German Ice Hockey League
Bremerhaven and Munich in the semi-finals – Mannheim on the verge of elimination
EHC Munich celebrates its early entry into the DEL playoff semi-finals. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
The Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven and EHC Red Bull Munich decide their quarter-final series early. The Eisbären Berlin are still missing a win against Mannheim.
The Fishtown Penguins Bremerhaven and EHC Red Bull Munich have secured an early entry into the playoff semi-finals of the German Ice Hockey League.
The main round winner from Seestadt also won the fourth duel with ERC Ingolstadt and won the best-of-seven series 4-0. Munich remained undefeated in four games against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg. The Eisbären Berlin are only missing a win in the classic against the Adler Mannheim.
Mannheim before the early end of the season
Bremerhaven is in the semi-finals for the first time in club history after a 3-1 (1-0, 0-0, 2-1) win in the fourth match in Ingolstadt. Markus Vikingstad (5th minute), Ross Mauermann (42nd minute) and Dominik Uher (46th) ensured the away win. The goal by Wojciech Stachowiak (57th) for Ingolstadt came too late.
Former national coach Toni Söderholm’s Munich team, who were disappointing in the main round, also showed their top form in the 2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 1:0) against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg. Gerrit Fauser gave the Grizzlys the lead when they were outnumbered (37th). Shortly before the end of the second third, 19-year-old Veit Oswald made it 1-1 (40th). Filip Varejcka’s goal decided the game for the fifth-placed team in the main round (46th).
The Adler Mannheim are threatened with an early quarter-final exit in their duel with the Eisbären Berlin. Due to the 1:3 (0:1, 0:0, 1:2) defeat on Sunday in front of their home crowd, Mannheim are behind 1:3 in the series. The German national player Marcel Noebels (17th), Tobias Eder (58th) and Manuel Wiederer (59th) scored for the Eisbären. The fifth game is next Tuesday (7.30 p.m./Magenta Sport) in Berlin. With a win, the club from the capital could move into the semi-finals and seal the Eagles’ early end to the season.