The Adler Mannheim win an extremely exciting DEL game at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. The first numerical advantage of the evening ensures the decision.
The Adler Mannheim win an extremely exciting DEL game at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. The first numerical advantage of the evening ensures the decision.
The Adler Mannheim won 3:2 (1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 1:0) after overtime at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. For the Adler it was the second win in a row after the 3-2 win in Augsburg. Nuremberg, on the other hand, suffered another defeat after 2:5 at Eisbären Berlin.
Adler Mannheim with an early first penalty
Only 14 seconds had been played before the Ice Tigers had their first majority situation. Mannheim’s Kris Bennett was given a two-minute penalty for tripping. Nuremberg put immediate pressure on the team with one more man on the ice. However, Adler keeper Maximilian Franzreb was able to prevent a deficit with several strong saves.
It took five minutes for the Eagles to appear dangerously in front of the goal for the first time – and they were able to celebrate straight away. Kristian Reichel showed quick thinking after a blocked shot and hit the target into the net from close range. Mannheim had the majority for the first time in the middle of the first third, but the Ice Tigers did not allow a dangerous finish. Seconds later, Bennett had to go to the penalty box again, but this time Nuremberg couldn’t take advantage of the majority.
The Ice Tigers remained the more active team, but the Eagles’ defense was better this time than in the top games Ingolstadt and the Polar Bears Berlin. Coach Dallas Eakins’ team conceded five goals in both games. Mannheim also survived the third outnumbered situation unscathed.
Barratt with the equalizer for Nuremberg
At the beginning of the middle third, Mannheim established themselves on the offensive for a longer period of time for the first time, but shortly afterwards the next outnumbered situation arose – again without a goal from the Ice Tigers. Nuremberg continued to play cheerfully forward, but the home team lacked effectiveness. Then out of nowhere the Eagles had two great chances. But keeper Evan Fitzpatrick prevented Mannheim’s second goal with two strong saves.
On the other hand, Evan Barratt penetrated Mannheim’s third with the puck, had to turn and then simply shot from the center – 1-1 in the 29th minute. Towards the end of the second period, both teams were once again in the majority, but the seventh and eighth power plays of the evening also passed without a goal.
Dove-McFalls ice cold for the Ice Tigers
The Eagles started the last 20 minutes with the advantage because Nuremberg’s Will Graber had received two minutes for sticking shortly before the second siren. Again nothing worthwhile came out of it, so Mark Michaelis failed because of Fitzpatrick. The goal then came on the other side: After a shot from the blue line, Samuel Dove-McFalls stopped the target and hit Franzreb from close range (46th).
The Eagles now had to be more active and put the Ice Tigers under pressure. In the 52nd minute the efforts were rewarded. After great preparatory work from Zach Solow, Lukas Kälble made it 2-2 with his third goal of the season. Both teams were now looking for a decision. After a Mannheim mistake in the build-up, Cole Maier headed towards the goal alone, but was interrupted at the last moment by Tobias Fohrler. Nuremberg stuck with it, goalkeeper Franzreb saved twice for the Eagles. There were no more goals scored in regular time and the game went into overtime.
After almost half a minute with three on three, Barratt had to go to the penalty box for a board check on Reichel. The Eagles were able to bring a fourth player onto the ice and made the decision with the first power-play goal: Luke Esposito appeared free in front of the goal after a blocked shot, and Nuremberg’s Cody Haiskanen ultimately maneuvered the puck into the goal.
The Ice Tigers will play in the first game of 2026 on Friday (January 2nd) at the Iserlohn Roosters, while the Adler Mannheim will host the Dresden Ice Lions. The kickoff of both games is at 7:30 p.m.
