Title favorite Red Bull Munich managed to equalize after their false start in the playoff quarterfinals of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
The winner of the main round won 3-1 (1-1, 0-0, 2-0) at Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven on Wednesday, making it 2-2 in the best-of-seven series.
It’s also 2-2 between the Grizzlies Wolfsburg and the Straubing Tigers. The guests from Lower Bavaria won 3-1 (2-0, 1-1, 0-0) thanks to goals from Marcel Brandt (7th/10th) and Parker Tuomie (29th), Jean-Christophe Beaudin scored for them Grizzlies (24th).
“They made it super difficult for us. Luckily we were able to score the goals,” said Munich striker Yasin Ehliz on “MagentaSport”. For Pinguins coach Thomas Popiesch, the special teams made the difference. “The little things decide such a game.”
On Friday (7.30 p.m. / MagentaSport), Munich has the chance to take the lead for the first time in its own hall and win two match points at the same time. The Red Bulls lost the first two games against the underdogs, but finally came back with a 7-1 win.
Munich got a cold shower early on in Bremerhaven from Christian Wejse (6′), but Trevor Parkes equalized in the first period with a well-played overtime goal (14′). Patrick Hager (47′) made it 2-1 for the guests, Austin Ortega followed up shortly afterwards with a converted penalty (48′). In the final phase, the Penguins ran unsuccessfully, even removing the goalkeeper didn’t help.