More than four hours after the first face-off, main round winner Kölner Haie used their first match point in a marathon match and reached the playoff semi-finals of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
The Haie won 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0) against the Schwenninger Wild Wings after an almost endless extra time in “sudden death”. Cologne won the best-of-seven series 4-0.
In front of more than 18,000 fans in the Lanxess Arena at home, everything was set for a “sweep” by the Sharks. Main round top scorer Patrick Russell (24th) redeemed the favorite in the power play.
#Schwenningen’s Mirko Höfflin (59th) became a late mood killer in the regular season before Jan Luca Sennhenn (107th) secured Cologne’s victory in the third extra time. More than four hours after the start of the game, the remaining spectators were able to happily make their way home.
On the way to their ninth championship title, Cologne could then meet defending champions Eisbären Berlin in the semi-finals from April 8th.
