Kundl edge Wattens in over­time

Image credit: EHC Crocodiles Kundl v WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins - Photo ©: Gerhard Weiß / GW Photography / EHCFotograf

The playoffs are drawing ever closer in the Ö Eishockey Liga. That means fighting for every inch of ice and every point. The situation was clear for EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the West Group: a win against WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins was almost essential to remain in the playoff race. Both teams set a high tempo from the outset, with the occasional harder check also part of the game. Daniel Frischmann put the Penguins from the Crystal City 1:0 ahead on the power play (10.). After that, the goaltenders – René Huber for Wattens and Michael Sparr for Kundl – were the focus until the first intermission. Neither allowed another goal.

The Jaroslav Betka-coached Wattens side also made the better start to the second period. Martin Sturm made it 2:0 with a shorthanded goal (22.). The Crocodiles then had to do more offensively, but were repeatedly denied by netminder Huber despite good chances. Wattens played with composure and repeatedly created dangerous counter-attacking opportunities in front of the opposition net, but Kundl goaltender Sparr also made some good saves. In the final period, the Penguins initially managed the result. Kundl battled relentlessly to finally get on the scoreboard. And they did: Fabio Schramm scored the much-celebrated goal to reduce the deficit (52.). Just two minutes later, Thomas Müller equalised for the hosts (54.).

From that point on at the latest, there was a clear sense of playoff feeling. Kundl pressed for the winner in the closing stages but could not beat Wattens goaltender Huber. In overtime, Maximilian Agerer fired the Crocodiles to victory from close range after they had trailed 0:2 (64.).

North-East Group: league leaders Kapfenberg beat WEV

In the North-East Group, Kapfenberger SV hosted WEV at the Leoben Ice Rink. The league leaders made an appropriate start against the bottom side from Vienna: David Stückelschwaiger found the net to give the Kangaroos a 1:0 lead (8.). Pierre Graf extended the lead to 2:0 on the power play (12.). Just under two minutes later, the Lions also got on the scoreboard. Tobias Schönauer scored for the Mario Kubeczka-coached visitors to reduce the deficit (14.).

The Styrians then pulled decisively clear in the second period. The two new signings, Manuel Laritz (28.) and Dominik Wassermann (30.) – both of whom had been praised by player-coach Kris Reinthaler for their excellent start before the game – made it 4:1 for Kapfenberg. WEV battled their way back into the game, with Stefan Nador making it 2:4 from a Vienna perspective (36.).

The visitors’ hopes were dashed in the final period by Lukas Winkler, who restored the hosts’ three-goal lead (44.). WEV showed character and reduced the deficit to 3:5 through Stefan Nador, who scored for the second time that evening (56.). In the end, the league leaders saw out the game. The “Back to Back” clash takes place in Bruck/Leitha as early as Saturday, starting at 15:30.

Kapfenberger SV - Eishockeyclub vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 5:3 (2:1,2:1,1:1)
Fr., 14 January 2022, 19:30
Goalscorers Kapfenberger SV - Eishockeyclub: David Stückelschwaiger (07:12), Pierre Graf (11:46), Manuel Laritz (27:42), Dominik Wassermann (29:51), Lukas Winkler (43:10)
Goalscorers Wiener Eislauf-Verein: Tobias Schönauer (13:35), Stefan Nador (35:04), Stefan Nador (55:26)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins 3:2 n.V. (0:1,0:1,2:0,1:0) 
Fr., 14 January 2022, 19:30
Goalscorers EHC Crocodiles Kundl: Fabio Schramm (51:51), Thomas Müller (53:56), Maximilian Agerer (63:18)
Goalscorers WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins: Daniel Frischmann (09:49), Martin Sturm (21:25)