Release from 15.03.2025

Linz with a strong "Game 7" record

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After setting a new league record with three "Game Seven" decisions in last year's playoffs, the clash between the Steinbach Black Wings Linz and the Moser Medical Graz99ers in the 2025 quarter-finals will once again go to a Game 7. The Upper Austrians have been in this situation five times in their league history, four of which they came off the ice victorious.

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Since the league was founded in 2000/2001, "Game Sevens" have repeatedly provided goosebump moments. This is the 22nd time such a decisive game is played, with the quarter-finals providing the setting for these dramatic encounters ten times so far.

Home team dominates in quarter-final deciders
In the past, Game 7 has often been dominated by the home team. A trend that is particularly noticeable in the quarter-finals: in nine of the ten "Game Sevens" in this round so far, the hosts have been victorious. This dominance of home teams emphasises the importance of home advantage in the decisive moments of the season. Only last season did HC Pustertal (at Hydro Fehérvár AV19) become the first away team to win the series.

Only six times in total has an away team managed to prevail in a deciding game 7. The last time this happened was when EC Red Bull Salzburg were crowned champions in Klagenfurt on 19 April last year. One round earlier, the Red Bulls also came out on top against Bolzano in Game 7. The reigning champions have won seven of their ten "Game Seven" decisions to date. The Steinbach Black Wings Linz also have a very strong record with four wins out of five Game Seven duels. It was only two years ago that they were beaten for the first time in Bolzano. The Upper Austrians were the only team so far to win a best-of-7 series after trailing 3:1. The Black Wings were even 3:0 down against Vienna in the 2010 semi-final and still managed to advance. In the only Game 7 in the 99ers' history to date, the team from Graz lost 5:1 to Vienna on 3 March 2009.

Game 7 record of Linz:

  • 21.03.2023, quarter-final: HCB - BWL 3:2 OT
  • 20.03.2015, quarter-final: BWL - HCB 4:3
  • 10.03.2013, quarter-final: BWL - VSV 4:3
  • 04.03.2012, Quarter-final: BWL - VIC 8:3
  • 23.03.2010, semi-final: VIC - BWL 5:7

Game 7 record of Graz:

  • 03.03.2009, quarter-final: VIC - G99 5:1


Linz coach Philipp Lukas played at the Black Wings' historic victory in Vienna.

First deciding game ends in historic title win
The first Game 7 in league history took place on 12 April 2005 and is still well remembered by many fans. The Vienna Capitals defeated the EC-KAC 6:2 to secure their first league title.

The rarity of overtimes
For the fifth time in a row, the quarter-final duel between Linz and Graz went into overtime on Friday, equalling a record in European ice hockey. Interestingly, only three of the previous deciding game 7 have been decided in overtime. These overtimes ended quickly - in the 61st minute, in the 63rd minute and in the 62nd minute.