DEG celebrated a narrow 3:2 victory at the Nürnberg Ice Tigers (2:0, 1:2, 0:0). In front of around 3,500 spectators, Düsseldorf presented themselves very efficiently in the first third and led 2-0, although Nuremberg clearly had more of the game. But the Ice Tigers only celebrated a goal in the middle half. A tight game developed, which DEG happily won in the end.
Kyle Cumiskey, Stephen MacAulay and Daniel Fischbuch scored for Düsseldorf, Daniel Schmölz and Marko Friedrich scored for Nuremberg. It was the fifth win for Düsseldorf in the fifth game this season against Nuremberg.
Lots of goals and high tension in Cologne
In Cologne, a good 10,000 spectators experienced a game that was well worth seeing and exciting until the end. In the end, the Haie defeated ERC Ingolstadt 4:3 (1:1, 2:1, 1:1). While the first third was balanced, the Haie took over the lead in the second period and drew a 3-1 lead, but the weakened Ingolstadt team didn’t let that bother them. The ERC approached twice. But despite a siege of the Cologne goal in the final minutes of the game, Upper Bavaria was no longer able to equalize.
Maximilian Kammerer, Moritz Müller, Landon Ferraro and Alexander Oblinger scored for Cologne, while TIm McGauley, Mirko Höfflin and Jerome Flaake scored for Ingolstadt.
Quarterfinals starting Sunday
The second games will take place on Thursday – then in Ingolstadt and Düsseldorf. Two wins are necessary to advance. The quarterfinals begin next Sunday.
So far, the pairings between Wolfsburg and Bremerhaven and Straubing and Mannheim have been fixed there. Defending champions Eisbären Berlin and runners-up EHC Red Bull Munich play against the winners of the pre-playoffs.