side took up the fight from the outset and did not make life easy for the Kangaroos. It took an energetic solo effort from player-coach Kirs Reinthaler, who beat VEU goaltender Thomas Schubert ten minutes into the game, to give the favourites a 1:0 lead. The Montfortstadt side fought back and Luca Erne capitalised on a lapse in the Kapfenberg defence to level the scores at 1:1 14 minutes into the game. Just under two minutes after the equaliser, Christoph Draschkowitz set up his teammate Philipp Ullrich perfectly from behind the net, and he fired home to make it 2:1 for the Styrians.

VEU remained tenacious in the second period and repeatedly posed an attacking threat. Tobias Reinbacher equalised at 2:2 in the 27th minute with a fine wrist shot. The match became more spectacular by the minute. Kapfenberg took a 3:2 lead through Dominik Wassermann in the 29th minute.

Head coach Thomas Sticha's team once again had the right response. Allessandro Togni scored to make it 3:3 for VEU. The Vorarlberghalle was rocking, and even more so in the 35th minute. Yannik Lebeda went in alone on goal and made it 4:3. Just under a minute later, Stefan Trost equalised at 4:4 for the visitors. In the 37th minute, Lukas Göggel fired from a tight angle to put Feldkirch 5:4 ahead.

The match was now anything but a classic playoff game, with the defensive units allowing far too much. With 46 seconds left before the second siren, Kris Reinthaler picked out the net from the blue line to make it 5:5, levelling the score in an incredible second period featuring seven goals.

Both teams had satisfied their hunger for goals in the first leg, with no further goals coming in the final period. Following the goal fest in Feldkirch, the two clubs will meet again in the return leg at the Kapfenberg Stadthalle next Saturday.

HC Kufstein take the lead against Zeltweg Murtal Lions

The clash between the North-East and West Group runners-up, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and HC Kufstein, was a classic playoff game from the outset. A battle for every inch of ice, with tension palpable in the Murtal Lions Arena – also known as the Aichfeldhalle in Zeltweg.

The hosts celebrated what they thought was 1:0, but the refereeing team signalled "No Goal". HC Kufstein used their second power play of the game in the ninth minute to take a 1:0 lead. Leevi Ahonen converted a rebound from close range for the Tyroleans.

Two and a half minutes before the end of the period, Murtal Lion Michael Grüneis and Dragons player Florian Eder came to blows, with both teams now fully immersed in playoff hockey. With 62 seconds remaining before the first siren, Styria was introduced to the Czech power duo: David Hrazdira set up Martin Kosnar perfectly, and the goalscorer made it 2:0 for Kufstein.

The game became even more frantic and emotional in the second period, with plenty of penalty minutes and discussions. The Murtal Lions tried to finally get on the scoreboard, while the many stoppages further disrupted the flow of play. Kufstein remained composed and went 3:0 up through Robert Schopf in the 33rd minute.

Just under a minute before the end of the period, Bastian Szieber converted a pass from Schopf to make it 4:0. With 31 seconds left before the second siren, Florian Dinhopel gave the Murtal side relief with the goal for 1:4, the Styrian Lions' first playoff goal was on the board. 

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions reduced the deficit to 2:4 in the 50th minute of the final period. Oliver Setzinger unleashed a rocket on the power play, giving Kufstein netminder Thomas Hechenberger no chance. That was also the final score. The return leg will take place in Kufstein next Saturday.

Playoff format

From the quarter-finals onwards, match-ups are decided over a home-and-away tie in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format. The club that finished higher after the regular season begins away from home. The aggregate score from the two completed games is used. The team leading on aggregate after the first and second legs advances to the semi-finals. If the aggregate score is level at the final siren after 120 minutes, the outcome will be decided in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime and, if necessary, a penalty shootout with five shooters per team. This means there is no overtime in the first leg. Each first leg ends after 60 minutes in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

Ö Eishockey Liga playoff quarter-final first legs

Quarter-final 1 – first leg:

1. EHC Althofen vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1974 4:2 (1:1,3:0,0:1)
Sat., 11 February 2023, 17:00, Stadthalle Althofen
Goalscorers for 1. EHC Althofen: Benjamin Kogler (at 05:13), Stefan Schumnig (at 30:05), Philipp Waldner (at 35:05), Martin Zeloth (at 38:05)
Goalscorers for SC Samina Hohenems 1974: Christian Haidinger (at 09:12, 42:08)

Quarter-final 2 – first leg:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf 4:4 (2:1,1:0,1:3)
Sat., 11 February 2023, 18:00, WEV Arena, Am Heumarkt
Goalscorers for Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Stefan Nador (at 09:03, 31:29/PS), Xaver Emslander (at 09:19), Patrick Böhm (at 50:55)
Goalscorers for ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: Benjamin Petrik (at 04:06), Manuel Wuntschek (at 50:44), Kristian Kravanja (at 55:33/PP1), Markus Pöck (at 57:40)

Quarter-final 3 – first leg:

VEU Feldkirch vs. Kapfenberger SV 5:5 (1:2,4:3,0:0)
Sat., 11 February 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
Goalscorers for VEU Feldkirch: Luca Erne (at 13:53), Tobias Reinbacher (at 26:03), Alessandro Togni (at 32:37), Yannik Lebeda (at 34:36), Lukas Göggel (at 36:22)
Goalscorers for Kapfenberger SV: Kristof Reinthaler (at 09:24, 39:14), Philipp Ullrich (at 15:41), Dominik Wassermann (at 28:53), Stefan Trost (at 35:45)

Quarter-final 4 – first leg:

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. HC Kufstein 2:4 (0:2,1:2,1:0)
Sat., 11 February 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle
Scorers for EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: Florian Dinhopel (at 39:29), Oliver Setzinger (at 49:22, PP1)
Scorers for HC Kufstein: Leevi Ahonen (at 08:23, PP1), Martin Kosnar (at 18:48), Robert Schopf (at 32:08), Bastian Szieber (at 38:54)

Ö Eishockey Liga play-off quarter-final second legs

Quarter-final 1 – second leg:

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

Quarter-final 2 – second leg:

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

Quarter-final 3 – second leg:

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

Quarter-final 4 – second leg:

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

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