The almost one-month break in play in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) has been good for the Eisbären Berlin. In the 7:1 win against the Kölner Haie, the leaders of the table showed an impressive performance from the start.
“I especially liked the way we came out after not playing for so long. We were there straight away,” praised coach Serge Aubin on Tuesday evening after the 7-1 win in Cologne. “The boys were safe on the puck, kept the game simple and had a lot of energy. That was a good evening.”
With the German champions, the focus is now already on the decisive phase of the season. “We have to continue like this in the last 15 main round games and then in the playoffs,” said center forward Zach Boychuk, who made his comeback in Cologne after an injury break of almost three months. “Of course we won the title last year and we’re trying to repeat that. So far things are looking good but it will depend on the latter part of the season.”
National player Jonas Müller, who made it 4-0 on Tuesday evening and thus collected his 100th scorer point in the DEL, was confident in view of the return of long-injured top performers such as Boychuk and Frans Nielsen: “If everyone is there, then it will be real difficult to win against us,” said the defender.
The final spurt of the season continues for the Eisbären Berlin on Friday with the home game against the Augsburg Panthers (7.30 p.m. / Magentasport). Then, due to the relaxed corona regulations, 4000 spectators can be there again in the arena at Ostbahnhof.