The Grizzlys Wolfsburg remain a permanent guest in the playoff semifinals of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). The Lower Saxony defeated the Straubing Tigers 3-1 (0-1, 2-0, 1-0) in the seventh and decisive quarter-final and made it into the last four for the tenth time.
The opponent is the main round winner and top favorite Red Bull Munich from Friday (7 p.m. / MagentaSport). The second semi-final is played by ERC Ingolstadt and Adler Mannheim.
“We called up what we could in every game. Straubing gave us some difficulties,” said the outstanding Wolfsburg national goalkeeper Dustin Strahlmeier on “MagentaSport”: “We also had a bit of luck on our side today.”
Travis St. Denis gave the hosts a deserved lead in front of 4,485 spectators at the powder tower with a “pawn trick” (12th). But the Lower Saxony countered ice-coldly and turned the game around: Stephan Daschner deflected a cross from Laurin Braun into his own goal (29′), Darren Archibald scored in the follow-up shot (35′). “It was a bit lucky, but we’re happy to take it,” said Braun at “MagentaSport”.
Luis Schinko increased the lead to 3:1 in the final third (50th). Wolfsburg’s national goalkeeper Dustin Strahlmeier secured the fourth win in the best-of-seven series with several brilliant saves.