Tension ahead of block­buster derbies in the West Group – WEV and ATSE Graz face off directly for a playoff spot

In the West Group, defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins want to stay in the race for third place when they face HC Innsbruck II in a derby on Friday. That spot is currently held by league newcomers VEU Feldkirch, who travel to face SC Hohenems in a derby on Saturday. Friday also features the blockbuster district derby between HC Kufstein and EHC Crocodiles Kundl.

In the North-East Group, EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions take on RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden for important points in the playoff race. UHT Dukes Graz host league leaders Kapfenberger SV. On Sunday, Wiener Eislauf-Verein and ATSE Graz meet at Vienna's Heumarkt in a direct battle for third place and a playoff spot.

In the South Group, ESC SoccerZone Steindorf face EC LiWoDruck Spittal. League leaders 1. EHC Althofen host UECR Eisbären Huben, while USC Pirates Velden play the EC iDM VSV Jungadler.

Wattens battle HC Innsbruck II for playoff chance

Defending champions WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins suffered a setback in their pursuit of third place and the associated playoff spot in the West Group before Friday's match against HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II with the 3:4 defeat to HC Kufstein last time out. Prior to that, the Penguins had won three consecutive games. The young Sharks suffered their 14th defeat in their 14th game, losing 0:8 to SC Hohenems on Tuesday, and are now taking things one game at a time as they look to finally secure a win in the current championship.

District derby: HC Kufstein host Crocodiles Kundl

The circumstances ahead of the fourth and final Kufstein district derby of the season could hardly be more different. HC Kufstein secured playoff qualification early, while last season's playoff participants EHC Crocodiles Kundl are out of contention after Tuesday's 4:7 defeat to VEU Feldkirch. The Dragons lead the season series with 2:1 wins, but the match is still a prestigious district derby and is set to be played in front of a strong crowd at a packed Eisarena Kufstein.

Ländle derby: SC Hohenems versus VEU Feldkirch

On Saturday, SC SAMINA Hohenems host VEU Feldkirch in the fourth Ländle derby of the regular season. The league newcomers from the Montfortstadt have established themselves in third place in the table behind Hohenems and Kufstein with convincing performances. Head coach Thomas Sticha's young team have caused a stir in the derbies so far, recording two wins and one defeat. In particular, the 4:3 shootout victory in the derby in mid-November at Herrenriedstadion in front of more than 1.300 fans was a great advertisement for the Ö Eishockey Liga. Head coach Bernd Schmidle's Steinböcke secured their playoff ticket with Tuesday's 8:0 win over HC Innsbruck II. The derby comes at just the right time as they prepare for the playoffs.

South Group: Steindorf await Spittal

The ESC SoccerZone Steindorf had suffered a __OEHV_NUM_AC_A__ defeat in Monday's rescheduled game against USC Pirates Velden after a run of four straight wins ahead of the match against EC LiWoDruck Spittal suffered a 1:4 defeat in the rescheduled game against USC Pirates Velden on Monday after a four-game winning streak.

The Ossiacher See side celebrated an 8:2 win against the Hornets at the beginning of December, while Spittal won 4:3 in the back-to-back. Robert Moser's team are battling 1. EHC Althofen from afar for top spot in the South group.

Whether Spittal or Velden will still have a chance of reaching the Ö Eishockey Liga playoffs depends on the next round, which could bring a preliminary decision in the battle for a playoff place in the South group.

1st EHC Althofen face UECR Eisbären Huben

League leaders 1st EHC Althofen have fond memories of the first two meetings this season ahead of their third clash with UECR Eisbären Huben.

At the beginning of December, Head Coach Gerald Ressmann's team won convincingly 7:0, before following it up with a stunning 10:2 away win in East Tyrol in the back-to-back. The Rhinos, who reached the playoff semi-finals last year and were eliminated there by eventual champions Wattens Penguins after a thriller in the second leg, are determined to go far again this year.

The Eisbären are already out of the Ö Eishockey Liga playoff race, but recently produced a convincing performance in their 4:1 home win against Velden following a run of defeats.

Velden battle VSV for playoff chance

With four games remaining in the regular season, USC Pirates Velden still have a chance of qualifying for the interregional Ö Eishockey Liga playoffs.

However, only a win in their home game against the Young Eagles of EC iDM VSV will keep alive their hopes of still reaching second place. Head Coach Herwig Gressel's team have experienced a rollercoaster of hockey emotions over their past four games. A defeat against 1st EHC Althofen was followed by an overtime win against Huben, then a defeat in the back-to-back in East Tyrol.

On Monday, the Pirates claimed three points in the rescheduled game against Steindorf. Unlike Velden, VSV are out of the race for a playoff place, with Head Coach Günther Lanzinger's team having suffered two narrow defeats against the Wörthersee side so far.

Zeltweg Murtal Lions face Sharks Gmunden

The EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions and the UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden had a lengthy break in the North-East Group, with both teams having played their last match on 17 December.

For the Murtal Lions, the clash with the Traunsee Sharks is about important points in the race for a playoff spot. Although the Styrians are currently in second place behind Kapfenberg, they are not yet secure. The Murtal Lions have the edge in the head-to-head record, having won convincingly 9:1 in October before following that up with another victory in the 11:6 goal fest at the end of November.

The Upper Austrians are not entirely out of the race for third playoff spot either, but only a winning run in the head-to-head meetings with the Murtal Lions, the WEV, ATSE Graz and Dukes Graz would make the Traunsee miracle possible.

Dukes Graz battle KSV for playoff chance

The UHT Dukes Graz won away at the WEV ahead of their clash with league leaders Kapfenberger SV, putting themselves back in the fight for third playoff spot.

The match against the Kangaroos is not exactly the most welcome fixture, as taking points from the team led so confidently by player-coach Kris Reinthaler has been particularly difficult this season.

The Mürztal side won both games, but the team coached by head coach Jurica Bednjanec needs all three points if it is to preserve its chance of a playoff spot.

Playoff battle: WEV against ATSE Graz

The Wiener Eislauf-Verein concludes its home schedule at the atmospheric open-air ice rink at Vienna's Heumarkt during the regular season against the team that was also the visitor for the opener – ATSE Graz.

The Viennese celebrated a 4:0 victory on that occasion. This time, the meeting between these two renowned Austrian clubs carries plenty of significance, as their head-to-head clash could prove decisive in the battle for third playoff spot in the North-East Group.

The WEV recently had to accept a narrow 2:3 home defeat against Graz's second team, the Dukes. ATSE Graz took league leaders Kapfenberg to overtime last weekend and travel to the federal capital full of confidence.

North-East Group matchday

EV Zeltweg Murtal Lions vs. UEHV RAUCH Technology Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 14 January 2023, 19:00, Aichfeldhalle Zeltweg

UHT Dukes Graz vs. Kapfenberger SV
Sat, 14 January 2023, 19:15, Merkur Eisstadion

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. ATSE Graz
Sun, 15 January 2023, 15:00, Wiener Eislaufverein

Group West matchday

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie II
Fri, 13 January 2023, 19:30, Alpenstadion

HC Kufstein vs. EHC Crocodiles Kundl
Fri, 13 January 2023, 19:45, Eisarena Kufstein

SC Hohenems vs. VEU Feldkirch
Sat, 14 January 2023, 17:30, Herrenriedstadion Hohenems

Group South matchday

ESC SoccerZone Steindorf vs. EC LiWoDruck Spittal
Sat, 14 January 2023, 16:00, Ossiacher See Halle Steindorf

1st EHC Althofen vs. UECR Eisbären Huben
Sat, 14 January 2023, 17:00. Stadthalle Althofen

USC Pirates Velden vs. EC iDM VSV
Sat, 14 January 2023, 18:30, Eishalle Velden

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