Graz reaches the final for the first time | Ljubljana strikes back with overtime win

The Moser Medical Graz99ers left no doubt in the fourth semifinal and have now reached the final for the first time in league history. Following wins of 3–2, 5–1, and 4–0 in the first three games, they sealed the series on Easter Sunday with a 5–1 away win at Hydro Fehérvár AV19. The visitors controlled the game throughout, though it took until the 24th minute for defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo to score the opening goal. After that, the floodgates opened: just about a minute and a half later, playoff top scorer Lukas Haudum made it 2–0. It was his third goal of the postseason and already his 13th point overall. A little over five minutes later, Paul Huber added another on the power play. For the 25-year-old, it was already his sixth playoff goal, making him the postseason’s top goal scorer. The score remained 3–0 until the 48th minute, when nearly 5,000 fans at the MET Aréna Székesfehérvár finally had something to cheer about. Anže Kuralt cut the deficit to 1–3 and briefly reignited hope. When Paul Huber was sent to the penalty box shortly after, the home crowd sensed an opportunity — but Michael Schiechl capitalized on a Hungarian mistake with a shorthanded goal to make it 4–1 and effectively decide the game. The 37-year-old later added an empty-net goal to complete his brace. The Graz99ers remain unbeaten in the playoffs and advance to the final for the first time in club history.

Ljubljana keeps season alive
In the second semifinal, a fifth game will be played. Olimpija Ljubljana defeated HC Falkensteiner Pustertal 5–4 in overtime in front of 4,300 fans, forcing Game 5 in Bruneck on Tuesday. Ljubljana conceded the 3–4 goal with just 104 seconds remaining in regulation through Luca Zanatta, but only 40 seconds later Zach Boychuk equalized again to force overtime. Earlier, Pustertal had taken leads of 1–0 and 2–1, capitalizing on defensive mistakes by Ljubljana.

The 1–1 equalizer by Rok Kapel in the 12th minute was Ljubljana’s first goal of the series and also ended Eddie Pasquale’s impressive shutout streak. After more than 279 minutes without conceding, the Pustertal goaltender finally allowed a goal again — setting both a playoff record and the longest shutout streak in league history. The previous record was held by Mikko Strömberg, who went 250 minutes and 18 seconds without conceding for Innsbruck in 2007.

In the 29th minute, Olimpija tied the game 2–2 through Robert Sabolič, before taking the lead for the first time in the 39th minute with a power-play goal by T.J. Brennan. This time, however, Pustertal responded through Ivan DeLuca in the 46th minute. In the end, a closely contested game deservedly went to overtime, where Nik Simšič scored the winner exactly 60 seconds before the end of the first overtime period. For Pustertal, it was their first loss in eight playoff games. Game 5 will follow on Tuesday in Bruneck.

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Sun, 05.04.2026:
Hydro Fehervar AV 19 - Moser Medical Graz99ers 1:5 (0:0, 0:3, 1:2)
Referees: HUBER, OFNER, Bedynek, Muzsik
Final standings in the best-of-7 series: 0:4
Goal AVS: 1:3 Kuralt A. (48.)
Goals G99: 0:1 Kotkansalo K. (24.), 0:2 Haudum L. (26.), 0:3 Huber P. (31./PP1), 1:4 Schiechl M. (50./SH1), 1:5 Schiechl M. (59./EN)

Olimpija Ljubljana - HC Falkensteiner Pustertal 5:4/OT (1:2, 2:0, 1:2, 1:0)
Referees: PIRAGIC, SMETANA, Mantovani, Riecken
Standings in the best-of-7 series: 1:3
Goals OLL: 1:1 Kapel R. (12.), 2:2 Sabolic R. (29.), 3:2 Brennan T. (39./PP1), 4:4 Boychuk Z. (59.), 5:4 Simsic N. (80.)
Goals HCP: 0:1 Bowlby H. (9.), 1:2 Almquist A. (17.), 3:3 Deluca I. (46.), 3:4 Zanatta L. (59.)