The Iserlohn Roosters celebrated an eminently important success at the Adler Mannheim three game days before the end of the DEL main round.
The Iserlohn Roosters took a big step towards relegation with a 3: 2 (1: 0, 2: 1, 0: 1) against the Adler Mannheim on Thursday. Christian Thomas (6th), Eric Cornel (21st) and Zach Osburn (31st) provided the guests’ goals. Luke Esposito (33rd) and Leon Gawanke (60th) shortened for Mannheim.
With the success, the Roosters put the competitors under pressure in the relegation battle. Iserlohn now has 50 points in the account and thus four points ahead of Düsseldorf and five on Augsburg.
Roosters with strong start
Iserlohn immediately got rid of fire: after 16 seconds the guests missed the lead and after less than 60 seconds the second disc flew dangerously towards Mannheim’s goalkeeper Felix Brückmann. After that, the eagles also registered several times in front of the Sauerland goal. But the first cheers were reserved for the guests: Thomas, who was released after a bully, hammered the puck into the left upper corner.
The first third remained speed, also because both teams always stayed on a train to the goal. The best chance of the eagles defused IEC goalie Tobias Jänicke (10th). For the Roosters, Michael failed the Colle twice before going into the first break.
Again Iserlohner Blitzstart
The second third started with a flash gate: after 60 seconds, the puck was in the network of the eagles, which, however, favored Cornel’s gate with a catastrophic disc loss in front of his own goal. The Roosters remained grippy. The IEC worked out good bullet matters in the majority, but could not use it.
Once again it was a high disc win in the third of the Mannheimers, which led to the third goal of the Iserlohn. Cornel saw the rising Osburn, whose shot hit the top right. But the eagles countered this renewed setback this time. After a fantastic pass, Esposito was alone in front of Jänicke, wiggled it and inserted the puck to 1: 3.
Mannheim connection comes too late
In the final section, Mannheim was not surprised again, but built up a lot of pressure himself. However, the first shooting chances landed just next to the goal or at goalkeeper Jänicke. Mannheim was now the more dangerous team, the Roosters had a lot to do. With the best chance, Esposito narrowly missed a cross pass (50th). Then the Sauerlanders defended more skillfully again.
Only three minutes before the end suddenly came the opportunity for Ryan Mcinnis, but again the catch hand of the Iserlohn goalkeeper was the final stop. An unnecessary punishment from Shane Gersich brought the eagles a double majority because the hosts also took the goalkeeper off the ice – with success: Gawanke shortened 55 seconds before the end. But the compensation no longer wanted to fall.
