Wattens Penguins right back in the playoff race – Kapfen­berg cele­brate emphatic win at ATSE Graz

League leaders EHC Lustenau faced EHC Kundl in the West Division on Saturday, with the game at Lustenau's Rheinhalle starting an hour late due to a fault with the ice resurfacer.

The Lions were clearly on top in the first period but repeatedly came up against outstanding netminder Jakub Kostelny. Kundl held firm, killed off the first power play and took a late lead in the opening period: Michal Kluka made it 1:0 for the Tyroleans, who had travelled to Vorarlberg with just ten skaters (19).

At the start of the second period, the hosts showed why they are currently the runaway West Division leaders. A quick double from Timo Demuth (25th minute) and Robin Wüstner (26th minute) swiftly turned the game around for Lustenau. The Vorarlberg side remained overwhelmingly dominant. Kundl initially refused to relent, however – quite the opposite: Alexander Gruber levelled the score at 2:2 on the power play at exactly the halfway point of the game (31st minute).

In the final period, the Unterinntal side continued to put up a strong fight and suddenly took the lead: Matko Pavetić's goal to make it 3:2 briefly had Kundl dreaming of an upset in Vorarlberg (52nd minute). However, Christopher D‘Alvise quickly equalised shorthanded to make it 3:3 (53rd minute). A quick double ultimately set the leaders on course for victory: Robin Wüstner gave them a 4:3 lead (56th minute), before Lucas Haberl made it 5:3 on the scoreboard 41 seconds later (57th minute).

Kundl, who battled magnificently, did not give up, pulling netminder Kostelny late on, and Michal Kluka scored a power-play goal to cut the deficit to 4:5 with 30 seconds remaining (60th minute), but there was no more to come. Lustenau won and became the first team to secure a playoff berth this season.

Wattens Penguins right back in the playoff race after win over Dornbirn

The WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins faced the Dornbirner EC Bulldogs for the third time in the West Division on Saturday, and the two sides traded blows in an open first period. Luca Muigg gave the hosts a 1:0 lead (7th minute). The Bulldogs then turned the game around: Janic Heisig equalised at 1:1 (10th minute), before Niklas Gesson gave the Vorarlberg side a 2:1 lead on the power play just under five minutes later (15th minute). Wattens responded quickly, with Sandro Wille making it 2:2 (16th minute).

The Penguins made a lightning start to the middle period: Patrick Huber put them 3:2 ahead after just 46 seconds, the second time that evening the Tyroleans had held the lead (21st minute). The Bulldogs dug in and Alessandro Togni equalised at 3:3 shortly before the halfway point of the game (30th minute). Exactly two minutes after the equaliser, the hosts were back in front: Alexander Erlacher made it 4:3 (32nd minute).

The game remained exciting in the final period and became a thriller when Danny Madlener again equalised for Dornbirn to make it 4:4 (45th minute). A double within 14 seconds suddenly gave the Penguins a two-goal lead for the first time that evening: first Alexander Erlacher made it 5:4 (49th minute), then Daniel Frischmann scored to make it 6:4 (49th minute). Wattens ultimately celebrated their second win in a row and, just three points behind Kundl, are right back in contention for a playoff spot.

East Division:

KSV Kängurus give ATSE Graz no chance

For the fourth time this season, Saturday saw the Styrian derby in the East Division between ATSE Graz and KSV Kängurus, with the clash taking place at the Grazer Bunker in Liebenau for the second time.

The visitors, who were finally able to train in their own arena again this week, got off to a dream start: a quick-fire double from Christoph Draschkowitz and Maximilian Ramsbacher within 33 seconds gave Kapfenberg a swift 2:0 lead (4.). Less than two minutes later, Luca Fasching made it 3:0 (6.), bringing ATSE goaltender Lukas Troppenauer's day to an end after the third goal conceded – Graz had to do without their regular goaltenders Florian Zeugswetter and Gernot Fally – with ÖEL debutant Artur Striedinger taking his place in goal.

Shortly afterwards, Graz also got on the scoresheet, with Mathias Werkl cutting the deficit to 1:3 (7.). Kapfenberg extended their lead before the end of the first period. Pierre Graf made it 4:1 (13.), before Kevin Moderer scored the 5:1 on the power play (17.).

The Mürztal side showed no mercy in the second period either and added emphatically. Lukas Fassmann (24.), Lukas Draschkowitz (27.), Kevin Moderer (31.) and Maximilian Ramsbacher (34.) extended the lead to 9:1, before Niki Zierer pulled one back for ATSE to make it 2:9 (38.). Phileas Lyssy made it a double-digit score for Kapfenberg with the 10:2 exactly one second before the end of the period (40.).

In the final period, the game ended early for KSV player Kevin Moderer and ATSE's Cornelius Kaschnig following an altercation. The Kängurus comfortably saw the match out, with Christoph Draschkowitz adding the final 11:2 scoreline (56.).

Sharks Gmunden continue winning streak at HDK Maribor

The HDK Maribor welcomed defending champions UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden to Ledna dvorana Maribor in the Division East on Saturday. Slovenia's current bottom side and commanding league leaders from Gmunden met for the third time this season.

The Upper Austrians once again played with composure in the opening period, waited patiently and – having survived their first spell shorthanded themselves – struck ruthlessly on their first power play: Fabian Richter gave the Sharks a 1:0 lead (14.). Just under three minutes later, Hubert Berger made it 2:0 (17.).

In the second period, the Foxes once again proved that giving up is not an option for them: Adi Drnda cut the deficit to 1:2 and made the game exciting again (28.). The game remained on a knife edge in the final period. It was only Hubert Berger, with his second goal, who made it 3:1 just under four minutes from time to seal the win for the Sharks (56.).

In the end, the Drava side pulled goaltender Omar Ždralović twice, and André Flatscher scored into the empty net to make it 4:1 (59.). The defending champions from Lake Traun celebrated their ninth win in nine games.

Ö Eishockey Liga - Division West:

EHC Lustenau vs. EHC Kundl 5:4 (0:1,2:1,3:2)
Sat., 13 December 2025, 18:30, Rheinhalle Lustenau
EHC Lustenau scorers: Timo Demuth (24:17 min.), Robin Wüstner (25:48 min., 55:50 min.), Christopher D‘Alvise (52:57 min./SH1), Lucas Haberl (56:31 min.)
EHC Kundl scorers: Michal Kluka (18:31 min., 59:30 min./PP1), Alexander Gruber (30:00 min./PP1), Matko Pavetić (51:17 min.)

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs 6:4 (2:2,2:1,2:1)
Sat., 13 December 2025, 19:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins scorers: Luca Muigg (at 06:57), Sandro Wille (at 15:42), Patrick Huber (at 20:46), Alexander Erlacher (at 31:17, 48:11), Daniel Frischmann (at 48:25)
Dornbirner EC Bulldogs scorers: Janic Heisig (at 09:03), Niklas Gesson (at 14:09/PP1), Alessandro Togni (at 29:17), Danny Madlener (at 44:44)

HC Kufstein vs. SC Samina Hohenems
Sun., 14 December 2025, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein - >> to the livestream

Ö Eishockey Liga - Eastern Division:

ATSE Graz vs. KSV Kängurus 2:11 (1:5,1:5,0:1)
Sat., 13 December 2025, 18:30, Graz Merkur Eisstadion (Hall A)
ATSE Graz scorers: Mathias Werkl (at 06:41), Nikoluas Zierer (at 37:53)
KSV Kängurus scorers: Christoph Draschkowitz (at 03:25, 55:21), Maximilian Ramsbacher (at 03:58, 33:01), Luca Fasching (at 05:32), Pierre Graf (at 12:44), Kevin Moderer (at 16:10/PP1, 30:32), Lukas Fassmann (at 23:46), Lukas Draschkowitz (at 25:33), Phileas Lyssy (at 39:59)

HDK Maribor vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden 1:4 (0:2,1:0,0:2)
Sat., 13 December 2025, 18:30, Ledna dvorana Maribor
HDK Maribor scorer: Adi Drnda (at 27:33)
Sharks Gmunden scorers: Fabian Richter (at 13:28/PP1), Hubert Berger (at 16:18, 55:53), André Flatscher (at 58:43/EN)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein have a bye.

Ö Eishockey Liga format 2025/2026

The Ö Eishockey Liga began the new season with the first matchday on 4 October 2025. In its fifth year, the format will undergo a change in Phase 1 in the two divisions: the West with six teams and the East with five teams. In the Eastern Division, there will be two-and-a-half rounds of home-and-away fixtures in the coming season, resulting in 20 games per team. In the Western Division, as in the previous season, two rounds of home-and-away fixtures will be played, also resulting in 20 games per team.

After Phase 1, there will once again be an inter-regional playoff, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the coming season, a playoff pick following the regular season will also provide additional excitement. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose its quarter-final opponent from the third- or fourth-placed team in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the playoff match-ups will be decided in a best-of-three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

All tables, statistics and fixtures of the Ö Eishockey Liga in the Gamecenter

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