Murtal Lions unable to stop leaders Kapfen­berg in derby – Kufstein edge VEU Feld­kirch

The EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions had unfinished business with Division East leaders Kapfenberger SV following the 1:10 defeat in the first Upper Styria derby on 21 October. 

Accordingly, the home side began the game courageously against the Mürz Valley attacking express. Zeltweg closed down the spaces in their own zone, defended resolutely and took a 1:0 lead through Luka Petelin from close range after a quick counter-attack and a pass from Michal Dudas (4 min.). 

The Lions then had 2:0 on their sticks, but Kapfenberg goaltender Oliver Zirngast made a fine save. Kapfenberg launched a quick counter-attack in response, with Florian Hoppl sending Christoph Draschkowitz through to score the 1:1 equaliser (8 min.). Just 37 seconds later, the Kangaroos led 2:1, as Adrian Stühlinger beat Zeltweg goaltender Nico Herzl from close range (9 min.). 

The Murtal Lions continued to create openings in attack, but initially could not beat Oliver Zirngast. Just under three minutes before the end of the period, Marco Herzl levelled at 2:2 with a rebound from a shot, lifting the puck into the net (17 min.).

Little initially changed in the nature of the game in the second period. Both teams continued to engage in an intense derby battle. The hosts took the lead for a second time: Mario Sulzer picked out Luka Petelin perfectly from his own defensive zone, and Petelin raced clear to score for 3:2 (30 min.). 

The league leaders responded just 18 seconds later: Christoph Draschkowitz was set up perfectly by Florian Hoppl and scored for 3:3 (30 min.). Kapfenberg took command midway through the game. Pierre Graf made use of a power play to beat Nico Herzl from the slot for 4:3 (32 min.). Florian Hoppl added 5:3 just under two minutes later (34 min.). 

Three and a half minutes before the end of the period, player-coach Kris Reinthaler sent a precise shot into the Zeltweg net for 6:3 (37 min.). Kapfenberg played with composure in the final period and waited for further opportunities. On a power play, Lukas Draschkowitz passed to Florian Hoppl, who controlled the puck superbly with a turn, drove at Nico Herzl and netted for 7:3 (47 min.). 

The Murtal Lions made a determined attempt to get back into the derby, but Kapfenberg gave little away. On the contrary, they made use of the next quick counter-attack to increase their lead to 8:3 through a Pierre Graf breakaway (52 min.). Marco Herzl pulled one back to make it 4:8 for the Murtal Lions with a minute and a half remaining, skating around goaltender Oliver Zirngast and sliding the puck into the empty net (59 min.). 

Kapfenberg won 8:4 and remain the only Ö Eishockey Liga team with a perfect record after five regulation-time victories.

ATSE Graz defeat Sharks Gmunden

The ATSE Graz faced UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden in the Ö Eishockey Liga at Merkur Eisstadion – Halle B on Saturday. Markus Losch was behind the bench as the new head coach for the Eggenberg side, while Rupert Strohmeier made his comeback as a player. 

ATSE were the better side in the first period, while the Sharks from Gmunden held firm defensively thanks to the excellent goaltender Luka Gračnar. Following a scramble in front of the net, Mario Petrovitz was suddenly on hand to tuck the puck in from close range on the backhand for 1:0 for the Styrians (14 min.). Four minutes before the end of the period, Mario Pichler missed a penalty for the Sharks from Lake Traun, denied by Graz goaltender Gernot Fally.

The two teams remained evenly matched in the second period, with the game proving to be the anticipated hard-fought battle for hugely important points in the head-to-head contest to reach the play-offs. There is still plenty of hockey to be played in the regular season, but the parity between the Division East teams behind Kapfenberg does not allow for many dropped points. Both goaltenders were mindful of this, keeping their respective nets clean and the game open in the second period. 

Little changed in the nature of the game in the final period. It remained an intense contest. ATSE were able to extend their lead on a power play. Stefan Trost fired from just behind the blue line to make it 2:0 for Graz (47 min.). Head coach Gregor Baumgartner's team were now forced to open up at the back and press forward more. When Marco Scheriau increased the hosts' lead to 3:0 from the slot following a well-worked attack, the game was decided (54 min.). 

Gmunden pulled one back to 1:3 on the power play shortly before the end through Alessandro Mühllechner, preventing a shutout for Graz netminder Fally (60th minute). ATSE Graz celebrated an important home win and will hold third place in the Division East standings until at least Sunday.

Division West:

HC Kufstein turn the tables on VEU Feldkirch after 5:0 lead

Just 22 hours after the 1:4 derby defeat to Hohenems, VEU Feldkirch had to travel to face HC Kufstein at the Eisarena Kufstein. Backed by the strong netminder Thomas Hechenberger, the hosts made a flying start to their first home game in four weeks and took an early 1:0 lead. Dominique Saringer scored from close range after an ideal cross-ice pass from Taylor Holst (4th minute). 

The Dragons added another on the power play: Czech top scorer David Hrazdira found his compatriot Martin Kosnar at the far post, who netted for 2:0 (8th minute). 

With two goals in 41 seconds, the Tyroleans built a four-goal lead. Martin Kosnar first struck again from close range to make it 3:0 (11th minute). Maximilian Camondo made it 4:0, receiving a deflected shot onto his blade and firing home immediately (12th minute). VEU netminder Fabian Pozzera had then seen enough and was replaced in goal by Kevin Wanger. 

The Fortress City side continued to press and made it 5:0 shortly before the end of the period. David Hrazdira suddenly found himself alone in front of the Feldkirch goal and sent the puck into the net (19th minute), after Kufstein had established possession in the offensive zone.

VEU Feldkirch made the better start to the second period. Following a quick attack, Joonatan Kyllönen passed to Yannick Wiedner, who gave HCK netminder Hechenberger no chance and scored 1:5 for the visitors (24th minute). The game then drifted along somewhat until, exactly at the halfway mark, HC Kufstein's Taylor Holst and VEU's Niclas Kostelac engaged in a memorable fight, ending the game for both players. 

Shortly before the end of the second period, the team coached by Ivo Novotny became too undisciplined, allowing Vorarlberg two 5:3 power plays, and they made perfect use of the opportunity. Lukas Göggel first made it 2:5 (38th minute), before Göggel put the puck over the line again for 3:5 barely a minute later (39th minute). Out of nowhere, the game was open and exciting again. 

In the final period, Philipp Sappl extended Kufstein's lead to 6:3 after a powerful burst forward (45th minute). The team coached by Lars Foder responded quickly and refused to be shaken off. Dominik Hron beat Kufstein netminder Hechenberger to make it 4:6 (46th minute). VEU pushed for a goal to close the gap, but it did not come until 12 seconds from the end, when Markus Zeitler scored with an extra skater on the ice (60th minute). 

However, the goal to close the gap came too late: HC Kufstein won 6:5 and reclaimed top spot from Hohenems.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division East:

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. Kapfenberger SV 4:8 (2:2,1:4,1:2)

Sat., 25 November 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle

Goalscorers for EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions: Luka Petelin (03:46, 29:40), Marco Herzl (16:47, 58:34)

Goalscorers for Kapfenberger SV: Christoph Draschkowitz (07:52, 29:58), Adrian Stühlinger (08:29), Pierre Graf (31:18/PP1, 51:05), Florian Hoppl (33:10, 46:07/PP1), Kristof Reinthaler (36:32)

ATSE Graz vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden 3:1 (1:0,0:0,2:1)

Sat., 25 November 2023, 19:30, Merkur Eisstadion - Halle B

Goalscorers ATSE Graz: Mario Petrovitz (13:32), Stefan Trost (46:48/PP1), Marco Scheriau (53:52)

Goalscorer Sharks Gmunden: Alessandro Mühllechner (59:14/PP1)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. UHT Dukes Graz

Sun., 26 November 2023, 15:00, WEV Arena - Lothringerstraße 22

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

HC Kufstein vs. VEU Feldkirch 6:5 (5:0,0:3,1:2)

Sat., 25 November 2023, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein

Goalscorers HC Kufstein: Dominique Saringer (03:02), Martin Kosnar (07:43/PP1, 10:23), Maximilian Camondo (11:04), David Hrazdira (18:10), Philipp Sappl (44:45)

Goalscorers VEU Feldkirch: Yannick Wiedner (23:22), Lukas Göggel (37:34/PP2, 38:41/PP2), Dominik Hron (45:37), Markus Zeitler (59:48)

Dornbirner EC vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sun., 26 November 2023, 17:30, Messestadion

VEU Feldkirch vs. SC Samina Hohenems 1:4 (0:2,1:1,0:1)

Fri., 24 November 2023, 19:30, Vorarlberghalle

Goalscorer VEU Feldkirch: Rupert Fichtinger (32:26)

Goalscorers SC Samina Hohenems: David Slivnik (08:48), Thomas Auer (13:43), Lukas Fritz (35:09/PS), Panu Hyyppä (53:23/PP2)

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