Quarter-final first legs: Lustenau, Kundl, Kapfen­berg and Kufstein take the lead!

Quarter-final 1 – first leg: EHC Lustenau leave HDK Maribor with no chance

League newcomers HDK Maribor reached the playoffs at the first attempt in the Ö Eishockey Liga and faced the dominant winners of the Division West and the second league newcomers – EHC Lustenau. The team from Vorarlberg took an early lead, with Philipp Kocerza putting the puck into the empty net after just 42 seconds after Maribor netminder Omar Ždralović had already been beaten following an attack (1st). 

The Lions added another: Robin Wüstner picked up the puck and scored with a backhander to make it 2:0 after almost four minutes (4th). The Foxes battled fiercely to get themselves on the scoreboard in the playoffs, but the visitors gave little away. During a 5:3 power play, Lustenau completed an attack perfectly, with Christopher D’Alvise scoring for 3:0 (16th).

Exactly four and a half minutes into the second period, the Slovenians had also arrived in the playoffs: Rene Zernko hammered the puck into the net on the power play to make it 1:3 (25th). Just 39 seconds later, Aljaž Ogrizek scored from close range to reduce the deficit to 2:3 (26th). That served as a wake-up call for the team coached by head coach Dániel Fekete: Lucas Loibnegger responded by making it 4:2 (28th). Dominic Haberl extended the lead to 5:2 later in the middle period (38th). 

In the final period, the Division West winners stepped it up and pulled away. Philipp Koczera scored from the slot after just 48 seconds to make it 6:2 (41th). Martin Grabher Meier scored a shorthander from close range for 7:2 (44th), before Adem Kandemir made it 8:2 (47th). The return leg is now little more than a formality from Lustenau's perspective.

Quarter-final 2 – first leg: EHC Crocodiles Kundl edge Wiener Eislauf-Verein

The EHC Crocodiles Kundl welcomed the winners of the Division East – Wiener Eislauf-Verein – to the Eisarena Kundl for the quarter-final first leg on Saturday and made a dream start: Sebastian Schild sent Tobias Dinhopel through with a superb pass, and he scored after 62 seconds to make it 1:0 (2nd). Vienna soon found the right response, with Xaver Emslander finishing off a quick attack to make it 1:1 (6th). Both teams had therefore quickly settled into the quarter-final and engaged in an intense battle with chances at both ends. 

Little changed in the nature of the game in the second period. Both teams continued to attack. The two goaltenders – Jakub Kostelny for Kundl and Moritz Merkader for WEV – performed very well. A close and exciting contest developed.

In the final period, the Crocodiles celebrated what appeared to be the lead on a power play, but the referees disallowed the goal. The match came to a head and suddenly the side from the federal capital were in front: Daniel Aschauer deflected the puck in to make it 2:1 (49th). The closing stages were dramatic. Kundl drew level at 2:2 through Daniel Frischmann after a powerful burst (56th). 61 seconds later, Frischmann fired home the 3:2 winner for the Tyroleans with three minutes remaining (57th). The return leg in Vienna promises pure excitement. 

Quarter-final 3 – first leg: Kapfenberg take the lead against SC Hohenems

The SC Samina Hohenems faced defending champions Kapfenberger SV Kängurus. The Vorarlberg side still had a score to settle with the Styrians following their defeat in last year's final. After a brief feeling-out period, the visitors took the lead, with Florian Hoppl scoring from close range to make it 1:0 for the Styrians (8th min.). 

The Vorarlberg side tried to make an impact offensively, while Kapfenberg kept their defence under control and were unable to convert their first power play. Exactly five seconds before the first siren, Christoph Draschkowitz made it 2:0 for the visitors with a precise shot (20th min.).

The reigning champions were composed in the second period, managed the score cleverly and waited patiently for their chances. Lukas Draschkowitz fired home to make it 3:0 for the Mürz Valley side (37th min.). In the final period, the team led by player-coach Kris Reinthaler initially gave nothing away and ran down the clock intelligently on defence. Until Christian Haidinger, falling to the ice, followed up to make it 1:3 for the Steinböcke with 61 seconds remaining (59th min.). Kapfenberg take a two-goal lead into next Saturday's return leg. 

Quarter-final 4 – first leg: HC Kufstein celebrate victory at Sharks Gmunden

The UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden faced off against HC Kufstein in the quarter-final first leg at the Muki Eisarena Gmunden on Saturday. In the opening period, both teams were initially determined not to make the first major mistake. This developed into a genuine playoff battle at Lake Traun.

In the second period, the Dragons took a 1:0 lead four seconds after the halfway point of the game through Manuel Eder, who converted a rebound after a save by Sharks netminder Luka Gračnar (31th min.). 62 seconds later, Marcel Bruimann was perfectly positioned in the slot and scored to make it 2:0 for Kufstein (32th min.). Just under a minute and a half later, Valentin Hammerle produced a burst of energy and finished superbly into the right corner after a solo run (33th min.). 

The team led by head coach Andreas Luchner had scored three goals within two and a half minutes. In the final period, Sharks player Bastian Szieber and Dragons player Manuel Eder provided a hockey fight night, engaging in an entertaining bout. The match was over for both players after they received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty. 

The visitors controlled the game, goaltender Jakob Sprachmann did not concede and ultimately recorded a shutout. Clemens Paulweber put the finishing touch on the game, deflecting the puck home for Kufstein to make it 4:0 two minutes from time and secure a ninth consecutive victory (59th min.). The Tyroleans take a strong position into next Saturday's return leg. 

Ö Eishockey Liga – Playoffs – 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 (24:30 min./PP1), Aljaž Ogrizek (25:09 min.)

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

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 (01:02 min.), Daniel Frischmann (55:56 min., 56:57 min.)

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)

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

All Ö Eishockey Liga standings, statistics and fixtures in the Gamecentre

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