Defending champion EHC Red Bull Munich can no longer find its way back to success in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
At relegation candidate Augsburger Panther, the champions suffered their third defeat in a row with a score of 3:4 (1:3, 1:0, 1:1) and therefore have to worry about their place in the top quartet. Augsburg, on the other hand, gained breathing room in the fight to stay in the league with its first success after three defeats in a row.
Chris Collins decided the southern duel with his winning goal 76 seconds before the final siren. Munich had previously equalized after two two-goal deficits through Jonathon Blum (10th), Christopher DeSousa (30th) and Trevor Parkes (44th). The Panthers initially took the lead 2-0 through Thomas Jordan Trevelyan (5th) and Anrei Hakulinen (8th) and later 3-1 through Matthew Puempel (15th).
Munich can be pushed out of fourth place on Friday by both the Schwenninger Wild Wings and the Kölner Haien. Augsburg is now seven points ahead of bottom team Iserlohn Roosters in the only relegation spot.