Forarlberg lost 1:3 to Graz 99ers in the Ice Hockey League on 19 September. Both sides were level on points before the match, each having played one game and taken no points. The result shifts the balance slightly, as Graz 99ers now hold their first win of the season.
Forarlberg had opened their campaign with a 1:2 defeat to Villach the previous day, while Graz 99ers had suffered a 2:4 loss to Val-Pusteria. By then the visitors were looking for a response, and they found one. The away end never stopped, pressing for an advantage from the opening face-off.
We had called for the away side to win with 72 per cent confidence, and that prediction came through. Graz 99ers looked sharper in transitions and made the difference when it mattered. Forarlberg were left exposed in defensive zones, unable to close down space quickly enough.
Both teams remain on zero points after one game, though the table now shows a slight separation. Forarlberg sit tenth while Graz 99ers occupy twelfth place. The gap is minimal, but momentum matters more than position at this stage of the season.
Forarlberg's recent form includes a 5:3 win over Thurgau back in August, but those results belong to another time. The current campaign demands consistency, and the hosts will need to find it sooner rather than later. Graz 99ers, meanwhile, have turned a corner and are on a good run.