The Kölner Haie have continued their winning streak in the German Ice Hockey League – despite great resistance.
In the top game at ERC Ingolstadt, the eight-time champions won 5:4 (2:3, 2:1, 1:0) after being 1:3 behind and extended their lead in the table. The lead over their first pursuer Adler Mannheim is already eleven points after their eleventh win in a row.
The Mannheim team triumphed in the derby at the Löwen Frankfurt with 6:2 (2:0, 2:1, 2:1). The Straubing Tigers lost 3:6 (1:1, 1:1, 1:4) against Red Bull Munich – and thus second place.
The Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven secured sixth place with a 3:1 (2:0, 1:0, 0:1) win against the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. The Augsburg Panthers continued their decline with a 3:4 (1:0, 0:1, 2:2, 0:1) after extra time at the Grizzlys Wolfsburg – they only managed one win in the last nine games.
Kaski makes the decision
The Haie fell behind twice in the first third: after 82 seconds through ex-Düsseldorfer Kenny Agostino, then after Patrick Russell’s equalizer (14th) through a double strike from Riley Barber (16th) and Daniel Pietta (17th).
Juhani Tyrväinen shortened the score before the first third break (19th), before Dominik Bokk (25th) and Gregor MacLeod, who made his comeback after a month-long injury break (35th), turned the game in Cologne’s favor in the middle period.
But after a big mistake by Tyrväinen, Jakin Smallwood made it 4-4 (37th). With 67 seconds left, defender Oliwer Kaski made the decision after the Haie had survived a four-minute outnumbered period unscathed.