Ice Hockey Playoffs
DEG before the end – Mannheim equalizes the quarter-final series
The Düsseldorfer EG around goalkeeper Henrik Haukeland is about to end. photo
© David Indian song / dpa
In the DEL playoffs, the Rhenish rivals DEG and Kölner Haie suffer bitter defeats. Düsseldorf is now even before the quarter-finals.
ERC Ingolstadt is only one win away from the playoff semifinals in the German Ice Hockey League. The Düsseldorfer EG, on the other hand, is threatened with the end on Friday after the bitter 1: 2 (0: 0, 1: 0, 0: 2) in the fourth quarterfinal game. Then Ingolstadt can win the fourth win in the best-of-seven series that is necessary to reach the semi-finals. On Sunday, DEG achieved its first victory after two previous defeats.
This time, the Rhinelanders were only six minutes short of a series equalizer in front of 7,784 spectators who came despite the train strike in Düsseldorf. DEG led well into the final third with a goal from national striker Daniel Fischbuch (28th minute) before a double strike from the guests decided the game.
“We slept for 30 seconds. That’s enough,” Düsseldorf coach Roger Hansson complained at MagentaSport to the goals of Maurice Edwards and Justin Feser (both 54th) within 35 seconds. At both goals, Henrik Haukeland, who had parried brilliantly before, looked unhappy in the DEG goal.
Shark keeper having a bad day
In the second quarter-final series between the Kölner Haie and the Adler Mannheim, the goalkeeper’s performance was also decisive for the clear 7:3 (3:0, 1:1, 3:2) of the guests. Mannheim equalized to 2:2 after victories.
The hitherto strong Haie keeper Mirko Pantkowski had a weak day and was involved in at least three goals conceded. The fourth goal conceded by David Wolf (29th) he practically put himself in the net. In the Adlers, however, where Arno Tiefensee (20) once again replaced the ailing national goalkeeper Felix Brückmann, the young keeper was convincing.
As in the entire series so far, the 17,163 spectators saw a fast-paced and intense prestige duel in which the Eagles always scored the goals at the right time and were impressively effective.