The semi-finalists at a glance:
Eisbären Berlin (main round first)
The defending champion finished the main round in first place. It would not be a surprise if the Berliners repeated last year’s championship. The Eisbären were the only club to win the quarter-final series in just three games against the Kölner Haie. “I think it will be a good series for both sides. It will be exciting, every centimeter will be hard fought,” said captain Frank Hördler before the first meeting with Mannheim. The team of coach Serge Aubin, the DEL coach of the year, has strong support in national goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger.