The Lions Frankfurt were unable to improve after the outdoor spectacle in the German Ice Hockey League Winter Game.
Two days after the 5-1 derby win against Adler Mannheim in front of over 45,000 spectators in the Frankfurt football stadium on Monday (January 6th, 2025), the Hessians lost 4:5 (2:1, 0:3, 2:1) at EHC Red Bull Munich. Thanks to goals from Cameron Brace (7th) and Dennis Lobach (17th), the Lions were ahead after the first third. Nicolas Krämmer (12th) got Munich’s equaliser.
In the second section, the hosts in the SAP Garden turned up the heat: Will Butcher (25th) and the national strikers Maximilian Daubner (29th) and Yasin Ehliz (39th) shot the EHC into the lead. In the final third, Filip Varejcka (44th) added more, Carter Rowney (51st) and Daniel Pfaffengut (56th) made the game on matchday 34 exciting again. The Munich team moved up to fourth place after their fourth home win in a row. Frankfurt missed the jump to tenth place in the pre-play-offs.
Polar bears and Ingolstadt in the lead
At the weekend, the Eisbären Berlin briefly took first place in the DEL with their fifth win in a row. The ERC Ingolstadt got it back a few hours later. After a 5:2 (2:1, 0:1, 3:0) at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers, the champions moved one point ahead of the Ingolstadt team, who shortly afterwards held their nerve against the Iserlohn Roosters – although they had to do an extra round . The decision was only made in extra time at 5:4 (3:3, 0:1, 1:0, 1:0), with Kenny Agostino shooting the ERC back to the top with his second goal.
Polar bears in happiness
However, Berlin had to work hard to continue its series beforehand. Ty Ronning’s early goal from a penalty (5th minute) was countered by Cole Maier for Nuremberg (8th). The American also had an answer ready to Berlin’s renewed lead by Liam Kirk (17th) (38th). Previously, the polar bears had survived almost six minutes, sometimes even twice outnumbered.
After Roman Kechter missed Nuremberg’s lead with a penalty at the beginning of the final third, Zach Boychuck scored for Berlin (43′). Leo Pföderl (55th) and again Ronning (56th) made the decision shortly before the end.
Cologne Sharks series breaks
Behind the top duo, runner-up Bremerhaven has consolidated third place. The Fischtown Pinguins won against the Schwenninger Wild Wings 2:1 (1:0, 0:0, 1:1).
The Kölner Haie missed the jump to fourth place and remain sixth. After three wins in a row, the KEC lost 2:3 (0:2, 1:0, 1:1) against relegation candidate Augsburger Panther. Behind Cologne there was a change of position in the table, the Grizzlys Wolfsburg moved past the Straubing Tigers to seventh place after a 5:3 (3:1, 1:0, 1:2) in a direct duel.