Croc­o­diles Kundl defeat SC Hohenems away from home again – high drama in the Divi­sion East on Sunday

Division winners SC Samina Hohenems faced EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the West on Saturday. From the outset, the fans at Herrenriedstadion could sense that the playoffs were just around the corner: both teams were evenly matched in the first period and once again served up an exciting contest.

Backed by two strong goaltenders in the shape of Crocodiles' Kyle Plantz and home netminder Karlo Škec, it remained 0:0 for a long time. Thomas Auer broke the deadlock 35 seconds before the halfway point of the game, deflecting a Lukas Fritz shot for 1:0 (30.).

The Tyroleans were not deterred from their game plan by conceding, quite the opposite: six minutes later, following a turnover in the neutral zone, Matko Pavetic lifted the puck from the slot towards goal, and HSC netminder Škec let it slip into the net after fumbling the catch (36.). Just under a minute before the end of the period, Erik Hefke sent team-mate Patrik Lithen through, with the Swedish forward scoring to give Kundl a 2:1 lead (39.).

In the final period, the Steinböcke pressed for an equaliser, but the Crocodiles were strong defensively alongside netminder Plantz and closed down the spaces. Head coach Jaro Betka's team launched only occasional counter-attacks themselves. The Vorarlberg side had taken control, but were unable to capitalise even on a power play. Gradually, the game entered crunch time.

Hohenems also pulled netminder Škec late on while on the power play, but failed to find an equaliser. 45 seconds from the end, Patrik Lithen scored into the empty net for the Lower Inn Valley side to make it 3:1 (60.). It was the Tyroleans' second successive away win in Hohenems following their 5:3 victory on 5 January. The Crocodiles will also be away to Dornbirner EC on Sunday.

Kufstein claim away win at VEU

The clash between VEU Feldkirch and HC Kufstein was a chance to assess their respective positions and current form ahead of the playoffs. The Dragons had won each of the previous four games this season. From the opening shift, the two teams engaged in a brisk exchange, with the visitors making the better start: Manuel Eder scored from the slot after just under three minutes to make it 1:0 for Kufstein (4.).

On their first power play, Florian Eder made it 2:0 from close range after David Hrazdira had initially fired at the goal of VEU netminder Fabian Pozzera (6.). With four minutes left in the period, the visitors led 3:0, as Philipp Sappl fired home following a face-off (17.). Feldkirch found the right response 51 seconds later, with Marcel Wohlmuth cutting the deficit to 1:3 (17.).

It took 41 seconds of the second period for the game to really heat up again: on the power play, Joonatan Kyllönen drove towards the Kufstein goal and beat HCK netminder Mathias Atzl to reduce the deficit to 2:3 (21.). Five minutes later, the Tyroleans restored their two-goal lead: Taylor Holst scored from just behind the blue line to make it 4:2 (26.).

The Dragons added another to make it 5:2, with Dominique Saringer converting a rebound following a swift attack down the right (34.). In the final period, VEU attempted to get back into the game once more. However, the second-placed side were composed and gave little away. Leading scorer David Hrazdira appeared in front of the Feldkirch goal and sealed the win with a precise shot to make it 6:2 (47.).

Manuel Eder added Kufstein's 7:2 (55.). VEU managed a consolation goal to make it 3:7 after a quick solo effort from Aaron Matt (56.). Dominique Saringer had the final say, scoring 44 seconds from the end to make it 8:3 for head coach Ivo Novotny's team (60.).

Division East:

Kapfenberg celebrate emphatic win against Dukes Graz

Group winners Kapfenberger SV hosted UHT Dukes Graz in the Division East on Saturday, who were definitively out of the running for a playoff spot following ATSE Graz's 3:2 overtime win over Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Friday.

From the outset, the Kangaroos laid siege to the Graz Dukes' net, but were unable to get the puck over the line for a long time because Daniel Garneyer initially kept his net clean with some excellent saves in the first period. Three minutes before the first siren, the hosts finally made it 1:0, with Pierre Graf tucking home the puck from close range (17th minute). 16:4 shots on goal after 20 minutes demonstrated the clear dominance of the Division East winners.

In the second period, Daniel Oberkofler increased Kapfenberg's lead to 2:0 from a tight angle and close range on the left side (24th minute). The Mürztal side now turned their dominance into goals, with Manuel Trost scoring 3:0 with a powerful wrist shot (26th minute). Daniel Oberkofler completed his brace, scoring shorthanded to make it 4:0 after a fine, quick combination (29th minute).

And the scoring continued: Christoph Draschkowitz forced the puck over the line following a rebound to make it 5:0 (33rd minute). The Dukes, who had travelled to the Böhler city with a short line-up, showed character and pulled one back through Moritz Stradner to make it 1:5 (35th minute). In the final period, KSV player-coach Kris Reinthaler fired the puck towards goal and Lukas Winkler deflected it in to make it 6:1 (45th minute).

However, the Kangaroos' appetite for goals was far from satisfied: Just over four minutes later, Reinthaler fired again, this time with the coach himself making it 7:1 (49th minute). Pierre Graf then scored from the slot following a quick attack to make it 8:1 (53rd minute). Just 25 seconds later, Pierre Graf made it 9:1 with his third goal from close range (53rd minute).

Manuel Trost made it a double-digit score for Kapfenberg with 10:1 nine seconds before the final siren (60th minute).

ATSE edge WEV and make playoff battle even hotter

For Wiener Eislauf-Verein, the situation ahead of Friday's rescheduled game and open-air classic against ATSE Graz in front of Vienna Konzerthaus was clear: a win after 60 minutes would have sealed their place in the playoffs. Following Graz's early lead through Rupert Strohmeier (7th minute), another genuine thriller unfolded at the WEV Arena.

Late in the second period, Lukas Kaider equalised to make it 1:1 (35th minute). Just under two minutes before the end of the period, Felix Zandonella gave Vienna the lead for the first time with a power-play goal to make it 2:1 (39th minute).

The rain became increasingly heavy in the final period, making the ice difficult for both teams to play on. Neither WEV's Mathias Lichtenecker nor Florian Zeugswetter in the ATSE net allowed any further goals. The match went to overtime.

There, WEV undermined themselves with two fouls in quick succession. Graz patiently played out the 5:3 power play and Luca Rodiga scored with 55 seconds remaining in overtime to secure a 3:2 victory (65th minute).

This sets up a thrilling afternoon of ice hockey on Sunday: WEV host EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions – who have already secured second place in the Division East standings – and can seal their playoff place with a win. Should WEV lose, ATSE Graz can take Vienna into the playoffs with them by beating UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden. The Sharks from Lake Traun will have something to say about that.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl 1:3 (0:0,1:2,0:1)
Sat, 27 January 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Samina Hohenems goalscorer: Thomas Auer (29:25 minutes)
EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Matko Pavetic (35:22), Patrik Lithen (38:53, 59:15/EN)

VEU Feldkirch vs. HC Kufstein 3:8 (1:3,1:2,1:3)
Sat., 27 January 2024, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch goalscorers: Marcel Wohlmuth (16:56), Joonatan Kyllönen (20:41/PP1), Aaron Matt (55:56)
HC Kufstein goalscorers: Manuel Eder (03:13, 54:12), Florian Eder (05:32/PP1), Philipp Sappl (16:05), Taylor Holst (25:42), Dominique Saringer (33:34, 59:16), David Hrazdira (46:07)

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sun., 28 January 2024, 17:30, Messestadion

Ö Eishockey Liga – Division East:

Kapfenberger SV vs. UHT Dukes Graz 10:1 (1:0,4:1,5:0)
Sat., 27 January 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
Kapfenberger SV goalscorers: Pierre Graf (16:56, 52:22, 52:47), Daniel Oberkofler (23:09, 28:39/SH1), Manuel Trost (25:58, 59:51), Christoph Draschkowitz (32:44/PP1), Lukas Winkler (44:24), Kristof Reinthaler (48:44)
UHT Dukes Graz goalscorer: Moritz Stradner (34:40)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz 2:3 AET (0:1,2:1,0:0,0:1)
Fri., 26 January 2024, 18:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Lukas Kaider (34:45), Felix Zandonella (38:08/PP1)
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Rupert Strohmeier (06:08), Cory Krenz (39:54), Luca Rodiga (64:05/PP2)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions
Sun, 28 January 2024, 15:00, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sun, 28 January 2024, 16:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle A

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