VSV’s last win at arch-rivals was on February 2, 2016. Early goals from Anthony Luciani (4′) and Robert Sabolic (6′) made it clear to the guests that they wanted to end this long dry spell. Arturs Kulda made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute. KAC, which had been weak for a long time, came close again with goals from Rok Ticar (39th) and Fabian Hochegger (58th). But in the end, the blue and whites celebrated their 145th victory in the 346th derby. In the table, VSV secured fourth place, while the Klagenfurt team remained seven points behind the Capitals and therefore currently have to go through the pre-play-off.

Champion Salzburg meanwhile took the lead after a goalless first third in Vienna through Peter Schneider (31st). However, the Capitals immediately equalized with James Sheppard outnumbered (33rd). In the final third, Ali Wukovits (56th) and Mario Huber (59th), who hit the empty goal, made the decision in favor of the guests. For Salzburg it was the sixth win in a row, tantamount to qualifying for the quarter-finals.

HC Bozen had already done that before. The South Tyrolean league leaders struggled in Graz with the 99ers to win 2-1 after penalties. In the shootout, the Italians prevailed 2-1 after 16 penalties. Daniel Mantenuto converted the last penalty for HCB and secured his team’s seventh win in a row.

Innsbruck quickly found its way onto the road to victory in Ljubljana. Corey Mackin, Nico Feldner and Daniel Leavens gave the visitors a 3-0 lead. The Slovenians never recovered from the deficit, they conceded their eighth defeat in a row. Meanwhile, HC Pustertal celebrated a 4-1 away win at Black Wings Linz. The eleventh-placed wolves thus secure three extremely important points in the fight for a top 10 place, which entitles them to the pre-play-off. The South Tyroleans are only one point behind Asiago and two behind the Graz99ers.