The Eisbären Berlin and the Adler Mannheim have stumbled in lockstep at the top of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) – further down, the German champions Red Bull Munich have stopped their downward slide.
The Eisbären lost on Sunday to the strong pursuers Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven 2:4 (2:0, 0:2, 0:2). But they remain leaders because the Eagles suffered an unexpected 1:4 (0:2, 1:0, 0:2) against Düsseldorfer EG, who had previously been winless in regular time.
Munich, on the other hand, won again after six defeats in a row across all competitions. Against the Augsburg Panthers they scored 5:1 (1:1, 2:0, 2:0). It was the champions’ sixth win of the season; Christopher DeSousa initiated it with a double strike (16th/24th) after an early deficit.
The Eisbären are still one point ahead of Mannheim with 27 points; it was the fourth defeat of the season for both teams on matchday 13. Behind them the pursuers are now getting closer, for the Fischtown Pinguins (23) the victory in the direct duel was particularly valuable. With the win, Munich (19) at least maintained contact with the direct play-off places.
Bottom team Iserlohn Roosters won the first game after the dismissal of head coach Greg Poss with 4:3 (1:2, 1:0, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0) after a penalty shootout against the Straubing Tigers. Poss had to leave after six defeats in a row; he was initially replaced on Sunday by the previous assistant coach Pierre Beaulieu.
Manuel Wiederer (7th) and Blaine Byron (17th) scored for the Eisbären in the first third, but after that there was little going for the hosts. Colt Adam Conrad (21st/41st), Nicholas Jensen (28th) and Jan Urbas (60th) turned the game around.
Only Yannick Proske (34th) scored for the Adler in Düsseldorf, still second to last in the DEL. Previously, Phil Varone (5th) and Kohen Olischefski (12th) had put DEG in the lead. In the final minute, Philip Gogulla and Olischefski again scored on an empty goal.