ERC Ingolstadt is the new first pursuer of the dominant front-runner Red Bull Munich in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).
On Matchday 34, Bayern beat German champions Eisbären Berlin 4-2 (1-1, 1-1, 2-0) and relegated Adler Mannheim to second place in the table.
Marko Friedrich, Charles Bertrand, Ben Marshall and Mirko Höfflin scored for the Ingolstadt team, who clinched their 21st win of the season. Marcel Noebels and Maximilian Heim had meanwhile given Berlin a 2-1 lead. The polar bears, who have been struggling since the start of the season, failed to confirm the good performance of 5-0 over bottom-placed Bietigheim shortly before Christmas and take another step out of the bottom of the table.
Ingolstadt, on the other hand, is twelve points behind Red Bull Munich after 32 games. However, the table leader has the chance to increase the lead again in the evening game against the Augsburg Panthers.
A few hours earlier, the Adler Mannheim had surprisingly lost feathers in the top group of the table. The 2019 German champions lost 3-1 (0-0, 0-2, 1-1) against Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven. Ryan MacInnis’ interim goal wasn’t enough.
The Grizzlies Wolfsburg also suffered bankruptcy. The play-off contenders lost 5-3 (2-1, 1-2, 0-2) at home to the Kölner Haie, who had recently improved in form.