Release from 03.03.2025

First Chance for a Quarterfinal Rematch

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The quarterfinal series of the win2day ICE Hockey League kicked off on Sunday with three home wins and a goal record. The Moser Medical Graz99ers were the only road team to steal an advantage and will now take it into Game 2 at Merkur Eisstadion. 

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Moser Medical Graz99ers vs. Steinbach Black Wings Linz LIVE on ORF Sport+
Fans of the win2day ICE Hockey League witnessed an astonishing 15-goal showdown in Game 1 between the Steinbach Black Wings Linz and Moser Medical Graz99ers – the highest-scoring postseason game in the 25-year history of the league. While another goal festival of this magnitude in Game 2 seems unlikely, the ingredients for an exciting playoff battle – LIVE on ORF Sport+ – are certainly there. In three of their four regular-season clashes, these teams combined for seven or more goals. Wins and losses have alternated in this matchup (including Game 1 of the playoffs). One game even went to a shootout. Everything is set for another high-caliber showdown, with the Black Wings aiming to extend the trend of alternating victories. The Moser Medical Graz99ers, however, will do everything in their power to carry the momentum from Game 1 into the second quarterfinal, looking to secure a commanding 2-0 series lead on home ice.

HC Pustertal vs. EC-KAC LIVE on PULS 24
HC Pustertal vs. EC-KAC is the second quarterfinal matchup available on free TV: PULS 24 will broadcast LIVE from Bruneck for the first time this season. In their quarterfinal opener, the Regular Season Champions delivered a dominant 4-0 victory. Goaltender Sebastian Dahm recorded his ninth shutout of the season, putting him just one shutout away from tying his own league record of ten shutouts set in the 2020/21 season. Dahm also blanked HC Pustertal in their final regular-season matchup, meaning he has now gone 137 minutes and 29 seconds without conceding a goal against the "Puschtra" offense. The South Tyrolean squad will need to find a quick solution to break through Dahm and the KAC defense. They’ve proven it can be done: In the first three meetings this season, they averaged an impressive 4.67 goals per game.

Hydro Fehérvár AV19 vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg
The EC Red Bull Salzburg remains Hydro Fehérvár AV19’s playoff nemesis. On Sunday, the Bulls secured their tenth consecutive playoff win against the Hungarian squad (Quarterfinal sweep 2023, Final sweep 2021, Game 6 quarterfinal win in 2019). The last playoff victory for Fehérvár against Salzburg dates back to March 22, 2019. The "Red Devils" have often been close, though: Six of their last ten playoff losses against Salzburg were "one-goal games," including the series opener in 2025. Fehérvár, which led the regular-season standings for a long stretch, has struggled to regain its rhythm after a lengthy break in early February. A poor finish to the regular season saw them drop to seventh place following six losses and just one win. Even in the pre-playoff series against the tenth-seeded spusu Vienna Capitals, they had a tough time securing their quarterfinal ticket. To stand a chance against the defending champions and finally break the "playoff curse" against EC Red Bull Salzburg, the Hungarians need a serious spark.

EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV vs. HCB Südtirol Alperia
The EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV and HCB Südtirol Alperia will face off for the sixth time this season. Villach has managed to win just one of those encounters: a 3-1 home victory in January. The "Adler" will once again rely on the support of their home crowd in Game 2 on Tuesday. However, they must drastically improve their finishing compared to Game 1, where they converted just one of their 37 shots. Perhaps Regular Season MVP John Hughes, who will receive the Ron Kennedy Trophy on Tuesday, can be the game-changer against the powerhouse from Bolzano. Facing Sam Harvey – who leads the league in save percentage with 92.6% – Hughes will need to put his creativity to work. Meanwhile, the "Foxes" will stick to their signature defensive strength – no team allowed fewer goals this season – aiming to frustrate Villach once again and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

win2day ICE Hockey League: Tuesday, 04.03.2025 | Quarterfinals, Game 2
18:30 Moser Medical Graz99ers - Steinbach Black Wings Linz | >> ORF Sport+ <<
Referees: SEEWALD E., STERNAT, Bedynek, Riecken
Series Stand: 1-0

19:15 EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: HUBER, NIKOLIC M., Bärnthaler, Puff | >> live.ice.hockey <<
Series Stand: 0-1

19:15 Hydro Fehérvár AV19 - EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: FICHTNER, OFNER, Durmis, Muzsik | >> live.ice.hockey <<
Series Stand: 0-1

19:30 HC Pustertal - EC-KAC
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Pardatscher, Zgonc |  >> PULS 24 & JOYN <<
Series Stand: 0-1