The Berliners were able to clearly assert themselves in this decisive game. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann also watched the triumph of the polar bears from the stands.
The Eisbären Berlin triumphantly defended the championship title in the German Ice Hockey League at EHC Red Bull Munich. On Wednesday evening, the DEL record champions celebrated their ninth championship overall with a 5-0 (1-0, 3-0, 1-0) win over their Bavarian rivals. After three hard-fought games in the best-of-five series, goals from Matthew White (9th/37th/60th minute), Frans Nielsen (25th) and Marcel Noebels (26th) ensured the third win they needed , which was clear this time.
The Munich team repeatedly despaired of the outstanding national goalkeeper Niederberger, who is to switch to the EHC for the new season. “Two or three mistakes – you can’t give them to Berliners, and we’ll cut our teeth against a man,” said Munich’s national striker Max Kastner frustrated at MagentaSport before the final third.
Polar bears were clearly better
The EHC team of former Berlin master trainer Don Jackson was only able to win game one of the final series in a DEL season that was again affected by the corona pandemic. In the end, the Munich team missed the fourth title win after the hat-trick from 2016 to 2018 quite clearly. The sovereign DEL main round winner of coach Serge Aubin was too strong for that.
With their ninth title, the polar bears passed the eight-time champions Düsseldorf, Cologne and Mannheim, all or some of whom still collected their titles in the former Bundesliga. The Berliners confirmed the title from last year, which was won under different conditions. With even stricter corona regulations, the past season took place without any spectators. A year ago, in the playoffs, only two wins were necessary to advance or win the title.
