The Adler Mannheim suffered their third defeat in six days in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) and have now lost their lead in the table.
Mannheim had to admit defeat at Red Bull Munich on Friday with 0:4 (0:0, 0:0, 0:4), and the Straubing Tigers knew how to take advantage of that. Lower Bavaria beat the Nuremberg Ice Tigers 5:3 (1:1, 2:2, 2:0) and moved past the Eagles.
Meanwhile, the Kölner Haie experienced a real debacle: the runner-up suffered a historic defeat at 3:10 (0:3, 2:3, 1:4) at ERC Ingolstadt. Cologne had only conceded 10 goals since the DEL was founded in 1994, and in 1998 they lost 4:10 to the Eisbären Berlin. The Haie lost even worse just a few weeks later in the same year when they lost 9-1 in Landshut.
Straubing (36) is now two points ahead of Mannheim, the Haie (30) remain third for the time being, but are now feeling the competition on their backs: The Fischtown Pinguins (30) and Ingolstadt (29) are now also in the top group – and the Eisbären Berlin (28) are also getting closer. The struggling defending champion won 4:3 (2:0, 0:2, 1:1, 1:0) after extra time against the Schwenninger Wild Wings.
Meanwhile, the Dresden Ice Lions sent a rare sign of life. Against the Löwen Frankfurt we managed a 4:3 (1:0, 1:2, 1:1, 0:0, 1:0) after a penalty shootout. For the promoted team it was only the second win of the season in the 16th game and the first since mid-September. Dresden remains last, but is now level on points with the Iserlohn Roosters.