The Kölner Haie won the 242nd Rhine derby in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) at Düsseldorfer EG and increased the rivals’ worries. While Cologne improved its chances of direct qualification for the play-off quarter-finals by winning 3:2 (1:0, 1:2, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0) after a penalty shootout, DEG has to continue fear of staying in the league.
The Haie led 2-0 thanks to Justin Schütz (8th) and Maximilian Kammerer (21st), Brendan O’Donnell (29th) and Alexander Blank (40th) forced extra time. After a scoreless additional five minutes, Kammerer and Schütz scored again in the shootout, Düsseldorf failed twice.
“We are too inconsistent over 60 minutes,” said Schütz at MagentaSport and was annoyed that only two points were achieved. More victories are needed in the three remaining main round games against “direct opponents”. The Haie are still seventh in the table, but are only one point behind the Schwenninger Wild Wings. Six teams advance directly to the quarterfinals.
The Eisbären Berlin maintained their place at the top of the table with a 6:4 (1:0, 2:2, 3:2) over the Iserlohn Roosters. The Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven consolidated second place thanks to a 2:1 (1:0, 1:1, 0:0) win in Schwenningen. The Pinguins have played one game less than Berlin, and both can no longer slip down to third place.
Nino Kinder gave Bremerhaven the lead (12th), Zachary Senyshyn equalized (22nd). Shortly afterwards the Penguins were celebrating again thanks to Jan Urbas (23rd).
Champion Red Bull Munich is increasingly losing touch with the top. There was a late 1:2 (0:1, 0:0, 1:1) defeat at the Nuremberg Ice Tigers – 18 points are now missing from first place. Evan Barratt scored the decisive goal for the Franconians seconds before the end (60th) and ensured that Munich lost their 22nd league game this season.
The Straubing Tigers consolidated their third place with a home win against the Löwen Frankfurt. Mark Zengerle (14th) and Parker Tuomie (52nd) scored for Straubing in the 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 1:1). The Lions could only be happy about Cameron Brace’s equalizer (47th).
The Augsburg Panthers (50) are still last, ahead of them are Iserlohn (54), Frankfurt (55) and DEG (56).