Defending cham­pions Wattens face playoff battle – HC Kufstein win top clash against SC Hohenems

League leaders SC Samina Hohenems 1974 hosted second-placed HC Kufstein in the Western Group for the top clash.

Neither team gave an inch from the opening face-off, with play going back and forth at Herrenried in very light snowfall. The goaltenders – Matthias Fritz for the Steinböcke and Thomas Hechenberger for the Dragons – took centre stage and ensured a scoreless opening period. Head coach Ivo Novotny's team even had 13:6 more shots on goal than the hosts.

Little initially changed in the second period, with both sides continuing to contest the match intensely as a genuine, evenly matched classic developed. By then, the snowfall had also become heavier.

Shortly before the midway point, HC Kufstein suddenly led 2:0 following two goals in the space of just six seconds. At exactly 29 minutes and 27 seconds, Robert Schopf beat Hohenems goaltender Matthias Fritz from the slot to give his side a 1:0 lead. Straight from the face-off, Kufstein's next attack resulted in the 2:0 through Martin Kosnar, who placed a long-range shot into the far corner.

Head coach Bernd Schmidle's team then pushed for a goal back. Shortly before the end of the period, Kufstein were on the power play and David Hradzira sent the puck into the net for 3:0, with the top clash appearing all but decided.

However, the Vorarlberg side quickly scored their first goal in the final period, with Fabian Mandlburger deflecting a shot in the 42nd minute to make it 1:3. 70 seconds later, Thomas Auer suddenly appeared in front of the Kufstein goal and scored to cut the deficit to 2:3. The Steinböcke now pressed for an equaliser, but were unable to find one.

Kufstein, by contrast, were efficient in front of the opposition goal: first, Marcel Bruimann made it 4:2 in the 53rd minute. 62 seconds later, Leevi Ahonen converted his own rebound following a shot to make it 5:2. The away win saw the Dragons draw level with Hohenems in the table, with both teams on 43 points and two games remaining.

EHC Crocodiles Kundl overturn Wattens Penguins

For last season's quarter-finalists EHC Crocodiles Kundl the playoff train had long since departed before the match against defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins.

The reigning champions from the Crystal City fought tenaciously for the chance to close in on third place in the table and took a 1:0 lead in the seventh minute of this crucial game through a power-play shot from Taylor Holst.

The Crocodiles – having gone into their penultimate home game of the season with a line-up of twelve skaters – hit back: Sebastian Schild first scored the 1:1 equaliser from the slot on a 5:3 power play ten minutes in. 51 seconds later, it was Schild again, scoring the 2:1 with a shot from the blue line on a 5:4 power play. Just under three minutes later, the hosts led 3:1, with Matthias Haas scoring from close range.

Wattens had now recognised the seriousness of the situation and fought their way back into the match shortly before the end of the period. Philipp Niederhauser finished off a fine move involving Taylor Holst 57 seconds before the first siren to make it 2:3.

In the second period, Wattens took advantage of a poor change by Kundl on the power play, with Markus Prock equalising at 3:3 in the 22nd minute. One minute after the midway point, the defending champions led 4:3, as Valentin Schennach beat Crocodiles goaltender Michael Sparr from close range.

In the final five minutes of the second period, the Penguins played indisciplinarily and Kundl ruthlessly capitalised: Vladimir Dolnik equalised at 4:4 during a 5:3 power play after exactly 37 minutes. One minute and 15 seconds later, Kayson Arthur Gallant poked the puck over the line during a 5:4 power play to give his side a 5:4 lead.

In the final period, Wattens pressed for an equaliser, but Crocodiles netminder Michael Sparr stopped every puck that came his way. Three minutes from time, Penguins coach Jaro Betka pulled goaltender René Huber and, a few seconds later, Sebastian Schild made it 6:4 into the empty net, his third goal of the evening.

With one minute remaining, the visitors were handed a power play and Valentin Schennach made the game exciting again with the 5:6 goal 43 seconds before the final buzzer. Wattens could not find an equaliser, and the defending champions now face two direct clashes with VEU Feldkirch in the battle to reach the playoffs.

In their head-to-head record this season so far, the Vorarlberg side currently have the edge with two wins – one after a penalty shootout and one in regulation time. Feldkirch have also played one game fewer.

Matchday, West Group

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 6:5 (3:2,2:2,1:1)
Fri, 20 January 2023, 19:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl scorers: Sebastian Schild (09:19 PP2, 10:10 PP1, 57:13 EN), Matthias Haas (13:05), Vladimir Dolnik (37:00 PP2), Kayson Arthur Gallant (38:15 PP1)
WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins scorers: Taylor Holst (06:34 PP1), Philipp Niederhauser (19:03), Markus Prock (21:10 PP1), Valentin Schennach (30:51, 59:17 PP1)

SC Samina Hohenems 1974 vs. HC Kufstein 2:5 (0:0,0:3,2:2)
Fri, 20 January 2023, 19:30, Herrenriedstadion
SC Samina Hohenems 1974 scorers: Fabian Mandlburger (41:12), Thomas Auer (42:22)
HC Kufstein scorers: Robert Schopf (29:27), Martin Kosnar (29:33), David Hrazdira (39:59 PP1), Marcel Bruimann (52:03), Leevi Ahonen (53:05)

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