WEV beat Kapfen­berg away from home again – Wattens Penguins win derby shootout against Kundl

For the fifth and final time on Friday in the East Division, KSV Kängurus and Wiener Eislauf-Verein crossed sticks in the regular season. The Styrians led after exactly ten minutes: During a spell of pressure from the home side, Luca Fasching fired from just in front of the blue line in the offensive zone and found the net with a powerful shot to make it 1:0 (11 min.).

WEV equalised exactly two minutes later with a wonderful goal: Patrick Bolterle sent Lukas Pohl through with a superb backhand pass, and Pohl wrong-footed KSV netminder Oliver Zirngast with a fine deke before lifting the puck into the net for 1:1 (13 min.). The Viennese then struck on their very first power play: Stephan Rossmann curled the puck into the net for 2:1 (16 min.).

The contest remained evenly balanced in the second period. With every shift, it became increasingly clear that the playoffs were just around the corner. Both teams were solid defensively but also created scoring chances. Kapfenberg applied heavy pressure during two power plays, while the Viennese, together with netminder Moritz Merkader, held firm against the equaliser.

A double strike within six seconds suddenly put the visitors three goals ahead: Following a superb combination, Patrick Bolterle scored with a fine deke to make it 3:1 (34 min.). Straight from the face-off, Lukas Kaider drove forward forcefully and made it 4:1 (34 min.). The Kängurus responded appropriately, with Lukas Winkler reducing the deficit to 2:4 after a rebound (38 min.).

In the final period, the Kängurus tried everything to turn the game around. However, the leaders could manage no more than Lukas Draschkowitz’s goal to make it 3:4, converting a rebound off the post from close range (57 min.). The Mürz Valley side also pulled netminder Oliver Zirngast at the end, but WEV saw out their narrow lead to celebrate their second consecutive away win against the Kängurus.

Kapfenberg conclude the regular season on Saturday with the major home clash against defending champions Sharks Gmunden for first place and the accompanying playoff pick right. The pick takes place on Sunday at 10:00, when the quarter-final match-ups will be confirmed.

West Division:

Wattens Penguins celebrate derby win over EHC Kundl

The Lower Inn Valley derby between WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins and EHC Kundl opened the final regular-season matchday in the West Division on Friday. Both teams made a lively start to the game, with the hosts taking the lead after almost twelve minutes: Following a shot by Christoph Hörtnagl and a brief save by Kundl netminder Jakub Kostelny, Luca Muigg lifted the puck into the net with his backhand to make it 1:0 (13 min.). Kundl had a power play in the first period but could not turn their numerical advantage into an equaliser.

The Penguins also made the better start to the second period. After a quick counter-attack, David Schwarzer entered the offensive zone and scored with a wrist shot to make it 2:0 (24 min.). Kundl then made use of two power plays and equalised within 24 seconds. First, Michal Kluka scored from the slot to make it 1:2 (26 min.), before Maximilian Agerer struck with a one-timer from the left face-off circle to make it 2:2 (26 min.).

Wattens regained the lead three minutes after the halfway point of the game: Fabian Nußbaumer fired home clinically from the slot to make it 3:2 (34 min.). The Penguins added another in the second period: Following a turnover while shorthanded, Luca Muigg skated into the offensive zone down the right wing and scored a classic shorthander to make it 4:2 (39 min.).

The hosts controlled the game in the final period until Kundl’s Daniel Jakubitzka sent the puck from the left face-off circle into the far corner to reduce the deficit to 3:4 (50 min.). The equaliser came on a power play, with Sebastian Schild scoring from the right face-off circle to make it 4:4 (54 min.). Shortly before the end, Kundl took the lead for the first time in the derby thriller: Maximilian Mackner finished off a fine power-play combination to make it 5:4 (59 min.).

The thriller became even more dramatic: With 19 seconds remaining, Philipp Niederhauser sent Wattens into overtime with the 5:5 equaliser – also on the power play (60 min.). There was no decision in overtime, and in the shootout Luca Muigg and Mikus Mintautiskis scored for Wattens, while Michal Kluka was successful for Kundl.

The Penguins celebrated their third win of the season against Kundl with the 6:5 result. Nevertheless, the Penguins’ season is over after the regular season in fifth place, while EHC Kundl eagerly await Sunday, when the Ö Eishockey Liga playoff pick takes place at 10:00. In the East Division, the major showdown for first place and the associated pick right between leaders Kapfenberg and defending champions Sharks Gmunden takes place on Saturday.

Ö Ice Hockey League - Eastern Division:

KSV Kängurus vs. Wiener Eislauf-Verein 3:4 (1:2,1:2,1:0)
Fri, 30 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg
KSV Kängurus goalscorers: Luca Fasching (10:00), Lukas Winkler (37:07), Lukas Draschkowitz (56:50)
Wiener Eislauf-Verein goalscorers: Lukas Pohl (12:00), Stephan Rossmann (15:13/PP1), Patrick Bolterle (33:13), Lukas Kaider (33:19)

Wiener Eislauf-Verein vs. HDK Maribor
Sat, 31 January 2026, 19:00, WEV Arena, Heumarkt - >> Watch live stream

KSV Kängurus vs. UEHV CAM4DENT Sharks Gmunden
Sat, 31 January 2026, 19:30, Stadthalle Kapfenberg - >> Watch live stream

Ö Ice Hockey League - Western Division:

WSG Swarovski Wattens Penguins vs. EHC Kundl 6:5 after shootout (1:0,3:2,1:3,0:0,1:0)
Fri, 30 January 2026, 18:30, Alpenstadion Wattens
Wattens Penguins goalscorers: Luca Muigg (12:03, 38:40/SH1), David Schwarzer (23:38), Fabian Nußbaumer (33:01), Philipp Niederhauser (59:41/PP1), Mikus Mintautiskis (65:00/decisive penalty)
EHC Kundl goalscorers: Michal Kluka (25:04/PP1), Maximilian Agerer (25:28/PP1), Daniel Jakubitzka (49:26), Sebastian Schild (53:13/PP1), Maximilian Mackner (58:06/PP1)

SC Samina Hohenems vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat, 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisstadion Hohenems - >> Watch live stream

HC Kufstein vs. Dornbirner EC Bulldogs
Sat., 31 January 2026, 17:30, Eisarena Kufstein - >> Watch the livestream

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 has undergone a change in Phase 1 in both divisions: West with six teams and East with five teams. In the East Division, the coming season will feature a two-and-a-half round robin, resulting in 20 games per team. In the West Division, as in the previous season, two home-and-away rounds will be played, also resulting in 20 games per team.

After Phase 1, an inter-regional play-off will once again take place, beginning with the quarter-finals on 07 February 2026. In the current season, a play-off pick will once again add extra excitement after the regular season. The highest-placed team in each of the West and East Divisions may choose its quarter-final opponent from the team placed third or fourth in the other division. From the quarter-finals through the semi-finals to the final, the play-off match-ups will be decided in Best-of-Three series (H/A/H) from next season onwards.

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

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