On September 12, 2025, the win2day ICE Hockey League started its 26th season. Almost five and a half months later, the regular season ends on Sunday – the most wonderful time of the year, namely the playoff ice hockey, is approaching. Before that, however, there are still a few decisions to be made.
In the duel for first place, the EC-KAC is one point ahead of the Moser Medical Graz99ers. While Klagenfurt will host the Vienna Capitals on Sunday, Graz will host the Steinbach Black Wings Linz in the ORF Sport+ live game. In the fight for the last pre-playoff place there is even a direct duel between the Hungarian local rivals: FTC-Telekom needs a win after regular time at Hydro Fehérvár AV19 in order to overtake Fehérvár and reach the pre-playoffs in the premiere season. There may also be other, not unimportant, rank changes.
After the basic round has been completed, the pre-playoffs will continue next Wednesday. The pairings will be published on the win2day ICE Hockey League channels on Sunday shortly after the end of the last game.
Table leader EC-KAC has held on to 100 points since Friday, but these are not yet enough to finish the regular season firmly in first place. The lead over Graz is still only one point, and the Klagenfurt team also lost the direct duel against the Styrians. The opponents on Sunday are the Vienna Capitals. The seventh-place team secured home advantage in the pre-playoffs with a 3-2/SO home win against Hydro Fehérvár AV19 on Friday, but can still slip to eighth place on Sunday if they remain without points and Villach celebrate a win after regular time against Pustertal at the same time. The Viennese team have not yet won a game against the KAC this season (1:3, 2:4, 2:3).
Linz challenges Graz in the ORF Sport+ live game
The Steinbach Black Wings Linz have qualified for the pre-playoffs since their 2-0 away win at FTC-Telekom on Friday. It was their first win after two defeats in a row. They will finish the regular season in eighth or ninth place. In ninth place, they are currently one point behind Villach and lost the direct duel against the Adler. The Moser Medical Graz99ers have to win and at the same time hope that Vienna scores in Klagenfurt in order to overtake the EC-KAC and finish the regular season in first place. On Friday they celebrated a 2-0 home win against VSV – it was their third win in a row. However, the Styrians had a difficult time against the Black Wings this season: they won two of the three duels, but only by one goal difference (4:3, 3:2). In Linz they lost 2:3/OT. This game will be broadcast live on ORF Sport+ from 5:20 p.m.
Direct duel for tenth place
On the last matchday there will also be a direct duel for the last pre-playoff place – also the Hungarian derby between Hydro Fehérvár AV19 and league newcomer FTC-Telekom. Fehérvár goes into the match with a two-point lead and clearly won the first three duels of the season (6:3, 6:1, 5:1). FTC therefore needs a win after regular time in order to qualify for the pre-playoffs. However, FTC won the last meeting in the Hungarian Cup final 4-2. On Friday, the Budapest team lost 2-0 against Linz, while Fehérvár suffered a 3-4/SO defeat in Vienna and suffered their fourth defeat in a row.
Pustertal can still improve to fifth place
An improvement in rank is possible for sixth-placed HC Falkensteiner Pustertal: with an away win at EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV they could move up to fifth place. The gap to Olimpija Ljubljana, fifth in the table without a game, is only one point, and Pustertal also won the direct duel against the Slovenians. It wasn’t until Friday that they prevailed with 3:2/OT. The VSV lost 2-0 in Graz and suffered its first defeat after two wins in a row. Villach can still move up to seventh place, but to do so they need a win after 60 minutes and at the same time Vienna cannot get a point from the KAC. At the same time, there is also a risk of slipping to ninth place, as Linz is only one point behind – although Villach won the direct duel against the Black Wings. VSV has not yet won a game against Pustertal this season (1:3, 3:4/OT, 0:3).
Salzburg welcomes Innsbruck
There can be no changes in ranking in the game between EC Red Bull Salzburg and HC TIWAG Innsbruck. Salzburg finished the regular round in third place, Innsbruck in last place. It is the last game of the season for the Tyroleans. On Friday they defeated the Pioneers at home with 6:5/OT – their first win after eight defeats in a row. The Red Bulls were without a game, but had previously celebrated two wins in a row. In the previous direct duels, Salzburg won three times (4:0, 4:0, 4:2).
Pioneers end season against Bolzano
The twelfth-placed Pioneers Vorarlberg will face fourth-placed HCB Südtirol Alperia at the end of the season. Bolzano will finish the basic round in fourth place. On Friday, the South Tyroleans lost to the KAC 3:6 and suffered their second defeat in a row. The Pioneers, however, have not won their last eight games. In a direct comparison, Bozen has so far celebrated three clear victories against Vorarlberg (5:0, 7:1, 6:0).
win2day ICE Hockey League:
Sun, March 1, 2026:
5:30 p.m.: EC-KAC – Vienna Capitals
Referees: OFNER, STERNAT, Mantovani, Zacherl
5:30 p.m.: EC Red Bull Salzburg – HC TIWAG Innsbruck
Referees: HUBER R., NIKOLIC K., Dummermuth-Haas, Nothegger
5:30 p.m.: EC iDM heat pumps VSV – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: PIRAGIC, ZRNIC, Bedynek, Puff
5:30 p.m.: Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – FTC Telekom
Referees: NAGY, SOOS, Muzsik, Vaczi
5:30 p.m.: Steinbach Black Wings Linz – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: SIEGEL, SMETANA, Gatol, Riecken | LIVE on ORF Sport+
5:30 p.m.: Pioneers Vorarlberg – HCB Südtirol Alperia
Referees: NIKOLIC M., WINKLER, Divis, Fleischmann
All games will be broadcast on streaming partner Sporteurope.tv.
ice.hockey , Image: Soós Attila
