Munich and Berlin before entering the DEL final – ice hockey
Mannheim/Wolfsburg (dpa) – Champions Eisbären Berlin and EHC Red Bull Munich are only missing one win to get into the playoff finals of the German Ice Hockey League.
Berlin won 6-3 (0-1, 1-1, 5-1) at the Adler Mannheim on Friday evening thanks to a spectacular third third in the second of five parties. Munich turned the game against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg, won 3: 2 (1: 2, 2: 0, 0: 0) and is also 2: 0 ahead in the best-of-five series.
In a hard-fought encounter, the Mannheimers led 2-1 for a long time in front of 12,670 spectators through Jordan Szwarz (14th minute) and Florian Elias (37th) when Manuel Wiederer (28th) conceded a goal. In the final round, Blaine Bairon (48’/57′), Zach Boychuk (55′) and Leonard Pföderl turned the Berlin team into a narrow 5:2. “We took advantage of the opportunities,” enthused Berlin’s Kai Wissmann at Magentasport about the third third. “Win is win and that’s what counts in the playoffs.”
Tim Wohlgemuth (58th) for Mannheim and Boychuck again (59th) make the 6:3 final perfect. “We weren’t that concentrated in the final minutes,” complained Adler professional Elias. “We now have to watch videos, regenerate and then be there from the first minute.” Game three takes place on Sunday (5 p.m. / Magentasport) in Berlin.
After the clear 1:5 defeat in Munich, the Grizzlies started furiously in front of 3261 spectators in Wolfsburg. Goals from Anthony Rech (7th minute) and Phil Hungerecker 75 seconds later gave the hosts a 2-0 lead. Austin Ortega was able to shorten for the title contender with just under five minutes remaining in the first period. After Benjamin Smith equalized 2-2 (25′), Maximilian Kastner finally turned the game around after 36 minutes.
“We started well and had enough chances. Today it was down to the little things,” said Grizzly pro Fabio Pfohl. “Now we have to finish the game quickly. We continue to believe in ourselves.” Munich, on the other hand, has the first chance to make it into the final perfectly on Sunday (2 p.m. / Magentasport). “We know what we can do. We have to keep playing,” explained goalkeeper Henrik Haukeland.