ÖEL quarter-final second legs: Advan­tage Lustenau, Kundl, Kapfen­berg and Kufstein!

Quarter-final 1 – second leg: EHC Lustenau vs. HDK Maribor

Sat., 15 February 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

EHC LustenauEHC Lustenau secured a reassuring __OEHV_NUM_I_A__ lead for Saturday's second leg against HDK Maribora comfortable 8:2 lead. Away at Ledena dvorana Maribor, the Vorarlberg side felt the fighting spirit and determination of the Foxes after taking a 3:0 lead, with the hosts closing the gap to 2:3 with two quick goals.

As the game progressed, the West Division winners and favourites added five more goals to ultimately claim a convincing victory. This has given the formidable home side, who are exceptionally strong offensively, a comfortable position in this clash between league newcomers.

Lustenau coach Dániel Fekete wants to prepare his team as well as possible for the visitors: "In the first leg in Maribor, we were able to surprise our opponents with early goals, which quickly made the situation clear. Our aim in the second leg is also to put pressure on the opposition goal from the outset and keep them busy in their own defensive zone with quick attacks. We will not be misled by the result of the first leg. Every player knows what is at stake and will try to implement our game plan on the ice from the very first minute."

Maribor head coach Jure Verlič is initially not focusing on the aggregate score in the second leg and wants his team to perform better: "We know it will be difficult to overcome the deficit from the first game, but we want to view it as a single game and do a better job than in the first game. I think we are capable of playing much better defensively and being more disciplined in our build-up. We need to react better, help our goaltenders and take our second or third chances. We have to be better without the puck!"

First leg: 8:2 for EHC Lustenau

Quarter-final 2 – second leg: Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sat., 15 February 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

Wiener Eislauf-VereinWiener Eislauf-Verein will face EHC Crocodiles Kundl in the quarter-final second leg at the WEV Arena on Saturday. Following their 3:2 home win, the Tyroleans take to the ice in the capital with a narrow one-goal lead. 

The first leg was a thrilling affair: after a game that remained level for a long time, including on the scoreboard, WEV took a 2:1 lead in the final period, but the Unterinntal side turned the match around with a double strike within 61 seconds. Daniel Frischmann's two goals in the closing minutes secured a narrow Crocodiles victory.

WEV head coach Philipp Ullrich knows that another exciting encounter is expected on Saturday and is hoping for a good crowd at the Wiener Konzerthaus: "We put in a great fight in Kundl for more than 60 minutes. Details make the difference. We will discuss and adjust a few small things. I have 100 per cent faith in my team and am convinced that we can turn this series around. The way the boys have performed, they deserve a well-attended Heumarkt! We will be ready!"

Kundl chairman Gerhard Maier wants his team to put up a full fight in Vienna after their narrow home win: "A very good team performance has put us in a good position. However, the match next Saturday starts at nil-nil again and is far from decided. The pressure is now on WEV and we will put up a full fight – we are looking forward to the away game in the federal capital!"

First leg: 3:2 for EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Quarter-final 3 – second leg: Kapfenberger SV Kängurus vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat., 15 February 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

Defending champions Kapfenberger SV Kängurus demonstrated their Open Air strength at Herrenried once again in their 3:1 victory in the quarter-final first leg against SC Samina Hohenems Last year, the Styrians laid the foundations for winning their first title with a 4:1 away victory. The Kängurus have never left the ice as losers in a total of three encounters in the Grafenstadt. 

Following their defeat in last year's final, the Vorarlberg side still have a score to settle with the Mürztal team. However, the Steinböcke now need to secure an away win by three goals. That this is not impossible was demonstrated by the Schlittschuhclub in the semi-finals of the 2022/2023 season, when the Emser side celebrated a 5:1 victory in Kapfenberg to reach the final.

Kapfenberg player-coach Kris Reinthaler does not want his team to simply manage the first-leg result: "We want to play for the win in the second leg as well, because if you rely on the cushion, it will definitely backfire. We will now recover well, then train well and then go on the attack again."

Hohenems head coach Thomas Sticha knows that his team must be fully switched on for 60 minutes in the second leg against the Styrians: "We must avoid the major errors in our own game in the second leg, because Kapfenberg have the quality to punish them ruthlessly. We saw in the first game, during the first ten minutes and in the final period, that we can compete with the Kängurus. But to reach the semi-finals, we will need 60 very good minutes in Kapfenberg. The team knows that too and will therefore start fully motivated."

First leg: 3:1 for Kapfenberger SV Kängurus

Quarter-final 4 – second leg: HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 

Sat., 15 February 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kufstein

The HC Kufstein confirmed their impressive form of recent weeks in the quarter-final first leg against UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden at Lake Traun, claiming their ninth consecutive victory and taking a 4:0 lead into the decisive second leg at Eisarena Kufstein for a place in the semi-finals.

The match remained open for a long time before turning shortly after the halfway point, when the Tyroleans scored three goals in succession in two and a half minutes, the Upper Austrians had no response and Dragons netminder Jakob Sprachmann kept a clean sheet. 

Kufstein head coach Andreas Luchner wants to avoid merely protecting the four-goal lead and will have his team play for victory: "We have created a very good starting position for the second leg and progression to the semi-finals in the first leg. Nevertheless, we go into it with the mindset of wanting to win this game rather than simply protect a 4:0 lead. I expect a full arena and, with our fans behind us, I am convinced that the team will deliver again."

Gregor Baumgartner, head coach of Sharks Gmunden, believes his team can make the tie exciting again in the second leg in the fortress town: "Fundamentally, we did not play a bad game. We failed to take our chances and were a little out of sorts for two or three minutes in the second period. Now that we have a four-goal deficit to make up, we will go all in and see what else we can achieve. We are confident that we can still make it exciting. I believe in my team!"

First leg: 4:0 for HC Kufstein

Ö Eishockey Liga - Play-offs - Quarter-final second legs

EHC Lustenau vs. HDK Maribor

Sat., 15 February 2025, 17:30, Rheinhalle

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl

Sat., 15 February 2025, 18:30, WEV Arena, Lothringerstraße 22

KSV Kängurus vs. SC Samina Hohenems

Sat., 15 February 2025, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg

HC Kufstein vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden

Sat., 15 February 2025, 17:00, Eisarena Kufstein

Ö Eishockey Liga - Play-offs - Quarter-final first legs

HDK Maribor vs. EHC Lustenau 2:8 (0:3,2:2,0:3)

Sat, 08 February 2025, 18:30, Ledena dvorana Maribor

HDK Maribor scorers: Rene Zernko (at 24:30 on PP1), Aljaž Ogrizek (at 25:09)

EHC Lustenau scorers: Philipp Koczera (at 00:42, 40:48), Robin Wüstner (at 03:58), Christopher D’Alvise (at 15:34 on PP2). Lucas Loibnegger (at 27:39). Dominic Haberl (at 37:31), Martin Grabher Meier (at 43:25 on SH1), Adem Kandemir (at 46:22)

EHC Crocodiles Kundl vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:2 (1:1,0:0,2:1)

Sat, 08 February 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kundl

EHC Kundl scorers: Tobias Dinhopel (at 01:02), Daniel Frischmann (at 55:56, 56:57)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein scorers: Xaver Emslander (at 05:54), Daniel Aschauer (at 48:10)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. KSV Kängurus 1:3 (0:2,0:1,1:0)

Sat, 08 February 2025, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems

SC Hohenems scorer: Christian Haidinger (at 58:59)

KSV Kängurus scorers: Florian Hoppl (at 07:56), Christoph Draschkowitz (at 19:55), Lukas Draschkowitz (at 36:30)

UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden vs. HC Kufstein 0:4 (0:0,0:3,0:1)

Sat, 08 February 2025, 18:30, Muki Eisarena Gmunden

HC Kufstein scorers: Manuel Eder (at 30:04), Marcel Bruimann (at 31:06), Valentin Hammerle (at 32:32), Clemens Paulweber (at 58:01)

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

The Ö Eishockey Liga on Instagram and Facebook follow!