The first step in the direction of the title has been done: the ice bears won the first game of the final series against the Cologne sharks.
In the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), the Eisbären Berlin got a victory at the start of the final series. The defending champion prevailed on Thursday evening in home hall with 5: 1 (1: 0, 1: 1, 3: 0) against the Cologne sharks.
The goals for the Berliners scored Liam Kirk (1st and 51st), Korbinian Geibel (33.), Kai Wissmann (50th) and Leo Pföderl (55.).
Dream start for the polar bears
National anthem, fireworks and around 14,000 spectators – everything was done in the arena at the Ostbahnhof before the start of the first final game, for a great atmosphere. The rest of the hosts then did the rest of the hosts. After 23 seconds, a shot by Gabriel Fontaine is first blocked, the rebound then used Liam Kirk to take a quick lead.
Whipped by the loud support from the ranks, the polar bears initially remained the better team on the ice and in the 11th minute only the post prevented Kirk from expanding the lead with his second goal.
Shortly afterwards, Cologne also became really dangerous for the first time, but Gregor Macleod’s shot from the right slot also rushed to the aluminum (15th). So the deserved Berlin leadership went into the first break.
Hair put pressure
Back on the ice, the sharks showed themselves significantly more aggressive, went to the forechecking early and used a mistake by Kai Wissmann. The defender held the puck behind his own goal too long and then lost it under pressure to Cologne Alexandre Grenier. The Canadian initially failed at the Berlin goalie Jake Hildebrand, but then met in the second attempt to equalize (24th).
The polar bears had difficulty opposing this urge phase of the guests and gaining the game control again. Instead, the Rhinelanders initially continued the tone, and repeatedly combined dangerously forward, but without getting into great opportunities.
But even without pure dominance, the capitals showed ice -cold efficiency and used one of their few offensive actions to recapture the lead. Korbinian Giebel was left completely alone in the right Bullykreis and got the disc leaked over the gang. Completely in peace, he took the measure and took the puck into the goal at a speed of 131 km/h (33.).
In the end it becomes clear
In the final third, the game rippled long at eye level. Both teams were extremely concentrated, hardly allowed any mistakes and did not allow any chances.
This only changed when the polar bears got a double outnumbered for a minute and a half of the Cologne -based overnight outnumber. They then besieged the opposing gate calmly and considered until Kai Wissmann found a gap on the defensive and brinked the puck from the right Bullykreis into the far corner (50th). And just a minute later, Kirk made the double strike perfect: after a flash -fast combination game, the Brit came to the puck and scored his second goal of the game.
And of course no polar bear game is currently allowed to end without star players Ty Ronning acting on the game report. After preparatory work by the Canadian, Leo Pföderl scored the 5-1 final score-Ronning has always collected at least one scorer point for 24 games in a row.
Saturday in Cologne, Monday again Berlin
In the Best-of-Seven series, the team of coach Serge Aubin takes a 1-0 lead. The next game will take place on Saturday (7 p.m.) in Cologne before going back to the capital for the third duel on Easter Monday (4:30 p.m.).
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