In the final phase of the basic round of the win2day ICE Hockey League, four games are on the program on Sunday. In the top game, league leaders EC-KAC will be visiting second-placed Moser Medical Graz99ers. The duel between Salzburg and Pustertal also brings together two teams from the top 6.
EC Red Bull Salzburg – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
After the shootout defeat against Villach, Salzburg will play their next home game on Sunday. Three laps before the end of the regular round, the Red Bulls are in third place and are fighting to maintain this position against their pursuers Bozen. Pustertal travels with a 4-2 home win against Fehérvár and, with 149 goals scored, has a similarly productive offensive as Salzburg (151 goals). In the last few rounds, the South Tyroleans showed changeable performances with alternating victories and defeats. However, they won all three duels of the season so far.
Steinbach Black Wings Linz – HK Olimpija Ljubljana
After the successful restart from the Olympic break with a shutout win, the Linzers had to admit defeat 1:4 at home against Vienna on Friday. In the three remaining games, the Upper Austrians’ aim is to secure the top 10. As currently ninth, they even have a chance of having the home advantage in the pre-playoffs. Ljubljana lost the top game at KAC 0-2 on Friday and fell back to fifth place. The Slovenians have the best offense in the league with 169 goals – led by league top scorer Nicolai Meyer (56 points) and defender TJ Brennan (50 points). Olimpija is also one of the top teams in special teams. In a direct season comparison, the Slovenians lead with 2-1 wins, so far there have only been home wins.
EC iDM heat pumps VSV – Pioneers Vorarlberg
VSV celebrated a 4-3 win after a penalty shootout in Salzburg on Friday and is in a good starting position in the race for the pre-playoffs. After 45 games, the blue-whites have 60 points and are in eighth place. The Pioneers, on the other hand, came out of the Olympic break with two defeats and are now facing their last long away trip of the season. For the team from Feldkirch, the most important thing is to finish the basic round on a positive note. In the three duels of the season so far, the home team prevailed – Villach won at home 5:2, the Pioneers won their two home games 5:4 and 4:1.
Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC
The top game between the second-placed team and the leader takes place in the sold-out Merkur Ice Stadium. The Graz99ers had to clearly admit defeat in Bozen on Friday, but are still in second place, well ahead of Salzburg and the HCB. Head coach Dan Lacroix’s team impresses with its stable defense and strong special teams. The KAC travels to Graz with a tailwind: around the Olympic break, the Red Jackets celebrated two shutout home wins (4-0 against Linz, 2-0 against Ljubljana) and have not conceded a goal for almost 140 minutes of play. Any point gain would secure the Klagenfurt team’s right to pick in the quarter-finals, a win – even after extra time or a penalty shootout – would be their third CHL participation in a row. The Carinthians are one of the strongest away teams this season and have scored just as many points in other venues as at home. Although the historical record (100 wins from 153 duels) clearly speaks in favor of the KAC, the Styrians are ahead in the current season. All three previous meetings ended in a 3-2 away win – twice of which came in extra time.
win2day ICE Hockey League
Sun, February 22, 2026
3:00 p.m.: EC Red Bull Salzburg – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: FICHTNER, OFNER, Nothegger, Zacherl
3:30 p.m.: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Olimpija Ljubljana
Referees: STERNAT, UNTERWEGER, J. Seewald, Vaczi
5:00 p.m.: EC iDM heat pumps VSV – Pioneers Vorarlberg
Referees: PIRAGIC, REZEK, Jeram, Riecken
6:30 p.m.: Moser Medical Graz99ers – EC-KAC
Referees: HRONSKY, ZRNIC, Jedlicka, Puff
All games will be broadcast on streaming partner Sporteurope.tv.
ice.hockey , Image: Fradimedia
