EHC Red Bull Munich started the playoffs of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) with a narrow win. The second in the main round defeated the Düsseldorfer EG 4:2 on Sunday and thus took a 1:0 lead in the best-of-five quarter-final series. The EHC struggled at the beginning and could thank Henrik Haukeland for not falling behind early: The Norwegian goalkeeper defused a solo effort by Brendan O’Donnell in the five minute. A little later, the home side took the lead, defender Andrew O’Brien scored to make it 1-0 (8th). Shortly before the break in the first third, it became abruptly quiet in Munich’s Olympic ice rink, as DEG defender Nicolas Geitner received a target from a shot by Zach Redmond in the face. Geitner stayed in bed for a moment and was then escorted into the dressing room. He never returned to the ice. 14 seconds later, Jerry D’Amigo equalized to make it 1-1 after a counterattack with a man down (18′).
On Friday, Düsseldorf prevailed in an emotional pre-playoff series in the decisive third game against Nuremberg. They had played three games within four days – the Munich team was able to prepare for the first quarter-final game for the entire week. In the middle period, the EHC put a lot of pressure on, but the goal was scored by DEG in the person of ex-Munich player Luca Zitterbart (28th). Just 30 seconds later it was a draw again, Ben Smith scored to make it 2-2. Then it got very physical, Austin Ortega and Carter Proft even fought a fist fight (38th). “It’s very good playoff ice hockey, it’s tough,” said Maximilian Kastner at Magentasport. In the final third, Düsseldorf’s Victor Svensson hit the post (48′) before Redmond (52′) and O’Brien (59′, empty goal) gave the EHC the win. Game two follows on Tuesday.