Ingolstadt enter the knockout stage on the back of an impressive recovery run. After opening with defeats to Ilves Tampere and KalPa Kuopio, the German side responded with four consecutive wins, including a statement 7-3 victory over EV Zug and an 8-2 triumph against Odense Bulldogs on the final Game Day of the Regular Season. That surge lifted them to sixth place and underlined their attacking depth, with 23 goals scored across six games.

Forward Riley Barber led the way offensively with eight points, supported by Riley Sheen, Austen Keating, and Peter Abbandonato, who all chipped in consistently. On the blue line, Alex Breton added another layer of danger from the back end, scoring three goals in just four appearances. In goal, Brett Brochu has carried the bulk of the minutes, earning three wins with solid support from Devin Williams. Ingolstadt’s powerplay and face-off efficiency - both among the best in the competition - make them a difficult team to slow down once they gain momentum.

Salzburg, meanwhile, bring CHL pedigree and balance across all areas. The Austrian champions finished their Regular Season at 3–3, with narrow losses offset by confident home wins against Eisbären Berlin, Pinguins Bremerhaven and GKS Tychy.

Defenceman Connor Corcoran was instrumental from the point, contributing two goals and three points, while forwards Thomas Raffl, Benjamin Nissner and Lucas Thaler have been steady producers in a well-spread offence. Goaltender Atte Tolvanen remains a pillar of reliability, posting a 92.9% save rate and a 1.51 GAA through four games.

Both sides have proven they can play structured yet offensive hockey. This match-up could hinge on special teams and goaltending, with Ingolstadt’s speed and recent scoring form testing Salzburg’s disciplined defensive setup.