A quick start ended in dramatic fashion as Red Bull Salzburg authored their first victory of the 2025/26 Champions Hockey League when they potted two in the final minute of the fixture to defeat Polish national champions GKS Tychy 3-1. Atte Tolvanen denied 16 of 17 shots to record his tenth win in the pan-European competition.

The Austrians had their legs going early as Salzburg were able to capitalise on a cross-crease feed just 20 seconds into their derby against Tychy. Peter Schneider entered the offensive zone where he slid the puck to Thomas Raffl who found a wide-open Benjamin Nissner for the one-timer. 

Then in the second, a crucial keep in by a Tychy defender helped set up the Poles' first tally of the night. Hannu Kuru received a pass down low before attempting to stuff it in short side, the puck bounced off Tolvanen's pads before finding its way to Joona Monto who rifled it past the netminder to secure the equaliser. 

Third-period action picked up with both teams trading chances in the early going. But just when it looked like this game was destined for OT, Salzburg, just as they had done in the opening seconds of the contest, found the net for their second and third goals in the dying seconds of the derby when Raffl registered his second point on the night and first goal of the campaign to lift his team to victory. The 39-year-old would go on to add to his point total with an empty-netter not long after.