The ERC Ingolstadt continues to be the benchmark in the German Ice Hockey League.
The league leaders defeated former champions Red Bull Munich 3-2 (1-0, 0-1, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0) after a penalty shootout in a close top game on matchday 30. Daniel Schmölz scored the twelfth attempt in the shoot-out and ended the game. Three days after the contract extension with head coach Mark French, the ERC is confidently at the top.
Berlin beats the Grizzlies
Champion Eisbären Berlin is second, eight points behind, after winning 3-1 (1-0, 1-0, 1-1) at Grizzlys Wolfsburg. Behind them are the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven, who inflicted their third defeat in a row on the Kölner Haien with 4:1 (2:0, 0:1, 2:0).
The Domstädter are sixth in the table behind Munich. The Düsseldorfer EG came back down to earth four days after the 7-2 win against the Augsburg Panthers. The bottom of the table lost 2:4 (0:0, 1:0, 1:4) to the Schwenninger Wild Wings.
Bremerhaven on track early
Phillip Bruggisser (6th) and Markus Vikingstad (9th) scored for runner-up Bremerhaven before Cologne shortened the score at the beginning of the middle third through Frederik Storm (22nd). In the final section, however, the hosts made everything clear through Ross Mauermann (54th) and Nino Kinder (58th).