The Kölner Haie seamlessly continued their strong main round in the playoffs. However, the 1-0 (1-0, 0-0, 0-0) opening win in Schwenningen was a hard-fought one.
After a nine-day break from competitive games, the Cologne sharks The decisive phase on the way to the first DEL title since 2002 began on Wednesday evening. It started for the Haie with a premiere against the Schwenninger Wild Wings, who they met for the first time in the playoffs.
Haie keeper Juvonen thwarted Schwenninger’s first big chance
As the confident winners of the main round, in which they set a DEL points record and won all four games against the Wild Wings, the Cologne team went into the first game of the “best of seven” quarter-final series as the clear favorite. However, the Schwenningen team started with a tailwind – this came from the home game at the start and the win in the pre-playoff duel with the Grizzlys Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg defeated coach Steve Walker’s team 3-2 after extra time in the decisive third game last Sunday. The Wild Wings also got off to a strong start against Cologne: After a goal that had just been missed due to goalkeeper interference, Janne Juvonen in the Haie’s box, the best keeper in the main round, had to show all his skills when he brilliantly saved Alex Trivellato, who was free in front of Sebastian Uvira’s goal (7th minute).
Wild Wings keeper Eriksson makes a mistake when Cologne hits
Dominik Uher drives the puck forward for Cologne.
Juvonen had a lot of luck when Philip Feist hit the post after a solo counter-attack that he initiated himself (11th). In the middle of this period of pressure for Schwenninger, the Haie not only provided brief relief, but also took the lead with the efficiency of a title contender. When Oliwer Kaski shot from the blue line, Wild Wings keeper Joachim Eriksson had a clear view and didn’t look good (13′). The fact that the home team didn’t concede another goal before the third buzzer was thanks to the post that Nate Schnarr hit in Cologne’s first power play (16th).
Both teams carried their playoff momentum into the middle period, where first Eriksson was challenged against Louis-Marc Aubry and then Juvonen on the other side when a puck deflected off Feist (25th). Cologne’s Patrick Russell was also unlucky, as he missed the target in front of Eriksson shortly before the end (27′).
Post saves again for Kölner Haie
When Schwenninger’s first power play was announced, they had a great chance to equalize. Feist was involved again and found Will Weber with his cross pass. His shot was once again blocked by the post (28′). The Cologne team survived the penalty against Moritz Müller unscathed. The same then applied to the Schwenningen team, who were lucky not to have to play with a double minority when their goalkeeper Eriksson tripped Juhani Tyrväinen was not penalized (36′). The third remained scoreless.
Russell opened the final third with an energetic push from the left wing in front of the hosts’ goal, where Eriksson ultimately buried the puck (41′). As in the first 40 minutes, the game went back and forth at eye level, although the danger for Juvonen in the Haie box was initially limited – he didn’t even have to intervene in the hosts’ second power play (46th).
Juvonen also destroys the hosts’ last chance
The same applied to Eriksson when Cologne once again had one more man on the ice – Trivellato had been sent to the bench (50). With one of the better chances, Veli-Matti Vittasmäki was denied by Eriksson (55) from close range. However, the favorite didn’t have to add a goal because Juvonen had a very strong evening. The Finn barely allowed the Schwenningers a rebound after their shots and held on to almost every target.
In the 58th minute, Walker ordered the keeper out of the box for the first time, but the hosts had no luck with the majority – also because Juvonen made another brilliant save against Alexander Karachun in the final minute. Cologne kept the narrow lead over time and now has the chance to increase the series to 2-0 in front of their home crowd next Friday.
Our sources:
- Playoff quarter-final game between the Schwenninger Wild Wings and the Kölner Haie at Magenta Sport on March 25th, 2026
- Cologne sharks
- German Ice Hockey League (DEL)
Broadcast: WDR.de“Kölner Haie narrowly win against Schwenningen”, March 25, 202610:20 p.m
