High tension ahead of Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kundl – ATSE Graz aiming for a "miracle" against Kufstein

Quarter-final 1 – Second leg: Kapfenberger SV vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat., 17 February 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

The Kapfenberger SV take a __OEHV_NUM_I_A__ lead from the first leg into their home game at Stadthalle Kapfenberg against VEU Feldkirch into the home game at the Kapfenberg Stadthalle with a 6:1 lead from the first leg. Feldkirch held their own against the battle-hardened Kangaroos for a long time at the Vorarlberghalle and battled for every puck. Kapfenberg were strong defensively, particularly efficient offensively in the final period and built up a comfortable lead.

Kapfenberg forward Daniel Oberkofler, who was the Mürztal side's joint top scorer with Pierre Graf during the regular season (35 points), leaves no doubt about reaching the next round ahead of the home game: "We played very solidly away from home. We want to reproduce the same performance at home, and then I am very confident that we will reach the semi-finals. We have a very talented and very experienced team. If we can reproduce our performance in Feldkirch, we will certainly progress!"

Quarter-final 2 – Second leg: SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat., 17 February 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

The SC Samina Hohenems created a clear situation for the second leg in the quarter-final first leg against Wiener Eislauf-Verein with a sensational final period and a final score of 10:3. Until the 37-minute mark, Vienna gave the favoured Vorarlberg side a spirited and entertaining play-off battle. However, in the final 20 minutes, the Steinböcke struck ruthlessly 3 times at STEFFL Arena, scoring another six goals which WEV could answer only once – making it 3:6 at the time.

HSC head coach Thomas Sticha wants his team not to take Saturday's second leg lightly despite their seven-goal lead: "We saw in the first game that WEV are not an easy opponent, even if the result might not suggest that. Nevertheless, we were able to take a good cushion with us, but we certainly will not rest on it or approach the game casually. In the second leg in Hohenems, we will again focus on our strengths and maintain our high level of performance."

Quarter-final 3 – Second leg: HC Kufstein vs. ATSE Graz
Sat., 17 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

The HC Kufstein starts against ATSE Graz after the 2:5 defeat at Merkur Eisstadion, carrying a three-goal deficit into the second leg at Eisarena Kufstein. Backed by outstanding goaltender Florian Zeugswetter and a solid defence, the Graz side made efficient use of their power-play opportunities. The Tyroleans lacked the offensive firepower they had shown throughout the season in Liebenau and were too undisciplined in the key phases. With the fans behind them, they aim to turn the deficit around. The Styrians want to achieve the ‘miracle’ of promotion.

Roland Luchner, Chairman of the Board at HC Kufstein, is demanding full throttle from his players in front of the home crowd on Saturday: “Our performance in Graz was disappointing on every level. Unfortunately, we did not find our game from the outset. Too many unnecessary penalties made it even harder for us to get into the game. However, I am convinced that this tie is not yet decided. Our boys know that they owe it to the Kufstein crowd. They will do everything they can to turn the game around.”

ATSE Graz head coach Markus Losch knows that his team face a tough task away in Kufstein: “After the successful start against Kufstein, the second leg will certainly be a huge task for ATSE. We will try to sharpen up our game again and get the job done. With a good tactical and skating performance, we can hopefully achieve the ‘miracle’, although it will certainly be a difficult game!”

Quarter-final 4 – second leg: EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat., 17 February 2024, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

In terms of the first-leg result, the quarter-final second leg between EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and EHC Crocodiles Kundl has the most exciting starting position. The Tyroleans turned the game around late on to claim a narrow 2:1 victory and travel to Aichfeldhalle with the minimum one-goal advantage. For Saturday’s home game, the Styrians have taken inspiration from HC Kufstein, proclaimed ‘Mission 1.000’ and planned an extensive supporting programme to mobilise the fans in the Murtal.

Christian Mayerl, chairman of EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions, is planning a Murtal ice hockey celebration with his team: “Next Saturday, we will go all in once again to make up this goal and score one more than Kundl. We now know their strengths, but have also identified things that can help us achieve our aim of progressing to the next round. It will be important to mobilise the fans, and we want to proclaim a ‘Mission 1.000’ to mobilise the Murtal, indeed the entire region. To put it bluntly: ‘It would be bloody great to fill the place!’ We are also putting up some proper prizes for the puck competition and hope to have a celebrity drop the puck for us. In short, it should be an ice hockey celebration with a happy ending!”

Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier wants the Crocodiles locomotive to be on track for victory in Zeltweg: “For the second leg, it is 100 per cent full steam ahead for the Crocodiles. We will certainly not rest on our one-goal advantage – we are playing to win in Styria!”

Play-offs – quarter-final second legs:

Quarter-final 1 – second leg:

Kapfenberger SV vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat., 17 February 2024, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Quarter-final 2 – second leg:

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Sat., 17 February 2024, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

Quarter-final 3 – second leg:

HC Kufstein vs. ATSE Graz
Sat., 17 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Quarter-final 4 – second leg:

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Sat., 17 February 2024, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

Play-off quarter-final first legs:

Quarter-final 1 – first leg:

VEU Feldkirch vs. Kapfenberger SV 1:6 (0:3,1:0,0:3)
Sat., 10 February 2024, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle
VEU Feldkirch goalscorer: Philip Metzler (21:39 min.)
Kapfenberger SV goalscorers: Christoph Draschkowitz (07:52 min., 13:56 min./PP1), Manuel Trost (11:42 min., 58:37 min.), Lukas Draschkowitz (46:45 min.), Florian Hoppl (47:08 min.)

Quarter-final 2 – first leg:

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:10 (0:1,2:3,1:6)
Sat., 10 February 2024, 19:10, STEFFL Arena 3
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Lukas Kaider (25:02 min.), Stefan Nador (34:23 min.), Cedric Ehrenreich (45:15 min.)
SC Samina Hohenems goalscorers: Thomas Auer (04:26 min./PP1), Matthias Fussenegger (30:31 min.), Johannes Hehle (35:30 min., 41:55 min., 56:36 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (36:39 min., 40:56 min., 57:31 min.), Niklas Gehringer (45:35 min.), Marcel Wolf (49:00 min.)

Quarter-final 3 – first leg:

ATSE Graz vs. HC Kufstein 5:2 (2:0,1:0,2:2)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 19:00, Merkur Eisstadion – Hall A
ATSE Graz goalscorers: Mario Petrovitz (08:45/PP1), Stefan Trost (11:25/PP1), Luca Rodiga (38:55/PP1, 44:23, 50:47/PP2)
HC Kufstein goalscorers: David Hrazdira (48:51/PP1), Markus Prock (55:14)

Quarter-final 4 – first leg:

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions 2:1 (0:0,0:1,2:0)
Sat, 10 February 2024, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl
EHC Crocodiles Kundl goalscorers: Vladimir Dolnik (47:15), Alexander Frandl (55:50)
EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions goalscorer: Kevin Pesendorfer (36:12)

Play-off format:

From the quarter-finals onwards, ties are decided in Champions Hockey League (CHL) format over a first and second leg. The club that finished higher in the regular season starts away from home. The aggregate score of the two matches played is used. The team leading on aggregate after the first and second legs progresses to the semi-finals.

Should the aggregate score be level at the final siren after 120 minutes, the tie will be decided in a ten-minute three-on-three overtime period and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out with five shooters per team. This means there is no overtime in the first leg. The respective first leg ends after 60 minutes either in a draw or with a win in regulation time.

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