The Eisbären Berlin have a new fearsome opponent in their own hall: EHC Munich won for the second time in this DEL season in the capital – but this time there was at least one point for the Eisbären.
The Munich team had already had a successful trip to Berlin in December when they won 4-1, this time they lost 3-2 (0-1, 1-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0). Penalty shootout. Christopher DeSousa made the decision after the goalless overtime. Previously, Maxmilian Daubner (37th) and Yasin Ehliz (43rd) had ensured the EHC turnaround after Frederik Tiffels (19th) took the Eisbären lead, but Ty Ronning (49th) equalized.
Return to coaching and to a former club
With the victory, coach Don Jackson also celebrated a successful return to the Munich team. The 68-year-old has already led the EHC to four championship titles (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023) and only took over the coaching job again on Wednesday after Max Kaltenhauser surprisingly announced his resignation. In Berlin it was also a special game for Jackson, who was honored before the start of the game because of his five championship titles with the Eisbären.
“It was a great win for the boys – and for me too”said Jackson afterwards at MagentaSport. The American retired from coaching almost two years ago and was supposed to be responsible for training new coaches at Red Bull as “Head of Coaching Development”.
Now Jackson is back on the boards at the EHC, his team is now fifth with 39 points. The Eisbären remain the first pursuer of league leaders ERC Ingolstadt, the gap is five points.