When the vice world champions returned to the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), national team captain Moritz Müller took the first lead of the 30th season with the Kölner Haie. The old master, who has set his sights on a ninth title with top-class reinforcements, defeated the Nuremberg Ice Tigers 5:1 (2:0, 3:0, 0:1).
Müller recorded three assists for the Haie. 111 days after the World Cup final in Tampere, other silver heroes also shone: DEL record champions Eisbären Berlin won 2-1 (0-0, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0) after a penalty shootout against the runner-up ERC Ingolstadt Wojciech Stachowiak for the guests and Marcel Noebels for the capital team scored the goals in regular time. Noebels scored again in the shootout.
Co-favorite Adler Mannheim made a false start and lost 1:2 (1:1, 0:0, 0:0, 0:0, 0:1) after a penalty shootout in the derby at Schwenninger Wild Wings.
The Grizzlys Wolfsburg with World Cup goalkeeper Dustin Strahlmeier won 4:3 (3:0, 0:1, 1:2) against the almost relegated Augsburger Panther. The Straubing Tigers beat the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven 4:3 (0:0, 2:2, 1:1, 1:0) after extra time. The Iserlohn Roosters beat the Löwen Frankfurt 3:2 (2:0, 0:0, 1:2).
On Thursday, defending champions Red Bull Munich defeated Düsseldorfer EG 4-2 in the opening game. Vice World Champion Maximilian Kastner brought the final point, while World Cup hero Mathias Niederberger fended off 27 shots.