Release from 08.03.2025

Historic Playoff Drama: Last-Minute Equalizer Twice in One Series

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The quarterfinal series between the Moser Medical Graz99ers and the Steinbach Black Wings Linz is turning into a true playoff thriller. In two consecutive games, the equalizing goal was scored in the final minute—an absolute rarity in the recent history of the win2day ICE Hockey League. In the 25-year playoff history of the league, there have only been two other series where this rare scenario occurred twice in a row, and three series where it happened in two games at all.

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Overall, in the past 25 years, a playoff game has been tied in the final 60 seconds exactly 25 times, forcing overtime. However, for this to happen multiple times within a single series is an exceptional rarity. Particularly remarkable: The Steinbach Black Wings Linz have already been involved in two of the three previous series with a similar dramatic storyline.

Linz at the Center of Spectacular Playoff Moments

  • 2015, Semifinals: In the series between the Steinbach Black Wings Linz and the spusu Vienna Capitals, both Game 1 and Game 2 went to overtime due to last-minute goals. Linz managed to win one of these two games.
  • 2016, Quarterfinals: Two more games, Game 3 and Game 6 between HCB Südtirol Alperia and Linz, also saw last-minute equalizers. Once again, the Black Wings secured an overtime victory.
  • 2018, Quarterfinals: The only series with two last-minute equalizers without Linz’s involvement. In Game 3 and Game 4, EC-KAC and HCB Südtirol Alperia experienced a similar spectacle, featuring a historic moment: KAC took the lead with 17 seconds left on the clock, but Bolzano forced overtime with a goal from Alex Petan just one second before the final buzzer—the latest playoff goal ever to send a game into overtime.

The Dramatic 2025 Quarterfinal Series
Now, the ongoing quarterfinal series between the Steinbach Black Wings Linz and the Moser Medical Graz99ers joins this extraordinary list—with yet another remarkable peculiarity: In both games, the team that had never led in regulation time ended up winning. The first lead of each game turned out to be the game-winning goal in overtime.

  • Game 2: The Black Wings led 2-0 after 18 minutes, but the Graz99ers cut the deficit in the second period and forced overtime with a goal from Marcus Vela just 52 seconds before the end of regulation. His goal marked the 24th-latest equalizer in the league’s playoff history.
  • Game 3: The drama escalated even further. With just 42 seconds left before the final buzzer, Sean Collins scored the 21st-latest playoff equalizer ever, sending Linz into overtime—this time with the better outcome for the Black Wings.

The next chapter of this drama will be written on Saturday, March 8—LIVE on PULS 24.