The Eisbären Berlin defended their lead in the table with a clear home win in the top game of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
On Sunday afternoon, the Berliners won against the current champions EHC Red Bull Munich 6:2 (2:0, 2:1, 2:1). Yannick Veilleux and Zach Boychuk each scored two goals, and Marcel Noebels and Blaine Byron also scored for the Eisbären, who were superior in all respects.
In front of 14,200 spectators in the sold-out arena at Ostbahnhof, the home team acted much more concentrated and precise than the guests from the start. Veilleux and Boychuk gave the team a deserved lead with their goals in the opening third.
Niederberger misjudges himself
After the first break, however, the Berliners temporarily lost their rhythm due to time penalties. Austin Ortega scored the next goal when Munich had a double majority.
Just 69 seconds later, the Eisbären benefited from guest goalie Mathias Niederberger misjudging a puck that bounced back from the boards. Noebels pushed the disc into the empty goal.
The Berliners now dominated the game again and extended their lead with Veilleux’s second goal. In the final period, Byron and Boychuk secured the victory with a power play goal before Markus Eisenschmied shortened the score for the guests shortly before the end of the game.
Mannheim defeats Ingolstadt
The Adler Mannheim meanwhile beat runner-up ERC Ingolstadt 2-1 (1-1, 0-0, 1-0) and moved up to second place for the time being. Stefan Loibl (10th) and vice world champion Daniel Fischbuch (44th) scored for the eight-time champions, Andrew Rowe (13th) had equalized in the meantime.
In the early evening, the Straubing Tigers can overtake the Mannheimers again against the weak Kölner Haie. Bottom team Düsseldorfer EG is challenged against Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven.