Justin Schütz, of all people, led league leaders Adler Mannheim to victory against Cologne in the top game of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
On his first reunion with his former club Kölner Haie, the national player scored twice, in the end it was 5:2 (1:0, 2:1, 2:1). With 33 points, Mannheim is still three points ahead of the Straubing Tigers (30), who won 4:2 (1:0, 2:0, 1:2) at bottom team Dresdner Eislöwen. The Haie remain third, but are now nine points behind Mannheim. In the Mannheim SAP Arena, Schütz was the center of attention – and delivered goals in the 14th and 37th minutes.
The 25-year-old moved from Cologne to Mannheim after last season and 57 goals in two years. Now he almost single-handedly ended the series of four Haie victories in a row. Meanwhile, pursuers Straubing inflicted their tenth defeat in a row on league newcomers Dresden. The Iserlohn Roosters are not doing much better, the 1:3 (0:0, 0:2, 1:1) at the Grizzlys Wolfsburg was the ninth defeat from the last ten games.
