ATSE Graz sensa­tion­ally take a point off Kapfen­berg – Murtal Lions win in Gmunden

The UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden faced the EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions on Saturday. The Traunsee Sharks needed to win to keep their hopes of reaching the play-offs alive.

The second-placed side from the Murtal made the better start to this important game, with Thomas Schiechl giving the Styrians an early 1:0 lead (in the 3rd minute). Three minutes before the end of the period, the Lions, who had travelled to Upper Austria with just 13 skaters in the line-up, added another: Mario Sulzer made it 2:0 (in the 17th minute). Head coach Gregor Baumgartner's team had also started the game with only 15 skaters. Zeltweg were far more clinical in front of goal in the first period, despite shots on goal being 9:9.

The hosts made the better start to the second period and were finally fully in the game: Laurens Ober pulled it back to 1:2 (in the 24th minute) for Gmunden. The joy over the goal did not last long, however, as just 64 seconds later Robin Weihager restored the two-goal lead (in the 25th minute).

But the Sharks did not let up, with Patrick Gaffal scoring for 2:3 exactly three minutes later (in the 28th minute). Once again, it was defenceman Robin Weihager who put the Murtal Lions two goals ahead with the 4:2 (in the 36th minute). Barely two minutes later, Luka Petelin made it 5:2 (in the 38th minute).

In the final period, Moritz Neurauter breathed new life into the Sharks, pulling it back to 3:5 (in the 47th minute) and making the game exciting again. It was now crunch time, with the Upper Austrians gradually running out of time to produce the turnaround they so desperately needed. In addition, the home side took two penalties, disrupting a possible late push.

In the end, Thomas Schiechl sealed the Murtal Lions' 6:3 win with an empty-netter 30 seconds before the final buzzer (in the 60th minute). They can secure their play-off place in next Wednesday's return game against the Sharks from Gmunden.

ATSE Graz take a point against Kapfenberg

The ATSE Graz were in fourth place before facing leaders Kapfenberger SV and are still far from being safe in terms of the play-offs.

The favourites from the Mürztal arrived in the Styrian capital fresh from their 6:1 win over WEV on Friday and initially made a cautious start to the game. Graz went toe-to-toe with the serial winners and took a 1:0 lead on their first power play, with Cody Wickstrom scoring from close range (in the 10th minute).

In the second period, the Kangaroos raised the tempo and levelled at 1:1 through Florian Hoppl following a quick power-play attack (in the 23rd minute).

Then player-coach Kris Reinthaler fired home to make it 2:1 for Kapfenberg (in the 26th minute). Just over two minutes later, ATSE Graz had the answer: Rupert Strohmeier appeared in front of KSV goalkeeper Michael Bischof and fired in the equaliser for 2:2 (in the 28th minute). Things got even better from Eggenberg's perspective: following a face-off, Luca Rodiga hammered the puck into the net 19 seconds before the buzzer to make it 3:2 (in the 40th minute).

At the start of the final period, league leaders Kapfenberg pressed for the equaliser, but ATSE goalkeeper Gernot Fally initially held on to the lead. Fally was caught out by a shot from KSV player-coach Kristof Reinthaler, however, and suddenly it was 3:3 (in the 46th minute).

As neither team could find the decisive goal in regulation time, the game went to overtime. Kris Reinthaler again provided the 4:3 winner for the favourites (in the 62nd minute), who nevertheless had to surrender a point for the first time this season.

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division East:

UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 3:6 (0:2,2:3,1:1)
Sat, 13 January 2024, 18:15, Eishalle Gmunden
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers: Laurens Ober (23:20), Patrick Gaffal (27:24/PP1), Moritz Neurauter (46:30)
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions goalscorers: Thomas Schiechl (02:02, 59:30/EN), Mario Sulzer (16:53), Robin Weihager (24:24, 35:22), Luka Petelin (37:34)

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV 3:4 after overtime (1:0,2:2,0:1,0:1)
Sat, 13 January 2024, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Cody Wickstrom (09:47/PP1), Rupert Strohmeier (27:45), Luca Rodiga (39:41)
Kapfenberger SV goalscorers: Florian Hoppl (22:18/PP1), Kristof Reinthaler (25:14, 45:02, 61:48)

Kapfenberger SV vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 6:1 (2:0,2:1,2:0)
Fri, 12 January 2024, 17:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Kapfenberger SV goalscorers: Kristof Reinthaler (03:52/PP1, 21:23), Daniel Oberkofler (05:29, 41:00, 57:38), Lukas Winkler (22:45)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Kilian Trommet (28:24)

Ö Eishockey Liga - West Division:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems 5:6 (2:2,1:3,2:1)
Fri, 12 January 2024, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Vladimir Dolnik (02:49), Lukas Thaler (15:46/PP1), Erik Hefke (33:21, 43:32), Daniel Frischmann (57:20)
SC Samina Hohenems goalscorers: Martin Grabher Meier (00:33, 34:59), Thomas Auer (11:50), Christian Haidinger (28:24, 33:00/PP1), Niklas Gehringer (41:29)

VEU Feldkirch vs. Dornbirner EC
Sun, 14 January 2024, 18:00, Vorarlberghalle

Dornbirner EC vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Tue, 16 January 2024, 19:30, Messestadion

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

Follow the Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook!