Kufstein reach semi-finals after penalty thriller against Gmunden – WEV and Kängurus level series

Quarter-final 1 – Game 2: EHC Lustenau reach semi-finals after win at ATSE Graz

The ATSE Graz hosted the dominant Division West winners EHC Lustenau in Graz’s Merkur Eisstadion on Saturday in the Best-of-Three quarter-final series. The Vorarlberg side led the series 1:0 after their emphatic 7:2 home win at the Rheinhalle and had the chance to book their semi-final ticket with an away win in the Styrian capital.

The Lions made a strong start on the road: Lucas Haberl broke through down the left, drove in front of ATSE netminder Florian Zeugswetter and made it 1:0 with a powerful shot (at 3). The game then developed into a lively affair in the Liebenauer Bunker, with play flowing from end to end. ATSE Graz tried to make an offensive impact, while Lustenau were the better side, solid defensively and conceding little until the first siren.

Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period. The dominant Division West side controlled play, while ATSE could only react, although they battled fiercely for every puck. However, the close scoreline kept the game exciting in the middle period. The favoured Lustenau side failed to extend their lead further.

Immediately after the restart in the final period, Martin Grabher Meier made it 2:0 from close range following a swift attack and a fine combination (at 41). ATSE Graz then sensed renewed hope: Filip Matijević cut the deficit to 1:2 after a determined burst forward (at 44). The Lions then increased the tempo again. Robin Wüstner initiated an attack, Stefan Hrdina passed back to Wüstner, who made it 3:1 for the visitors from the slot (at 48).

Graz had a power play at the end and also pulled netminder Zeugswetter, but Lustenau’s leading scorer Chris D’Alvise fired into the empty net to seal the 4:1 win (at 59). The Vorarlberg side won the series 2:0 and advanced to the semi-finals.

Quarter-final 2 – Game 2: KSV level series with rout in Kundl

Already in February, EHC Kundl faced Division East winners KSV Kängurus in what was supposedly the game of the year in the Eisarena Kundl on Saturday in the quarter-finals. The Tyroleans had put themselves in an excellent position in the Best-of-Three series with their sensational 2:1 win after a penalty shoot-out away at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg, giving themselves the chance to wrap up the series at home against the favourites and reach the semi-finals.

However, Kapfenberg made clear in the opening period that they intended to remain in the series by every means possible. Kevin Moderer, while falling, brought the puck in from the right towards the middle, and a deflection suddenly made it 1:0 to the visitors (at 10). Barely a minute later, Pierre Graf made it 2:0 for the Mürztal side on the power play (at 11). A further three minutes later, Christoph Draschkowitz surprised Kundl netminder Jakub Kostelny with a precise shot into the far corner for 3:0 (at 14).

With a clear lead behind them, the Styrians continued to play superbly in the second period and repeatedly pinned the Tyroleans in their defensive zone. During one of these sustained spells of pressure, the puck came to Christoph Draschkowitz, who scored from the left face-off circle to make it 4:0 (at 29). Kapfenberg were ruthless and took their chances: three minutes after the halfway point of the game, Stefan Trost redirected a sharp pass from Lukas Telsnig over the line for 5:0 (at 34).

The Kängurus had not yet satisfied their appetite for goals in the middle period. On a power play, Phileas Lyssy swept the puck over the line following a rebound to make it 6:0, past the already beaten netminder Kostelny (at 39). In the final period, the Mürztal side saw out the game comfortably and levelled the series with an emphatic 6:0 victory. The decisive third clash will take place on Wednesday, 18 February, from 18:30 at the Stadthalle Kapfenberg.

Quarter-final 3 – Game 2: HC Kufstein knock out defending champions Sharks Gmunden

The HC Kufstein met defending champions on Saturday in the quarter-final home game at Eisarena Kufstein in front of over 1.000 fans, following the 4:3 overtime win in Gmunden UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden. The Upper Austrians made the better start and took an early 1:0 lead through a goal by Moritz Neurauter (3rd minute).

The Traunsee Sharks struck again: Hubert Berger appeared in front of Kufstein goaltender Thomas Pfarrmaier and tucked home a fine backhand move to make it 2:0 (10 minutes). The hosts quickly recovered from the initial shock and fought their way back into the game: Stefan Reiter pulled one back to 1:2 with a fine shot from the right-hand side (13 minutes).

Late in the first period, the arena in Kufstein erupted for a second time: Aleksi Airaksinen converted a rebound following a save by Sharks goaltender Tobias Windhofer with a precise shot to level the score at 2:2 with 29 seconds remaining before the first buzzer (20nd minute).

The two teams continued their playoff battle in the second period. The tension grew with every shift. Both sides were now more disciplined in their defensive work, while the two goaltenders showed their class at the other end and neither conceded in the second 20 minutes.

The final period began with a bang: During a brief spell of pressure, Stefan Reiter fired a shot and surprised Haie goalie Windhofer at the near post for 3:2 (42 minutes), giving the Dragons the lead for the first time that evening. The game had long since become a thriller, and it was about to become even more dramatic: Jonas Kail fired in a power play and scored the 3:3 equaliser for Gmunden at the far post (53 minutes).

After the visitors' apparent go-ahead goal was disallowed because a Sharks player had interfered with HCK goalkeeper Pfarrmaier in the crease, the match, like the first game, went to overtime. No goal was scored there either, so a penalty shootout had to decide it.

And that topped everything. Stefan Reiter scored twice, Aleksi Airaksinen once and Clemens Paulweber twice for the hosts. Hubert Berger scored twice, Moritz Neurauter once and Jonas Kail once for Sharks Gmunden. It was Clemens Paulweber who fired HC Kufstein into the semi-finals and dethroned the defending champions with the 30th penalty attempt – his second goal.

Quarter-final 4 – Game 2: WEV force decider after thriller against Hohenems

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein battled SC Samina Hohenems in the quarter-finals at the WEV Arena at Vienna's Heumarkt on Saturday. Only a win could extend the Viennese side's season and keep them in the best-of-three series after their 1:5 away defeat at Herrenried.

The Vorarlberg side made a composed start to the game. Following a swift counter-attack, Christian Haidinger gave WEV netminder Moritz Merkader no chance to put the Steinböcke 1:0 ahead (3rd). The Viennese side quickly tried to take control. Hohenems initially managed their narrow lead and, after the ideal start, patiently waited for their chances. Just under three minutes before the end of the period, WEV launched a straightforward attack down the left, with Lukas Pohl squaring the puck to Patrick Bolterle, who fired home clinically from the slot to level the score at 1:1 (18th).

The first emotions emerged in the second period as the game developed into an exciting playoff clash featuring intense battles. The Viennese side were not prepared to see this series end early and did everything they could to keep the game open. They were even more successful on the power play: following a fine combination, Rupert Fichtinger was perfectly positioned in the slot and made it 2:1 for WEV (30nd minute).

In the final period, the capital side extended their lead in spectacular fashion: defenceman Richard Gruber embarked on a wonderful solo rush from his own zone, bamboozled the Hohenems defence and made it 3:1 (46nd minute). With just under two minutes remaining, Marcel Wolf scored the 2:3 goal on the power play to set up a thrilling finish at Heumarkt (58th minute).

Hohenems head coach Martin Mallinger then pulled goalkeeper Karlo Škec, but they were unable to find an equaliser. WEV won 3:2, levelled the series and forced a deciding game in Hohenems on Wednesday.

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

Game 2:

ATSE Graz vs. EHC Lustenau 1:4 (0:1,0:0,1:3)
Sat, 14 February 2026, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
Goalscorer ATSE Graz:Filip Matijević (43:49)
EHC Lustenau goalscorers:Lucas Haberl (02:14), Martin Grabher Meier (40:38) Robin Wüstner (47:51), Christopher D’Alvise (58:58/SH1/EN)

Final result in the best-of-three series: 0:2

EHC Kundl vs. KSV Kängurus 0:6 (0:3,0:3,0:0)
Sat., 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl
KSV Kängurus goalscorers:Kevin Moderer (09:19), Pierre Graf (10:24/PP1), Christoph Draschkowitz (13:26, 28:30), Stefan Trost (33:10), Phileas Lyssy (38:18/PP1)

Score in the best-of-three series: 1:1

HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 4:3 after a penalty shootout (2:2,0:0,1:1,0:0,1:0)
Sat., 14 February 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein
HC Kufstein goalscorers:Stefan Reiter (12:30, 41:22), Aleksi Airaksinen (19:31), Clemens Paulweber (65:00/decisive penalty shot)
Sharks Gmunden goalscorers:Moritz Neurauter (02:24), 09:53 Hubert Berger (09:53), Jonas Kail (52:57/PP1)

Final result in the best-of-three series: 2:0

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. SC Samina Hohenems 3:2 (1:1,1:0,1:1)
Sat., 14 February 2026, 18:00, WEV Arena Heumarkt
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers:Patrick Bolterle (17:05), Rupert Fichtinger (29:11/PP1), Richard Gruber (45:21)
SC Hohenems goalscorers:Christian Haidinger (02:55), Marcel Wolf (57:51/PP1)

Best-of-three series score: 1:1

Game 3:

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

SC Samina Hohenems vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein
Wed, 18 February 2026, 19:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

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)

KSV Kängurus vs. EHC Kundl 1:2 after penalties (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 penalty)

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 min.), Fabian Richter (19:36 min.), Paul Pirklbauer (50:51 min./PP1)
HC Kufstein scorers:Markus Prock (06:24 min./PP1, 44:00 min./PP1), Clemens Paulweber (35:01 min./SH1, 60:50 min.)

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 scorers:Marcel Wolf (03:52 min.), Patrick Spannring (20:23 min., 57:36 min./EN), Christian Haidinger (34:57 min.), Benjamin Kyllönen (52:15 min.)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorer:Lukas Kaider (23:02 min.)

Play-off format and further dates

The play-off match-ups, from the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, are each decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H). The teams that are first to record two wins advance to the semi-finals. If the score is level after regulation time, a five-minute three-on-three overtime is played, as in the regular season. If overtime also fails to produce a decision, a penalty shoot-out follows. In the semi-finals, the highest-ranked quarter-final winner after Phase 1 plays the lowest-ranked quarter-final winner after Phase 1. The semi-final winners meet in the final.

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 tables, statistics and fixtures for the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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