Table leaders Red Bull Munich extended the gap to their pursuers on the 41st match day of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
In an unequal duel with bottom-placed Bietigheim Steelers, the runners-up retained the upper hand 6-1 (3-0, 1-1, 2-0) and are now 15 points ahead of Adler Mannheim in second place.
The eight-time German champions conceded their first defeat after four wins in a row at 2:3 (0:1, 1:1, 1:0, 0:1) after extra time against Düsseldorfer EG, but benefited from the 1:6 ( 0: 5, 0: 0, 1: 1) debacle of third-placed ERC Ingolstadt against Löwen Frankfurt.
In the relegation battle, the Eisbären Berlin were able to secure three important points. An efficient second third was enough for the fallen champion at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers to ensure the 2-0 (0-0, 2-0, 0-0) success and to keep the distance to the direct relegation zone.