HC Kufstein overcome Wattens Penguins away from home and book playoff spot – Steindorf beat VSV
HC Kufstein won their first game of the new year in the West Group of the Ö Eishockey Liga against defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 4:3, taking over at the top of the table and securing their playoff place. In the South Group, ESC SoccerZone Steindorf took over at the top of the table until at least Saturday following a convincing 7:3 victory over the EC iDM VSV Jungadler.
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The reigning Ö Eishockey Liga champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins picked up in the West Group on Epiphany where they had left off on the final matchday of __OEHV_NUM_G_A__: Daniel Frischmann gave the hosts a __OEHV_NUM_G_C__ lead after __OEHV_NUM_G_B__ seconds. The visitors tried to get a foothold in the game, but new father René Huber was inspired between the Penguins' pipes and did not allow anything in the first period. HC Kufsteinpicked up where he had left off on the final matchday of 2022: Daniel Frischmann put the hosts 1:0 ahead after 45 seconds. The visitors tried to gain a foothold in the game, but new father René Huber was inspired in the Penguins' net and did not concede anything in the first period.
In the second period, the Dragons equalised at 1:1 through Maximilian Camondo in the 26th minute following a swift attack. The game had taken on a playoff character, with both teams strong defensively and focused on safety. Just under two minutes after the equaliser, Lukas Schwitzer fired the puck at the Kufstein goal. Netminder Patrick Fuchs made the save, but Julian Jagersbacher converted the rebound to give Wattens a 2:1 lead.
In the final period, Head Coach Ivo Novotny's team made the better start: after just under two minutes, Dominique Saringer appeared in front of the Penguins' goal and scored to make it 2:2. 115 seconds later, David Hrazdira hammered the puck into the net for 3:2 and Kufstein's first lead.
Wattens were now called upon to respond, but Kufstein struck ruthlessly and Leevi Ahonen made it 4:2 in the 53rd minute. Three unanswered goals had swung the game in favour of the Kufstein side. In the final minutes, Wattens pressed for a goal to cut the deficit and got one: Daniel Frischmann made it 3:4 in the 57th minute.
They could not find an equaliser, and following the narrow victory at the Alpenstadion, HC Kufstein regained the lead in the West Group and have secured their place in the Ö Eishockey Liga's inter-regional playoff.
South Group: ESC SoccerZone Steindorf win "back-to-back" game against VSV
The Jungadler of EC iDM VSV had the chance in the South Group shortly after the turn of the year to avenge their ESC SoccerZone Steindorf 2:6 defeat at the Ossiacher See Halle on the final matchday of 2022.
However, Steindorf quickly made their superiority clear: Markus Pöck scored 1:0 for the "visitors" after exactly 17 seconds. Martin Oraže extended the lead to 2:0 in the ninth minute. In the second period, Flavio Wibmer pulled one back for VSV, making it 1:2 after one minute and 33 seconds.
Head Coach Robert Moser's team then took control again and, still in the second period, pulled away to 6:1 by the 36th minute, thanks to Fabian Groyer's goal in the 28th minute, quickfire goals by Markus Pöck and Daniel Gasser within 38 seconds in the 30th minute, and a Franz Wilfan goal on a 5:3 power play. Once again, it was Flavio Wibmer who made it 2:6 for the Villach side just 40 seconds after the sixth goal conceded.
In the final period, Maximilian Aumaier gave the young blue-and-whites fresh hope by making it 3:6 in the 50th minute, but just 20 seconds later Steindorf found the perfect response with a fine combination to make it 7:3.
Markus Pöck became Steindorf's match-winner with his third goal, as they took over top spot from 1st-placed EHC Althofen until at least Saturday and will play the rearranged away game against USC Velden on Monday at 19:30.
West Group matchday
WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC Kufstein 3:4 (1:0,1:1,1:3)
Fri., 06 January, 2022, 19:30, Alpenstadion
Scorers for WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins: Daniel Frischmann (00:45, 56:46), Julian Jagersbacher (27:37)
Scorers for HC Kufstein: Maximilian Camondo (25:42), Dominique Saringer (42:02), David Hrazdira (43:57), Leevi Ahonen (52:55)
South Group matchday
EC iDM VSV vs. ESC SoccerZone Steindorf 3:7 (0:2,2:4,1:1)
Fri, 06 January 2022, 18:00, Ossiacher See Halle
Scorers for EC iDM VSV: Flavio Wibmer (21:33, 35:50), Maximilian Aumaier (49:46)
Scorers for ESC SoccerZone Steindorf: Markus Pöck (00:17, 29:21, 50:06), Martin Oraže (08:24), Fabian Groyer (27:55), Daniel Gasser (29:59), Franz Wilfan (35:10/PP2)
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