The first DEL final is lost, but hats off to these polar bear pros! In the first final against Munich (best of five), coach Serge Aubin’s team put up a big fight against Bayern in the MB Arena and lost 3:4 in front of 10,015 fans. This is also due to a crazy game plan in the league!
By Joerg Lubrich
The facts: Bayern rested with a break of almost a week. The polar bears have to go back on the ice just 22 hours after the exhausting 3-0 semi-final win in the 5th (!) game against Mannheim. That borders on distortion of competition!
But the Eisbären pros go into the game with incredible willpower. And what a terrific first third!
Munich have the better chances, but the polar bears score with a Clark cracker (12th) and Boychuk’s shot on the power play (15th). 2-0 at the first break. The anxious question: How long does the puff last?
A sensation is brewing. Munich keeper Haukeland bounces, Pföderl with the 3-0 (21st). But Bayern then with the larger power reserves. Hager with a double strike (30th/32nd) and Smith (35th) make the result 3:3.
The final third must decide. And here Redmond sank from the blue line (55th) to make it 3:4. The game continues in Munich on Sunday, followed by another home game in Berlin on Monday.
