Adler Mannheim vs Graz99ers

Mannheim controlled the opening period without reward. Tom Kühnhackl, John Gilmour and Anthony Greco all had chances inside the first three minutes, but Maxime Lagacé in the Graz net held firm. The best opportunity fell to Matthias Plachta on a breakaway, but Lagacé denied him with a blocker save. Justin Schütz also hit the outside of the net from the far post (14th minute), and the sides went scoreless after 20 minutes.

The second period saw Graz grow into the game. Patrick Brown, Lennard Nieleck, Zach Solow and Brooks Macek all had opportunities at one end, but it was the Austrian champions who struck first. Lenz Moosbrugger finished a 2-on-1 break at 29:34 to give the 99ers a 1-0 lead — the only blemish on new goaltender Jake Hildebrand's debut.

The game turned decisively in the third period. Schütz equalised from close range at 41:19 (42nd minute), redirecting a loose puck past Lagacé. Kris Bennett tipped a Nick Mattinen point shot past the Graz netminder at 45:41 to give Mannheim their first lead. Poirier, the off-season acquisition, made it 3-1 with a highlight-reel finish at 55:14, and Greco added the fourth at 59:06 into an empty net.

In the agreed 3-on-3 overtime, Schütz needed just 42 seconds to complete his brace, finishing a strong feed from Patrick Brown. In the subsequent shootout, Brooks Macek and Poirier hit the posts while Schütz scored the only successful attempt.

If one moment swung the game, it was Schütz's equaliser at 41:19 of the third period. Mannheim had dominated territorially all night but lacked the finishing touch. Once Schütz broke through from close range, the floodgates opened — three more goals followed in the next 18 minutes. The equaliser came just 1:49 into the final frame, leaving Graz with no time to reset.

Justin Schütz (Adler Mannheim) — Two goals (including the OT winner in the agreed extra period), the equaliser that sparked the third-period explosion. Schütz was a constant threat around the net.

Jake Hildebrand (Adler Mannheim) — The newly-signed goaltender from Berlin, making his Adler debut, faced limited action in the first period but grew into the game. He conceded only Moosbrugger's breakaway goal and made key saves when Graz mounted pressure. "Of course I was a bit nervous before my first game for the Adler, but it was a lot of fun," Hildebrand told the club's media. "First game, first win — it doesn't get better than that."

Jérémy Poirier (Adler Mannheim) — The new signing registered his first goal for the club with a spectacular finish at 55:14, effectively sealing the result.

Lenz Moosbrugger (Graz99ers) — Scored the lone goal for the Austrian champions on a well-executed 2-on-1, showcasing the quality that helped Graz to the ICE Hockey League title last season.

Player of the Match: Justin Schütz (Adler Mannheim) — 2 goals, instrumental in the third-period turnaround.

Mannheim's shot advantage was most pronounced in the first period, where Hildebrand saw minimal action — a dynamic the goaltender noted can be challenging for concentration. "In the first period I didn't have many shots to save, which can be a bit more difficult for a goalkeeper," Hildebrand said. The balance shifted in the second period as Graz found their rhythm, but Mannheim's four-goal third period reflected a side that maintained its structure and finally found execution in the offensive zone.

Both teams finished scoreless on the power play (Mannheim had three opportunities), and Graz managed only one goal despite their spells of pressure. The 4-1 regulation scoreline flattered Mannheim's territorial dominance in the opening period but accurately reflected their superiority in the decisive third period.

For Mannheim — who open their Champions Hockey League campaign on 4 September — this was a useful early fitness test under head coach Dallas Eakins. The club dressed seven defenders and 14 forwards, resting goaltender Maximilian Franzreb, Colin Schlenker and Max Calce (who returned from Canada with Germany's U18 national team on Monday). Lukas Kälble missed the trip for personal reasons.

For Graz99ers, the reigning ICE Hockey League champions under head coach Dan Lacroix, this was their first pre-season outing against a top German side. The two teams meet again at the same venue on Sunday, 16 August (14:00 local time) for their second and final pre-season clash in Kitzbühel.

Mannheim's next test is scheduled for Sunday against the same opposition, while Graz travel to Czech side Mountfield HK on 21 August before hosting the Energie Steiermark Trophy (28–30 August).

Pre-season friendlies demand caveats, but the manner of Mannheim's third-period turnaround — four goals in 18 minutes against a title-holding opponent — will satisfy Dallas Eakins. Schütz's finishing and Hildebrand's composed debut are early positives. Graz, clearly still building fitness under Lacroix, showed glimpses in the middle frame but will need sharper finishing and defensive structure ahead of their CHL campaign beginning 3 September.