Title favorite Adler Mannheim has continued its upward trend in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). After being two goals behind three times, coach Pavel Gross’ team won 5:4 (0:2, 2:2, 1:0, 0:0, 1:0) after a penalty shoot-out in the catch-up game at ERC Ingolstadt and celebrated the third win in a row.
The Adler defended second place behind the defending champions Eisbären Berlin. Ingolstadt remains seventh after the fourth defeat in a row.
Brandon DeFazio (8th) and Frederik Storm (9th) brought Oberbayern, who lost 2:3 after a penalty shoot-out against bottom-placed Krefeld Pinguine, to a 2-0 lead. Andrew Desjardins (28′) and Markus Eisenschmid (32′) cut twice for Mannheim in the middle third, but Chris Bourque (28′) and Ben Marshall (34′) each restored the two-goal gap.
David Wolf (42nd) and Desjardins (59th) forced extra time in the final section. Borna Rendulic made the decision in the penalty shootout.
ERC Ingolstadt – Adler Mannheim 4: 4 (2: 0, 2: 2, 0: 2, 0: 0, 0: 1) nP – Goals: 1: 0 Defazio (07:12), 2: 0 Storm (08:38), 2: 1 Desjardins (27:17), 3: 1 Bourque (27:47), 3: 2 Eisenschmid (31: 56), 4:2 Marshall (33:30), 4:3 Wolf (41:37), 4:4 Desjardins (58:49), 4:5 Rendulic (65:00) (Penalty)- Spectators: 2511. – Penalty minutes: Ingolstadt 2 – Mannheim