In a dramatic fifth game of the quarter-final series in the DEL playoffs against EHC Munich, the Adler Mannheim made a home win-and only need a success for progress.
In the quarter-finals of the ice hockey playoffs, the Adler Mannheim became an advantage against EHC Munich. After 2-0 victory on Sunday evening Through the 4: 3 success in extension on Tuesday in the best-of-Seven series, they took a 3-2 lead. With a win in the sixth game, which will be held in Munich on Friday (March 28th, 7:15 p.m.), the Mannheimers can make the semi -finals perfect.
Balanced and lively game in the first third
The first third began for the hosts very unfavorably, because after four and a half minutes the puck was in its own network. The Munich team completed their first attack. The EHC offensive drove the puck forward via the right outer track and Filip Varejcka lurked in front of the gate, who only kept his stick into the pass to 1-0.
The eagles had to shake briefly, but took advantage of the game’s first power play. Munich’s Konrad Abeltshauser had been sent to the penalty bench for two minutes after too two minutes and after a few seconds in an overnight number John Gilmour scored 1-1 (9th minute). On the other hand, Adler goalkeeper Arno Tiefensee held outstanding in the first power play of the Munich team and saved his team from a new deficit. Afterwards, a balanced game with powerful phases and opportunities on both sides developed. However, none of the two teams could meet before the first third break.
Goalie Tiefensee keeps Adler Mannheim in the game
In the second third, too, the guests initially caught the better start. After 45 seconds there was the first good opportunity for Bayern, but Dominik Bittner narrowly missed the goal. A little later, ex-Adler player Nicolas Krämmer did better, with his first goal in these playoffs he placed 2-1 for the EHC (23rd). The Kurpfälzer ran behind again – and this could have been even higher in the second third if the 22 -year -old goalie Tiefensee did not – as is so often the case this season – caught a cream day.
Relatively little came from the eagle offensive in the second third, Markus Hännikäinen (35th) and Kris Bennett (40th) had the best chances, but they both missed both. The guests had significantly more puck ownership, but made too little out of this superiority. In addition, Munich took a double outnumbered to the last section. From Mannheim’s point of view, the brief one-goal deficit seemed to be the best possible result at the third break.
Plachta and Bennett put Mannheim in the lead
In the last third, Mannheim, driven from 12,049, loudly fans, powerfully back on the ice and rewarded himself in the double outnumbered: Matthias Plachta equalized with his first playoff goal to 2: 2 (42.). And less than three minutes later, the Adler goalkeeper sounded through the hall again: Bennett put a hidden shot on the long corner for 3: 2 in the goal (45th) – the Kurpfälzer had turned the game.
And on the defensive, they still had an absolute backing with Tiefensee, which defused good Munich options. But his counterpart in the EHC goal, Evan Fitzpatrick, who represented the injured regular goalie Mathias Niederberger, was also characterized again and again.
With the narrow 3-2, it went into the last ten minutes. Munich was far from being beaten and, after a fantastic move by Adam Brooks, equalized to 3: 3 (52nd). The game went back and forth now, because both teams pushed for the winning goal, which no longer succeeded in the regular season.
The decision is made in the second extension
And so it went into overtime. In this, too, both teams tried to get down to business with a lot of energy. Mannheim’s Ryan Macinnis was the first top chance, who failed alone in front of the goal. After that, both rows took some speed out and lurked on the opponent’s mistake. The eagles survived a power play of the guests unscathed. And despite a few other occasions, no gate wanted to fall in the first overtime.
Even after the break again, the game remained balanced. After more than 80 minutes of play, however, the mistakes on both sides increased. And the first real gap in the Munich defensive used Mannheim’s veteran Plachta: Captain Marc Michaelis fit on Plachta, who had no direct opponent, pulled off from afar and shot through the legs from Fitzpatrick to the celebrated 4: 3 winning goal for the eagle. After 85 minutes and 41 seconds, the Mannheim game five had won five and thus go into the sixth game on Friday with the 3-2 lead in the quarter-final series.
Prize on Wed., March 26, 2025 6:00 a.m., SWR Currently in the morning, SWR Current
