The Eisbären Berlin also won the second final game of the German ice hockey championship against the Adler Mannheim.
The Polar Bears Berlin continue to march towards the championship in the German Ice Hockey League. On Sunday evening, the defending champions also won their second final game against Adler Mannheim 5-1. In their best-of-seven playoff series against their big rivals, the Eisbären are now only two wins away from their third championship in a row and the twelfth in their club history.
Berlin opens the thirds quickly
The second final game got off to a fast start on Sunday afternoon. Two days after their away win in the final opener in Mannheim, the Berliners were able to celebrate early in their own living room near the Ostbahnhof. Already in the third minute it was national player Manuel Wiederer who quickly used a precise pass from Frederick Tiffels in the slot to make it 1-0.
The fact that this lead held at the end of the first third was not undeserved, but certainly fortunate. As in the first game, the Berliners benefited from the fact that Mannheim missed several top-class opportunities. The Eisbären, on the other hand, initially only got a few really good shots and even in the power play after Mannheim’s penalties they had problems putting constant pressure on Mannheim’s defensive lines and the goal.
The cheers in the once again atmospheric arena at the Ostbahnhof were all the louder when Liam Kirk extended the Eisbären lead to 2-0 after less than three minutes of play in the second third (23rd). As in the first third, the tempo in Berlin’s transition game was crucial for Kirk suddenly appearing with plenty of space in front of Mannheim’s goalie Maximilian Franzreb. Kirk casually put the puck through his opponent’s legs and was celebrated appropriately.
Big final choreo of the Eisbären Berlin against Mannheim | Image: IMAGO/Contrast
The polar bears’ good plan is working
Otherwise, the second third was basically a replica of the first: Berlin scored, but Mannheim was better. The guests took control of the game and put a lot of pressure on them. They created several top-class chances and could have, almost even had to, reduce their deficit several times. However, they failed again and again because of Jonas Stettmer. The Eisbären goalie showed another brilliant performance and gave Berlin a 2-0 lead into the final third.
There the polar bears showed the same rip-off cleverness as in the first two periods. Overall, the Berliners didn’t play an outstanding game on Sunday, but they played straight and effectively. They moved collectively in both defense and offense with a clear plan that was also very well prepared and tailored to Mannheim’s strengths.
Leo Pföderl makes history
In goal, for example, Stettmer showed his next very good game, but was by no means on his own defensively. The Berliners also survived phases in which the Mannheimers seemed to control what was happening on the ice with the puck in their ranks. And the Berliners repeatedly used offensive pinpricks with brutal efficiency.
The perfect example: In the 47th minute, Leo Pföderl was sent on the journey of Berlin’s first counterattack in the final third after winning the puck. Pföderl scored the decisive 3-0 – and finally decided the game just ten minutes later. In the 54th minute, Pföderl made it 4-0 and also became the first player in DEL history to score his 50th playoff goal.
The Berlin victory was made perfect ten seconds later by Eric Hördler. The Berliner made it 5-1 and ensured that Mannheim’s goal by Zach Solow in the 58th minute left no doubt about Berlin’s victory.
Broadcast: rbb|24, April 26, 2026, 6:55 p.m
Audio: rbb|24, April 26, 2026, Jens-Christian Gußmann
