The Cologne Haie conquered ERC Ingolstadt on Monday evening with a highly dramatic victory in game six of the semi-final series-and thus reached the final of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
In a gripping and dramatic game at the end, the Cologne team won 3: 2 (1: 2, 0: 0, 1: 0, 1: 0) after extra time and drove the decisive fourth semi-final victory. After the outstanding main round, Ingolstadt started the series as the league leader, but Cologne delivered strong performances over the entire semi -finals – and now has the chance in the final against the Eisbären Berlin.
Most recently, the Cologne team stood in the DEL final series in 2014 – at that time they had to give up Ingolstadt. The last championship title so far was longer: in 2002 the sharks recently crowned the champion. Now in the final there is a chance to win the ninth title in DEL history. The first game of the series starts in Berlin on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. in Berlin.
Ingolstadt lightning start
The Ingolstadt residents recorded the first good scenes in front of 18,600 spectators in the sold -out Lanxess Arena. Myles Powell tested Julius Hudacek in the Cologne goal (1st), shortly afterwards Hudacek also had to ran against Abbott Girduckis (3rd) – the Cologne team only came into play slowly.
In view of the course of the game, it was not a big surprise that the first goal was achieved by the Ingolstadt. Daniel Pietta removed by wrist, Austen Keating falsified Clever and cheered his sixth playoff goal (7th). “The first goal is always extremely important,” said goal scorer Keating shortly afterwards in the magenta interview during an interruption-in fact, the team that had first started in the previous six games of the playoff series.
Captain Müller counters Simpson
It came even worse for the Cologne: Kenny Agostino was allowed to walk freely to the shark third, Wojcech Stachowiak put in front of the goal, Wayne Simpson only had to insert. In the first attempt, the American was still sabbing over the disc, but then shot (10th) – still unanimously.
Moritz Müller (middle) cheered his goal against Ingolstadt
But the Cologne team showed a reaction and were allowed to cheer the connection goal (15th). Captain Moritz Müller almost born out of necessity when he turned the Ingolstadt goal over without playing station and played the puck in parallel to the goal line into the dangerous zone. Ingolstadt’s Morgan Ellis falsified with the ice skate into his own goal – only 1: 2 from a sharks.
Opportunities on both sides in a competitive game
The eventful first third no longer had any highlights, the second began to be spectacular: Frederik Storm appeared completely freely in front of Ingolstadt’s goal and put his return shot on the crossbar (22nd). The game was now balanced, there were promising offensive actions on both sides, which were either thwarted by the strong goalkeepers or were not played clean.
It only got really wild at the end of the middle third. First, Simpson failed in a big chance in Ingolstadt from an acute angle (38th). Following the scene, it became more rough in a game that had been excellently disciplined from both sides for the first time when several players got up in front of the goal.
After a puck win, it was Veli-Matti Vittasmäcki, who had the equalization on the racket, but could not overcome Christian Heljanko in the Panther goal from a short distance.
Cologne’s Macleod Bärenstark to equalize
Before the final third, the goal shot statistics spoke to 25:14 for the guests, Cologne was challenged if you wanted to prevent the decision-making game in Ingolstadt. And the sharks provided pressure: top performers Gregor Macleod took a heart, grew up several Ingolstadt and also made Heljanko look old with his final finter.
Ingolstadt was looking for an answer and continued to come to good scent of goal gel, especially Mathew Bodie missed the new lead with his shot (50th). Cologne was also determined, Storm’s tight shot parried Heljanko outstanding (53.). The tension was now tangible, the spectators went fully. Until the end, there were opportunities on both sides, but gates no longer scored. It went into extra time.
Pure excitement in extension
The momentum was clearly on the Cologne side – and the sharks took the momentum into the extension. The hosts were the better team, survived an out pay game and then hit ice cold: Justin Schütz used a counterattack in one-on-one to the winning goal (70th). The hall exploded, Cologne celebrated the final.
Our sources:
- DEL game between Cologne and Ingolstadt on April 14th, 2025
- DEL website
- Magenta sport
