Round 44 on Tuesday and Wednesday: Pustertal vs. Graz as a Top-6 showdown

Sixth-placed Olimpija Ljubljana host 12th-ranked Pioneers Vorarlberg on Tuesday. The Slovenians already hold a 16-point lead over seventh place, while the Pioneers trail tenth place by eleven points. Most recently, Vorarlberg ended a two-game losing streak with a 4:1 home win against VSV. Olimpija collected six points on their road trip to Hungary and are currently on a three-game winning streak in the league. In the head-to-head series with the Pioneers, Ljubljana claimed two convincing victories, but the most recent meeting went to the team from Vorarlberg.

Graz can clinch a playoff spot in Pustertal
The Moser Medical Graz99ers need just one more point to secure their playoff qualification. The Styrians would also be guaranteed a spot even with a regulation-time loss if the Vienna Capitals fail to win in regulation in their parallel game against VSV. On Wednesday, the third-placed team travels to face fifth-ranked HC Falkensteiner Pustertal. The two sides are separated by six points and are both in good form. While Pustertal have won five of their last six games, Graz were victorious in only three of their last six outings, but have recorded seven wins in their last ten matches overall. In the first three head-to-head meetings with Pustertal, Graz claimed two clear victories (4:0, 4:1). On one occasion, however, the South Tyroleans celebrated a convincing 4:1 win.

Bolzano can also secure a playoff ticket
Alongside Graz, fourth-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia can also clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday, provided they win in regulation time at the Steinbach Black Wings Linz or Vienna drop points in Villach. Put simply: if Vienna do not collect more points than Bolzano, the South Tyroleans are through. For ninth-placed Steinbach Black Wings Linz, the Top 6 are no longer within reach. Instead, their main focus is on securing a spot in the pre-playoffs. Points against Bolzano would be extremely important in that pursuit. Currently, the Black Wings hold a three-point lead over 11th-placed Villach, albeit having played two more games. On Sunday, the Upper Austrians ended a three-game losing streak with a 3:2 win in Innsbruck, while Bolzano suffered a 0:3 defeat in Vienna, their first loss after two consecutive victories. Against Linz, however, the South Tyroleans have had little trouble this season (7:4, 6:3, 3:2).

In-form Capitals visit VSV
EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV suffered a setback in the race for the Top 10 on Sunday with a 1:4 loss at the Pioneers. As a result, the team in 11th place — which has still won three of its last five games — remains one point behind 10th-placed Budapest, but with two games in hand. Now, the in-form seventh-ranked Vienna Capitals travel to Villach. The Viennese have won their last three games — most recently against both South Tyrolean teams — and hold a six-point advantage over VSV. Two of the three previous head-to-head meetings with Villach went to the Carinthians, but the most recent clash in early January was won by the Capitals.

League leaders KAC host FTC
On Sunday, league leaders EC-KAC narrowly lost the top clash 3:4 against Salzburg, reducing their lead over the Red Bulls to just four points. For the team from Klagenfurt, it was one of only two defeats in their last five games. FTC-Telekom are currently in tenth place and most recently suffered a 3:4 loss to Ljubljana, conceding the decisive goal just four seconds before the end of the game. Prior to that, however, the Hungarians caused an upset with a 4:2 home victory over Salzburg. That win against the Red Bulls was only their third success in the last ten games, and they have yet to pose a serious challenge to KAC this season (0:5, 2:3, 2:6).

Ahead of the game against FTC, KAC have strengthened their offense with Nolan Moyle. The 26-year-old center joins the KAC as a replacement for injured captain Thomas Hundertpfund and has signed a contract through the end of the season. Moyle arrives in Klagenfurt from the Detroit Red Wings’ farm team.

Salzburg face Fehérvár
Second-placed EC Red Bull Salzburg will also host eighth-ranked Hydro Fehérvár AV19, who have lost their last six games and now hold only a five-point lead over 11th place. Salzburg’s deficit to league leaders KAC stands at just four points, and thanks to their 4:3 victory in Klagenfurt, they have already secured their playoff ticket as the second team in the league. Overall, Salzburg have suffered only two defeats in their last 18 games. The last meeting with Fehérvár dates back to November 16, when Salzburg won 4:1 at home. In Székesfehérvár, however, the Hungarians came out on top with a 3:2 victory.

win2day ICE Hockey League:
Tue, 27.01.2026:
19:15: Olimpija Ljubljana – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, SNOJ, Jeram, Zgonc

Wed, 28.01.2026:
19:15: EC-KAC – FTC-Telekom
Referees: HLAVATY, KAINBERGER, Gatol, Seewald J.

19:15: EC Red Bull Salzburg – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Referees: SMETANA, ZRNIC, Nothegger, Riecken

19:15: EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV - Vienna Capitals
Referees: SOOS, STERNAT, Hribar, Puff

19:15: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: FICHTNER, NIKOLIC K., Bedynek, Durmis

19:45: HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: HUBER A., OFNER, Fleischmann, Pardatscher

Watch all games live on Sporteurope.tv.