In a tightly contested, defensive battle with a spot in the next round at stake, the Straubing Tigers came from behind on the road to defeat Villach SV 3-1 to secure a berth in the Champions Hockey League Round of 16 for the first time. Taylor Leier scored twice for Straubing.

The opening minutes were back and forth, with both Jean-Philippe Lamoureux and Hunter Miska needing to be sharp. The only thing to decide between the teams in the opening period was a powerplay goal for Villach at the 12:10 mark. On the game’s first powerplay, Andrew Desjardins perfectly teed up a one-timer from Robert Sabolič who beat Miska over the blocker.

Toward the end of the first period, Straubing started getting more chances and that continued into the second. About five minutes into the middle frame, the Tigers got a 3-on-1 break where Luke Adam fed Travis St. Denis, but was denied by Lamoureux. Straubing finally tied it at 33:04 when St. Denis won a battle for the puck behind the net and fed out front to Leier who finished off the play.

Early in the third period, the Tigers took their first lead of the game after a face-off win in the Villach zone when Ian Scheid’s shot tipped off the stick of J.C. Lipon and in.

There was still lots of time left and, with the home crowd behind them, Villach tried to mount an attack, but were continually denied.

With well over two minutes to go and needing a win in regulation time, Villach coach Rob Daum lifted Lamoureux for a sixth attacker. Finally, with less than half a minute to go, Lear intercepted a cross-point pass and skated in at the empty Villach net uncontested.

With both Straubing and Färjestad Karlstad tied on 12 points and having secured advancement, the only thing left to settle in Group F next week is who finishes first and who second.