The Eisbären Berlin have extended their lead in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
The eight-time champion won on Friday evening against the Adler Mannheim 3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 1:0) and benefited from the mistake of the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven. The capital city’s closest rival surprisingly lost 1:2 (0:0, 1:1, 0:1) against bottom team Iserlohn Roosters.
National player Frederik Tiffels scored the winning goal in the final third (48th) in front of 14,200 spectators in the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The Mannheim team had previously equalized two of the Eisbären’s leads. Eight game days before the end of the main round, Berlin is now six points ahead of Bremerhaven, which has played one game less.
DEL top scorer Zigla Jeglic (26th) scored for the team from the North Sea coast, but Iserlohn turned the game around. The Roosters, who had been lagging behind for a long time, moved into 13th place in the table with the surprise coup on points. Augsburg Panther right away. The Fuggerstadt team lost 1:5 (0:1, 0:3, 1:1) against the Kölner Haie in their own hall.
Thanks to their success, the Haie jumped to sixth place in the direct play-offs. Cologne’s Rhenish neighbor Düsseldorfer EG celebrated their sixth win from their last seven games with a 5:3 (2:0, 2:3, 1:0) against Schwenninger Wild Wings. DEG is in tenth place, which qualifies for the pre-play-offs.
The Nuremberg Ice Tigers are just two points behind. The Franconians won 4:1 (1:0, 2:1, 1:0) at the Löwen Frankfurt, who are only three points ahead of Iserlohn. In the fight for the play-offs, the Grizzlys Wolfsburg celebrated an important victory with 3:1 (1:1, 1:0, 1:0) against runner-up ERC Ingolstadt.