EWHL: Sabres take the lead in the title race

Sabres St. Pölten took a 3:1 lead in the first European Women’s Hockey League final against Aisulu Almaty, putting them on course to make amends for last season’s narrow final defeat. In the first leg of the third-place play-off, MAC Budapest beat KSV Highlanders 5:2. The return legs will be played on Sunday.

27 March 20261 min read

Following the first leg of the final against Aisulu Almaty, Sabres St. Pölten are well on their way to avenging last year’s final defeat. After a scoreless opening period, in which the Sabres had considerably more of the play, goals from Tamina Schall and Artemis Tekin in the middle period put the Lower Austrians on course for victory. Alexandra Gowie also made it 3:0 on the power play in the second period.

The reigning champions scored an important goal in the closing minutes of the final period to make the final score 3:1. The Sabres now have the chance to claim the title in front of their home crowd on Sunday. They go into the decider with a two-goal advantage.

MAC Budapest made a strong start to the first game of the third-place play-off. The Hungarians took a 2:0 lead against KSV Highlanders within the opening ten minutes. Although the Highlanders pulled one back in the first period, Budapest struck again in the middle period to make it 4:1.

Budapest ultimately won 5:2 – Emily Baxter scored twice – and take a three-goal cushion into the return leg at the Highlanders.