Kufstein edge Gmunden in over­time – Kundl sensa­tion­ally beat Kapfen­berg in the shootout

Quarter-final 1 – Game 1: EHC Lustenau comfortably beat ATSE Graz

The commanding winners of Division West – EHC Lustenau – faced ATSE Graz in the Rheinhalle on Saturday in the opening quarter-final game of the best-of-three series. The Styrians were defensively compact in the opening minutes against the dominant Lustenau side and tried to quickly switch to attack after winning possession of the puck.

The visitors also had the first power play of the game but failed to make their numerical advantage count. A quick double strike saw the favourites take a two-goal lead. Following a swift attack involving Martin Grabher Meier, Christopher D‘Alvise converted the cross-ice pass to make it 1:0 (13.). Just 31 seconds later, David Slivnik fired from the left face-off circle to make it 2:0 (13.). The Lions failed to use their first power play to add another goal but controlled the game with their two-goal lead until the first siren.

Lustenau began the second period with two penalty kills, but ATSE were unable to pull one back during that spell. Following a fine attack, the home side extended their lead shortly after a power play had expired. Christopher D’Alvise scored with a powerful shot to make it 3:0 (33.). Shortly afterwards, the assured Lustenau side added another: Daniel Stefan scored from long range after a face-off to make it 4:0 (34.).

In the final period, ATSE Graz also arrived in the quarter-finals: Cody Wickstrom caught Lustenau netminder Felix Beck out with a shot into the near corner as Graz reduced the deficit to 1:4 (44.). The Styrians added another: Mathias Werkl finished off a fine attack to make it 2:4, and suddenly the game was exciting again (48.). Then Christopher D’Alvise produced a burst of energy, skating at pace to bewilder the ATSE defence before scoring his third goal to make it 5:2 (51.).

On the power play, Manuel Metzler deflected a shot from Jonas Kutzer to make it 6:2 and effectively decide the game (53.). 46 seconds before the end, Ricardo Bell scored to make it 7:2 and seal the final score (60.). With the comprehensive home win, Lustenau took a 1:0 lead in the best-of-three series and can secure their place in the semi-finals in Graz next Saturday.

Quarter-final 2 – Game 1: EHC Kundl sensationally beat Kapfenberg in the shootout

The winners of Division East – the KSV Kängurus – faced EHC Kundl in the Stadthalle Kapfenberg on Saturday in the opening quarter-final game of the best-of-three series. From the outset, the two teams engaged in a tight and exciting playoff battle.

The Tyroleans had the first power play, but the Lower Inn Valley side were unable to score the opening goal. Kapfenberg did better on their first man advantage: Lukas Telsnig fired from the right face-off circle to give the Kängurus a 1:0 lead two minutes before the end of the period (18.).

The two sides continued to trade attacks at pace in the second period, while also defending strongly. Both goaltenders – Oliver Zirngast for Kapfenberg and Jakub Kostelny for Kundl – confirmed the strong form they had shown during the regular season. The Kängurus had another power play just after the halfway point of the game, but were unable to add another goal.

At the start of the final period, the visitors had two successive power plays. Kundl pressed for the equaliser, but the Mürztal side retained their narrow one-goal lead. The Tyroleans dug in ever deeper and found the equaliser: Sebastian Schild scored from the slot following a quick counter-attack to make it 1:1 (52.) and set up a tense finish in the Stadthalle Kapfenberg.

With the score still level after 60 minutes, the game went to overtime, where both teams had the winning goal on their sticks. In the end, the shootout showdown was required to decide it: Michal Kluka was the only scorer, securing EHC Kundl a sensational 2:1 road win and match point for a place in the semi-finals in next Saturday's home game.

Quarter-final 3 – Game 1: HC Kufstein edge champions Sharks Gmunden in overtime

Defending champions UEHV CAM4DENTSharks Gmunden faced HC Kufstein on Saturday at the muki Arena in the opening game of the quarter-finals, as they did last year. The Upper Austrians made a lightning start to the game: Lukas Stöttner collected the puck as it rebounded off the boards and fired home the early 1:0 (4). Both teams engaged in an open and intense exchange in the first period.

The playoff buzz was palpable at every shift in the muki Arena on Lake Traun. The Dragons had a 5:3 power play and waited patiently for their opportunity. Just as the fourth Haie player returned to the ice, Markus Prock converted a cross-ice pass from Tomáš Vildumetz from close range to level the scores at 1:1 (7.).

Both defensive units were strong in the opening 20 minutes, while the two goaltenders at the back – Tobias Windhofer for the Sharks and Thomas Pfarrmaier for the Dragons – exuded confidence. 24 seconds before the end of the period, the reigning champions regained the lead: Fabian Richter took a pass from Moritz Neurauter first time and made it 2:1 (20.).

Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period, with both teams engaged in a classic playoff battle. Kufstein equalised with a shorthanded goal: Valentin Hammerle intercepted a Gmunden pass behind the net while shorthanded and fed Clemens Paulweber, who scored from close range to make it 2:2 (36). The Sharks then pressed for a renewed lead during the same power play, but could not find a goal.

The latest playoff meeting between last year's two quarter-final opponents delivered on all its promises. With every shift, the game became increasingly tense. The visitors took the lead for the first time in the third period after Haie player Patrick Gaffal received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for slashing. The Dragons tightened up their power-play play and Markus Prock scored from close range to make it 3:2 (45.).

The Upper Austrians hit back – also on the power play: Paul Pirklbauer let fly and equalised at 3:3 with just under nine minutes remaining (51.). It was then crunch time, but neither team could find the winner in regulation and the match went to overtime.

There, Aleksi Airaksinen broke down the left wing and passed to Clemens Paulweber, who fired Kufstein to a 4:3 away win after 50 seconds of overtime (61.). The Tyroleans lead the best-of-three series 1:0 and can secure a place in the semi-finals with a home win next Saturday.

Quarter-final 4 – Game 1: SC Hohenems leave no room for WEV

The reigning runners-up SC Samina Hohenems crossed sticks with Wiener Eislauf-Verein on Saturday at the Eisstadion Hohenems in the opening game of the quarter-final playoffs. The hosts made a dream start. Patrick Spannring passed to Marcel Wolf in the neutral zone, and he raced away from the WEV defence before giving goaltender Moritz Merkader no chance to make it 1:0 (4.).

An intense, high-tempo duel featuring plenty of physical battles developed in the first period. After just under eleven minutes, the first playoff emotions flared among the players following a save by HSC netminder Karlo Škec. Felix Vonbun and Patrick Spannring for Hohenems, along with Daniel Aschauer and Lucas Burzin for WEV, were sent to the penalty box to cool off. Hohenems goaltender Karlo Škec and his opposite number Moritz Merkader did not concede again before the first intermission, with the Steinböcke leading 1:0 after the opening period.

The hosts extended their lead to 2:0 with the first attack of the second period, as Patrick Spannring sent a precise shot from the left face-off circle into the net after exactly 23 seconds (21.). After just under 23 minutes, the Viennese had also arrived in the playoffs: following a misplaced pass by the Vorarlberg side in the offensive zone, Lukas Kaider collected the puck and clinically fired home from the slot to make it 1:2 (24.).

The Schlittschuhclub restored their two-goal lead in the second period: Christian Haidinger scored from the slot with a slap shot just under five minutes before the second siren to make it 3:1 (35.). WEV attempted to fight their way back into the game in the final period. Hohenems were solid defensively and celebrated what appeared to be their next goal, only for it to be disallowed. Benjamin Kyllönen then extended the lead to 4:1, surprising WEV netminder Merkader with a wraparound (53.).

Vienna head coach Philipp Ullrich took an early gamble and pulled his goaltender, and Patrick Spannring scored into the empty net to make it 5:1 and seal the win (58.). SC Hohenems lead the best-of-three series 1:0 and will have their first match point for a place in the semi-finals in Vienna next Saturday.

Ö Eishockey Liga 2025/2026 – Playoffs – Quarter-finals

Game 1:

EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz 7:2 (2:0,2:0,3:2)
Sat, 07 February 2026, 17:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau scorers: Christopher D‘Alvise (12:22, 32:25, 50:14), David Slivnik (12:53), Daniel Stefan (33:42), Manuel Metzler (52:50/PP1), Ricardo Bell (59:14)
ATSE Graz scorers: Cody Wickstrom (43:42), Mathias Werkl (47:46)

Best-of-three series score: 1:0

KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl 1:2 after a shootout (1:0,0:0,0:1,0:0,0:1)
Sat., 07 February 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus scorer: Lukas Telsnig (17:58/PP1)
EHC Kundl scorers: Sebastian Schild (51:48), Michal Kluka (65:00/decisive shootout attempt)

Best-of-three series score: 0:1

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein 3:4 after overtime (2:1,0:1,1:1,0:1)
Sat., 07 February 2026, 18:30, muki Arena
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Lukas Stöttner (03:40), Fabian Richter (19:36), Paul Pirklbauer (50:51/PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers: Markus Prock (06:24/PP1, 44:00/PP1), Clemens Paulweber (35:01/SH1, 60:50)

Best-of-three series score: 0:1

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 5:1 (1:0,2:1,2:0)
Sat., 07 February 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems
SC Hohenems goalscorers: Marcel Wolf (03:52), Patrick Spannring (20:23, 57:36/EN), Christian Haidinger (34:57), Benjamin Kyllönen (52:15)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorer: Lukas Kaider (23:02)

Best-of-three series score: 1:0

Game 2:

ATSE Graz vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)

EHC Kundl vs. KSV Kängurus
Sat, 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl

HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt

Game 3: (if necessary)

EHC Lustenau vs. ATSE Graz
Wed, 18 February 2026, 19:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau

KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl
Wed, 18 February 2026, 18:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein
Wed, 18 February 2026, 19:30, muki Arena

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Wed, 18 February 2026, tbd, Eisstadion Hohenems

Play-off format and further dates

The play-off match-ups, from the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, will each be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H). The teams that record two wins first advance to the semi-finals. If the scores are level after regulation time, a five-minute three-on-three overtime period will be played, as in the regular season. Should overtime also fail to produce a winner, a penalty shoot-out will follow.

Semi-final series
Sat, 21 February 2026 | Sat, 28 February 2026 | Wed, 04 March 2026 (if necessary)

Final series
Sat, 07 March 2026 | Sat, 14 March 2026 | Sat, 21 March 2026 (if necessary)

All standings, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Game Centre

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