Kazakhstan and Slovakia will decide the qualification on Sunday

Kazakhstan - Austria 2-1 (1-0,0-0,1-1)

Once again, as in their first match, which ended in a 2-1 defeat to hosts Slovakia, Austria played a gritty and fearless game against Kazakhstan. Despite putting up a strong fight, they were ultimately defeated and eliminated from the Olympic qualifiers at the Nepela Arena in Bratislava. Kazakhstan struck early, with Dmitri Breus finding the back of the net just under two minutes into the first period. Austria expended a significant amount of energy trying to equalize, refusing to cede control to their physically stronger opponents.

Even though Austria struggled to create many clear-cut scoring opportunities, they never relinquished their grip on the flow of the game. Their persistence paid off when Raphael Herburger, one of the standout players for coach Roger Bader's side, scored the equalizer two and a half minutes into the final period. At that moment, it appeared Austria might turn the tide in their favor.

However, Kazakhstan seemed to lose momentum gradually, allowing Austria to dominate several stretches of the final period. During this critical phase, Kazakhstan's goaltender, Andrei Shutov, made crucial saves that kept his team in the game. His most notable save came in the 52nd minute when he deflected a powerful shot from Clemens Unterweger onto the post, a pivotal moment that could have easily swung the match in Austria's favor.

Just a minute later, Kazakhstan seized their opportunity. Tamirlan Gaitamirov scored a spectacular goal with a powerful long-range shot that left Austrian goaltender David Kickert with no chance. This goal ultimately decided the game. Austria came close to equalizing five minutes from the end, as a loose puck slipped from Shutov’s grasp and came within centimeters of crossing the goal line. However, Kazakhstan's defense held firm, even as Austria mounted a final assault with an empty net.

In the end, Kazakhstan emerged victorious, remaining undefeated as they look ahead to their decisive match against Slovakia on Sunday. Despite not shining throughout the game, they managed to secure the win, thanks to their resilience and key contributions from their standout players.

Best Players: Raphael Herburger (Austria), Andrei Shutov (Kazakhstan)

Hungary - Slovakia 3-7 (1-1, 0-2, 2-4)

The tribute to Johnny Gaudreau

Regardless of the final result, Slovakia had to work hard to overcome a determined Hungary, which, despite seeing its dreams of qualifying for the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics come to an end, left the Nepela Arena with its head held high. Spurred on by an almost sold-out crowd, Slovakia started the match aggressively but was somewhat surprisingly caught off guard when Hungary took an early lead. Henrik Nilsson scored for Hungary just three minutes into the game, capitalizing on one of the few offensive opportunities orchestrated by coach Majoross' team.

The concern among Slovakian fans was short-lived, lasting just one minute. Slovakia quickly equalized on a power play after a video review confirmed Marek Hrivik's goal. Hrivik reacted swiftly, pouncing on a puck that had ricocheted off the boards to tie the game. Slovakia then weathered a tense phase, surviving a 5-on-3 penalty kill but failing to capitalize on their own two-man advantage later in the first period.

The momentum shifted decisively in the second period. Hungary, unable to maintain their defensive resilience, conceded a series of goals that created an insurmountable gap. At 25:07, Matus Sukel scored to put Slovakia ahead, followed by a third goal from Mario Grman, who finished off a perfect assist from Martin Pospisil. This surge in scoring left Hungary struggling to keep up.

The third period was undoubtedly the most entertaining, with both teams exchanging blows in a lively back-and-forth. Hungary managed to close the gap to two goals, taking advantage of some uncharacteristic lapses in the Slovakian defense. However, Slovakia's potent attack compensated for these defensive lapses, maintaining their lead and control of the game.

As a result, the stage is set for a decisive showdown on Sunday evening. The clash between undefeated Slovakia and Kazakhstan will determine which team secures a spot at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

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