Can ATSE Graz stop Kapfen­berger SV? - SC Hohenems warned ahead of EHC Croc­o­diles Kundl

Semi-final 1 - first leg: ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat., 24 February 2024, 19:15, Merkur Ice Stadium - Hall A

The ATSE Graz, who eliminated HC Kufstein from the playoffs in the quarter-finals with two strong performances and an aggregate score of 9:3, face Kapfenberger SV in the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals.

In the Division East regular season in mid-January, Graz were the only team to take a point off the Mürztal side's attacking powerhouse in a 3:4 overtime defeat. ATSE still held a 3:2 lead shortly before the second intermission.

The Eggenberg side were even 2:0 ahead early in the second period in the match in Kapfenberg shortly before Christmas, before the Kängurus turned the game around with a scintillating middle period. Only the first meeting of the season in Graz was a clear victory for the team coached by player-coach Kristof Reinthaler.

Kapfenberg had beaten VEU Feldkirch in the quarter-finals with an impressive aggregate score of 17:3 and, with 17 wins from 17 games, once again underlined their title ambitions. Last year, the Kängurus came unstuck against SC Hohenems in the semi-finals, while in the inaugural season the Styrian side reached the final before losing to the Wattens Penguins.

ATSE Graz have reached the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals for the first time. Like Kapfenberg in the final, Graz lost to the Wattens Penguins in the quarter-finals in their first season. Last year, the "Blueshirts" from the Styrian capital did not qualify for the playoffs.

ATSE Graz head coach Markus Losch sees his team as overwhelming underdogs with nothing to lose: "As we are overwhelming underdogs in this game, we can really only win from these two matches. We did not play badly in the last two regular-season games against Kapfenberg, but a different team will certainly be waiting for us now. They will try to decide the game as quickly as possible. The longer we can keep a clean sheet, the better it is for us. We need to be active without the puck and try to disrupt Kapfenberg early and force them into mistakes. If we are ready from the start, it could be an exciting semi-final!"

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler had not expected Graz to be their semi-final opponents, but knows them well: "It was very surprising that ATSE progressed, I think for the entire league. They scored a lot of power-play goals, and we need to take a close look at that. We know ATSE; they have a great goaltender and are very solid defensively. We need to make sure we take our chances, play solidly at the back and show full-throttle hockey on Saturday!"

Semi-final 2 - first leg: EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat., 24 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl face SC Samina Hohenems in the first leg of the semi-finals in this western showdown.

The Tyroleans celebrated two narrow victories over EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions in the most exciting quarter-final tie and progressed with an aggregate score of 5:3. The Steinböcke secured their progression against WEV following a sensational away win in Vienna and an aggregate score of 13:3.

While the Vorarlberg side had emerged as clear winners from the ice twice in their direct encounters with the Unterinntal side at the start of the season, the following three games had a very different character. The team coached by head coach Jaroslav Betka, who took over the Crocodiles at the end of November, won twice in Hohenems.

Another game in Kundl remained close for a long time before Hohenems pulled away, only for the Tyroleans to launch a comeback that went unrewarded. Kundl inflicted Hohenems' only two defeats, compared with 20 wins for the Schlittschuhclub. The Crocodiles had most recently put together a run of seven consecutive victories.

For the Tyroleans, it is their first-ever appearance in the Ö Eishockey Liga semi-finals. Kundl did not take part in the play-offs last year, while in their debut season the Crocodiles were eliminated in the quarter-finals by 1. EHC Althofen. SC Hohenems lost to Kapfenberg in the semi-finals in the first season, while last year the side from Grafenstadt reached the final and finished as runners-up after losing to ESC Steindorf.

For Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier, everything beyond reaching the season's objective of making the semi-finals would be a bonus: "Having already confidently overcome the Zeltweg hurdle in the quarter-finals, and given that we are the only team to have beaten SC Hohenems twice so far, we will head into the semi-finals with respect but also with our heads held high. Regardless of that, we have already achieved our season objective and can therefore approach these games without pressure – that lies with the Steinböcke. We will prepare accordingly and are looking forward to what will certainly be two cool games!"

Thomas Sticha, head coach of SC Hohenems, knows the Crocodiles' strengths and promises that his team will be even more intense in the semi-finals: "Kundl's form curve rose steeply in the second half of the regular season, so their progression to the ÖEL semi-finals comes as no surprise. Kundl have depth and currently have a goaltender in top form who gives them the necessary backing in close games. We will step it up another level in the semi-finals and make our game even more intense. We enter every game to win, and we will show Kundl that from the very start of Saturday's game."

Play-off semi-final first legs:

Semi-final 1 – first leg:

ATSE Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Saturday, 24 February 2024, 19:15, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle A

Semi-final 2 – first leg:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Saturday, 24 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl

Play-off semi-final second legs:

Semi-final 1 – second leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. ATSE Graz
Saturday, 02 March 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Semi-final 2 – second leg:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Saturday, 02 March 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Play-off format:

From the quarter-finals onwards, ties will be decided in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format over two legs. The team that finished higher in the regular season will begin with an away game. The aggregate score from both matches will be used. The team leading on aggregate after the two legs will advance to the final.

Should the aggregate score be level at the final buzzer after 120 minutes, the decision will be made 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. The respective first leg ends after 60 minutes in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

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