With an impressive show of force, the Adler Mannheim followed EHC Red Bull Munich and Eisbären Berlin into the playoff semi-finals of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). The eight-time German champions swept the Straubing Tigers off the ice in the fourth game of the quarter-final series 8:3 (2:0, 3:1, 3:2) and thus achieved the necessary third win.
Previously, the second in the main round, Munich, had also achieved the third success in the “best of five” series with a 4:2 (2:1, 0:0, 2:1) at the Düsseldorfer EG. The Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven equalized 2:2 in the series in a marathon match with 3:2 (2:1, 0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0) aet against the Wolfsburg Grizzlys. Only in the 92nd minute did the hosts decide the game and thus forced a final game on Monday in Wolfsburg.
Defending champions Eisbären Berlin, who won their series against the Kölner Haie 3-0, were already qualified for the semi-finals before the match day. Who the top-seeded teams from Berlin and Munich will meet in the round of four will only be known after the last duel between Wolfsburg and Bremerhaven – the teams will be seeded according to their position in the main round. If the Grizzlies win (3rd), they meet Munich (2nd). If the Pinguins win (6th), Berlin (1st) is the opponent, Munich would play against Mannheim (5th).
Matthias Plachta and Tim Wohlgemuth each scored twice for Mannheim, which was already leading 8-1. Yasin Ehliz, Zach Redmond, Austin Ortega and Ben Smith scored for Munich. Alexander Ehl was twice as successful with the hosts. In Bremerhaven, Philipp Bruggisser scored the acclaimed winning goal. The Penguins had already led 2-0 through Dominik Uher and Miha Verlic, after which Darren Archibald and Gerrit Fauser were successful for Wolfsburg.