Defending champions Eisbären Berlin, Grizzlys Wolfsburg, third in the main round, and eight-time German champions Adler Mannheim are about to reach the semi-finals of the play-offs in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). Red Bull Munich, on the other hand, suffered a setback.
Berlin prevailed 5-1 (2-1, 2-0, 1-0) against the Kölner Haie in the second game of the “best of five” series on Tuesday. Runner-up Wolfsburg also won the second game against the Fischtown Pinguins 6-2 (1-1, 3-0, 2-1). Mannheim defeated the Straubing Tigers 2-1 in extra time (0-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0). The trio takes a 2-0 lead into game three.
Red Bull Munich, second in the main round, surprisingly lost 2:3 (0:0, 1:3, 1:0) at the Düsseldorfer EG, which equalized the series. In all series, game three takes place on Thursday.
National player Leo Pföderl scored after 33 seconds to give Eisbären Berlin a 1-0 lead, McIntyre equalized for a short time (10′). Berlin’s Jonas Müller put the polar bears back in front shortly before the end of the first period (19′), after which the Haie had no more answers. Bokk (26th), White (40th) and again Müller (44th) marked the other goals.
The picture is the same in Bremerhaven: Ross Mauermann countered the early opening goal by Wolfsburg favorite von Rech (10′) two minutes later to make it 1-1 (12′). Desousa (34′), Melchiori (37′), Archibald (39′), Gaudet (41′) and Bittner (45′) ensured clear conditions, Friesen operated the result cosmetics in the 52nd minute.
In front of 6809 enthusiastic spectators, Alexander Barta gave DEG the lead (23rd), Gogulla scored to equalize in the 29th minute. MacAuley (34′) and Barta again (39′) put Düsseldorf on course for victory, Redmond only managed to get the Munich goal back (54′).
In Mannheim, Taylor Leier gave the visitors from Straubing the lead (25′), Jordan Szwarz equalized the hosts 1-1, as in the first leg (34′). In the eighth minute of extra time, national player Nicolas Krämmer scored the acclaimed 2-1 winner for Mannheim.