The Eisbären Berlin said goodbye to the short Christmas break with a home win but losing their lead in the league table.
The record champions of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) defeated the Nuremberg Ice Tigers 3:2 (2:0, 0:1, 0:1, 0:0, 1:0) after a penalty shootout, but still had to beat Bremerhaven in the race for the Let the tip pass. The Fischtown Pinguins won at the Schwenninger Wild Wings 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 1:1) and are in first place for at least three nights.
Only 33 seconds had been played when Patrice Cormier gave the Eisbären the lead, and a little later Jaedon Descheneau (7th) added the best offense in the league. After the Ice Tigers, who are still in the bottom of the table, equalized, Leonhard Pföderl scored in the shootout to win for Berlin, which is now one point behind Bremerhaven with 60 points.
Colt Adam Conrad (57th) scored the decisive goal for the new leader shortly before the end. For Schwenningen it was the third defeat in a row, in the table the Wild Wings had to let their in-form rivals from Mannheim overtake them.
The Eagles celebrated their fourth win in a row with a comfortable 3-0 (3-0, 0-0, 0-0) win over the Grizzlys Wolfsburg and moved past Schwenningen into eighth place with 46 points. Mannheim pulled ahead within 123 seconds thanks to David Wolf (5th), Maximilian Eisenmenger (6th) and Jordan Szwarz (7th).
Champion Red Bull Munich won 3:2 (1:0, 0:1, 2:1) against bottom team Iserlohn Roosters.