Release from 19.02.2026

Two top games on Friday | Race for Pre-Playoffs continues

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Six matchups are on Friday’s schedule in the win2day ICE Hockey League – for some teams, it will be their first action after an extended break. League leader EC-KAC hosts fourth-placed Olimpija Ljubljana, while HCB Südtirol Alperia welcomes the Moser Medical Graz99ers for another top-six clash. This game will be broadcast live on Sporteurope.TV with German commentary. Meanwhile, the race for the pre-playoffs continues to heat up.

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EC-KAC – Olimpija Ljubljana
Klagenfurt can secure home-ice advantage for the quarterfinals with any point against Ljubljana. The Red Jackets boast the league’s second-best offense (3.53 goals per game) and have collected points in 17 of their last 18 home games. Ljubljana travels to Austria with the league’s most productive attack (3.77 goals per game) following a 7–5 home win over the Vienna Capitals. On the road, however, the Slovenians have been inconsistent – in 16 of 21 away games, the team that scored first went on to win. Historically, KAC dominates the head-to-head series, though Ljubljana has won two of the three meetings this season.

EC Red Bull Salzburg – EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
After a three-week league break, Salzburg returns to action sitting third in the standings. The Red Bulls aim to regain their playoff rhythm and keep their chances alive for a direct CHL berth. They are unbeaten against Villach this season but needed overtime twice. VSV currently holds eighth place, eight points clear of eleventh, and recently completed a two-game trip to Hungary – winning in Budapest but losing in Fehérvár.

Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Vienna Capitals
Vienna suffered defeat in Ljubljana on Wednesday, while Linz celebrated a shutout win in Vorarlberg. The Capitals sit seventh, one spot above Linz. Both teams are on the verge of securing their pre-playoff berths and are fighting for home advantage. Linz has been dominant at home, collecting 41 of its 58 points in the Linz AG Eisarena, and features Graham Knott, the league’s fifth-highest scorer. Linz leads the season series 2–1, having also taken the first home matchup 4–1.

Pioneers Vorarlberg – FTC-Telekom
Pioneers Vorarlberg still have five games left but are already eliminated from pre-playoff contention. Newcomer FTC-Telekom Budapest is also in danger of missing the top 10 after four consecutive losses dropped them to eleventh – seven points behind the pre-playoff zone. Both teams have conceded 163 goals, the second-highest total in the league. Ferencváros has won all three meetings so far this season.

HCB Südtirol Alperia – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Currently second in the standings, Graz has five games remaining and needs just two more wins to lock in second place – and with it, a CHL ticket. Bolzano dropped to fifth on Wednesday and is battling for home ice in the quarterfinals. The Foxes have practiced with a reduced roster over the past 20 days, as eight players were away competing at the Olympic Games. Graz has won all three previous encounters this season, including a shootout victory in Bolzano in early November.

This matchup will be broadcast live on Sporteurope.TV with German commentary.

HC Falkensteiner Pustertal – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Following Vienna’s loss on Wednesday, HC Pustertal is now guaranteed a top-six finish and a direct quarterfinal spot. Six players recently returned from Olympic duty as the Wolves gear up for the decisive stretch. The Bruncio side still has a chance to crack the top four and earn home ice for the quarterfinals. Fehérvár, sitting tenth, continues its push for the pre-playoffs and currently holds a seven-point lead over local rival Budapest after its latest win against Villach. Pustertal has won the last five head-to-head duels, including all three this season.

Saturday, February 21, 2026
HC TIWAG Innsbruck – FTC-Telekom
Budapest continues its road trip in Innsbruck on Saturday. The Tyroleans will finish the season at the bottom of the table but aim to pick up a few morale-boosting results. The Hungarians have won all three previous meetings.

HCB Südtirol Alperia – Hydro Fehérvár AV19
Bolzano and Fehérvár play their second game within 24 hours. The Foxes lead the season series 2–1.

win2day ICE Hockey League
Fri, 20.02.2026
19:15: EC-KAC - Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: K. NIKOLIC, M. NIKOLIC, Bärnthaler, Muzsik

19:15: EC Red Bull Salzburg - EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV
Referees: STERNAT, ZRNIC, E. Seewald, J. Seewald

19:15: Steinbach Black Wings Linz - Vienna Capitals
Referees: OFNER, PIRAGIC, Durmis, Konc

19:30: Pioneers Vorarlberg - FTC-Telekom
Referees: R. HUBER, SMETANA, Bedynek, Divis

19:45: HCB Südtirol Alperia - Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: A. HUBER, KAINBERGER, Mantovani, Pardatscher

19:45: HC Falkensteiner Pustertal - Hydro Fehervar AV 19
Referees: GROZNIK, SCHAUER, Fleischmann, Zgonc

Sat, 21.02.2026
17:30: HC TIWAG Innsbruck - Die Haie - FTC-Telekom
Referees: SMETANA, WINKLER, Bedynek, Dummermuth-Haas

18:00: HCB Südtirol Alperia - Hydro Fehervar AV 19
Referees: A. HUBER, RIVIS, Mantovani, Pardatscher