ERC Ingolstadt will open their Quarter-Final series against Frölunda Gothenburg in the SATURN-Arena, following a Round of 16 in which both teams advanced through intense, high-scoring affairs. Ingolstadt overcame Red Bull Salzburg in a goal-heavy match-up, taking a decisive 6-2 win at home before surviving a furious Austrian push in a chaotic 9-6 aggregate victory. Frölunda, meanwhile, handled Grenoble with composed, structured hockey, winning 3-1 away and then holding the French side back at home to win 4-3 on aggregate and reach their eighth Quarter-Final appearance.

For Ingolstadt, the story of the First Game against Salzburg was the star performance of Riley Barber, who netted a hattrick and dictated large stretches of play. Philipp Krauß also added two crucial goals, proving their attack was sharp, repeatedly exploiting Salzburg’s neutral-zone turnovers and often shaky defensive coverage.

The Return Game in Austria was a far more turbulent contest, with Salzburg scoring early and often, yet Ingolstadt found timely responses. Austen Keating restored the multi-goal aggregate advantage, Philipp Krauß punished a defensive mistake to halt Salzburg’s momentum, and Daniel Schmölz sealed the tie with an empty-netter. Their aggregate win was earned through persistence rather than control, with defensive gaps remaining the main question as they enter the Quarter-Finals.

Frölunda’s path was steadier, built on discipline and structure. In France, goals from Jacob Peterson, Isac Heens, and Linus Weissbach gave them a 3-1 lead to take back home. The Return Game remained tight for long stretches, with goaltender Tobias Normann making key stops while their penalty kill stood firm. A Delay of Game penalty opened the door for Frölunda to strike again, with Linus Högberg feeding Arttu Ruotsalainen for the night’s turning point. Though Grenoble pulled within one and really pushed for a series-equaliser, Frölunda’s late-game defending and strong netminding preserved their aggregate advantage.

Now, the match-up presents a fascinating contrast: Ingolstadt’s explosive offence against Frölunda’s balanced, composed team game. Riley Barber, Philipp Krauß, and Austen Keating form the German side’s most dangerous trio, while Peter Abbandonato and Riley Sheen also add creativity and transition speed. Yet Frölunda bring considerable depth of their own, led by Max Friberg, Jacob Peterson, and Jere Innala, with defencemen like Henrik Tömmernes and Linus Högberg driving play from the back end.

Special teams may play a defining role. Ingolstadt’s powerplay has been effective but inconsistent, while Frölunda’s penalty kill has held up in key moments. Goaltending also stands out as a critical battleground. Tobias Normann’s consistency gives the Swedes confidence, while Ingolstadt’s trio of Brett Brochu, Nico Pertuch and Devin Williams has fluctuated under heavy pressure.