KAC Klagenfurt’s return to the Champions Hockey League didn’t go as planned, as the Austrian side fell 4–1 at home to Sparta Prague in their opener. The Rotjacken worked hard and generated moments of pressure, but they couldn’t match Sparta’s efficiency in front of goal. Their only breakthrough came late in the game when Finn van Ee finished off a stretch pass from Jesper Jensen Aabo, a play that at least gave the home crowd something to celebrate. The message is clear, the Austrians must turn effort into points if they want to stay in the Playoff race. With the fan-packed Heidi Horten-Arena backing them again on Saturday, KAC will hope that home ice and experience can help them rebound quickly.

Eisbären Berlin, meanwhile, made the perfect start with a 3–0 road win in Norway against Storhamar Hamar. The reigning DEL champions showed the kind of composure and control that has made them a respected club. Leonhard Pföderl opened the scoring on the powerplay, Mitchell Reinke added a second with a booming one-timer and Korbinian Geibel sealed the win late, while Jonas Stettmer earned the shutout in goal. It was a professional performance from start to finish, underlining why Berlin are expected to challenge deep into the competition.

That sets the stage for this Game Day 2 clash. Klagenfurt will want to prove they can compete with the best, while Berlin will aim to keep their strong momentum rolling. With one side eager for redemption and the other already in stride, Saturday night promises to be a lively contest in Austria.