Showdown for the championship in the Austrian Ice Hockey League, Part I: The EHC Lustenau celebrated a hard-fought 4-2 victory against the KSV Kängurus in the first match of the best-of-three series in the Rheinhalle on Saturday in front of over 1,800 fans. The Vorarlbergers have the first match puck on the title in the second final game on Saturday, March 14th in the Kapfenberg town hall. If the series is tied after two games, the all-important game will take place again in Lustenau on Saturday, March 21st. The winner of the final series is the Austrian champion of the Austrian Ice Hockey League – season 2025/2026.
Suddenly there were only two left: EHC Lustenau met the KSV Kangaroos on Saturday in the first final home game of the Austrian Ice Hockey League in the Rheinhalle Lustenau in front of 1,800 fans. After the atmospheric Austrian national anthem, the two best teams started the all-important best-of-three series for the title after the basic round and got started straight away without much testing. The guests had the first advantage early on due to a mistake in substitution by Lustenauer, but failed to score. The Vorarlbergers then took command and were superior without creating any real top chances. The Lions then also had their first power play opportunity – this time the Kapfenbergers had too many players on the ice when they made a substitution. As the first third continued, the Styrians got better into the game with every change, and a brisk back and forth developed. Both goalies – Felix Beck at Lustenau and Felix Nußbacher at Kapfenberg – did not allow a goal to be conceded until the first siren.
In the second period, Lustenau’s goalgetter Chris D’Alvise appeared in the slot after a quick attack, and KSV keeper Nußbacher made a hand save for the gallery on his slap shot. The first final game naturally became more intense and exciting with every minute. Daniel Oberkofler had the best chance for the Kangaroos at half-time, but was denied from close range by Lustenau keeper Beck. In return, Manuel Metzler forced KSV goalkeeper Nußbacher to make a monster save with his catching hand with a shot from the slot. With the game scoreless for a long time, emotions arose on both sides, and the nervous strain on the players increased with every minute. Lustenau survived being outnumbered and even had the chance for a shorthander twice. With the last attack in the second period, the hosts took the lead with the first goal in the series: Riku Tiainen brought the disc over the line with the last effort falling out of the slot exactly five seconds before the second siren to make it 1-0 for Lustenau (40th).
The Lions got off to a dream start in the final third: After a nice combination, Martin Grabher Meier scored from close range to make it 2-0 (42nd). Almost four minutes later, Kapfenberg had also reached the final series: After a nice attack, Pierre Graf used a wonderful cross pass from Christoph Draschkowitz to make it 1-2 (46th). The home team quickly found the right answer and restored the two-goal lead: Riku Tiainen pulled away after a quick attack from the right face-off circle and increased the lead to 3-1 for Lustenauer (48th). The Lions followed up: Jonas Kutzer made it 4-1 with a soulful wrist shot (54th). Just 40 seconds later, the match was exciting again: Christoph Draschkowitz held out the bat to a pass from his brother Lukas and reduced the score to 2:4 (55th). Soon afterwards, the Mürztal team had the advantage, and in one phase they even had a 5:3 advantage. Lustenau fought vehemently against a goal and defended the two-goal lead. In the end, the Styrians pulled their goalie Felix Nußbacher, the Lustenauers didn’t allow anything more and made it 1-0 in the best-of-three series. The second final match will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. in the Kapfenberg town hall. EHC Lustenau can secure the championship title with an away win, Kapfenberger can only extend the series with a home win.
Ö Ice Hockey League 2025/2026 – Playoff – Final
Game 1:
EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kangaroos 4:2 (0:0.1:0.3:2)
Sat., March 7, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau
Goal scorers EHC Lustenau: Riku Tiainen (39:55 mins, 47:06 mins), Martin Grabher Meier (41:32 mins), Jonas Kutzer (53:43 mins/PP1)
Goal scorers KSV Kangaroos: Pierre Graf (45:23 mins), Christoph Draschkowitz (54:23 mins).
Standings in the best-of-three series: 1:0
Game 2:
KSV Kangaroos vs. EHC Lustenau
Sat., March 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Kapfenberg town hall — >> to the live stream
Game 3 (If necessary):
EHC Lustenau vs. KSV Kangaroos
Sat., March 21, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Rheinhalle Lustenau – >> to the live stream
www.eishockey.at, Pic: KSV/Gärtner
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