Augsburger Panther played host to EHC Kloten in a club friendly match on Thursday evening. The visitors secured a narrow victory with a final score of 4:5. It was a contest that suggested both sides were still finding their rhythm ahead of the new season.
The hosts had started their preparation with a dominant 7:0 win over Eisbären Berlin on the previous Saturday. That performance was followed by a setback against Kometa Brno, where they lost 2:3 in their last outing. To be fair, the inconsistency in those results marks the early stage of their campaign. They were looking for stability against a side that had shown similar volatility.
Kloten arrived with momentum from a convincing 7:1 victory against Rapperswil-Jona Lakers. Before that, they had managed a tight 1:0 shutout against Lanna Tigers. And here's the thing, their recent record showed they could secure points in tight matches.
A scoreline of 4:5 rarely reflects a one-sided affair, and this game was no exception. Both teams traded blows throughout the three periods without letting the other take total control. It was a game that let the flow dictate the tempo rather than forcing a specific style. By then, the lead had changed hands several times without either side taking control. The final tally confirmed the open nature of the contest.
The result does not carry weight in any official standings, but it provides a snapshot of current form. Both clubs completed their warm-up fixtures with this encounter. The Panthers ended their sequence with a loss after beating Kometa Brno. Kloten maintained their momentum following the shutout against Lanna Tigers.