The Eisbären Berlin won their last game before Christmas, but lost their lead in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). The leaders are now the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven.
On Saturday (December 23rd, 2023) the capital city team won against the Nuremberg Ice Tigers 3:2 (2:0, 0:1, 0:1, 0:0, 1:0) after a penalty shootout. Leonhard Pföderl scored the winning goal in the shootout, Patrice Cormier and Jaedon Descheneau had previously scored.
Because the Berliners ultimately had to settle for two points after a 2-0 lead, they were overtaken in the table by the new leaders Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven.
30th matchday arrow right
Polar bears take the lead after 33 seconds
In front of 14,200 spectators in the sold-out arena at Ostbahnhof, the hosts got off to a lightning start: Cormier scored after just 33 seconds. While the Nuremberg team then missed a few scoring opportunities, the capital city team remained efficient. Descheneau extended the lead after a counterattack. Despite the lead, the home side couldn’t get the game under control because they made numerous mistakes.
Nuremberg became dangerous again and again and was able to reduce the deficit in the second third with a goal from Charlie Gerard. Even in the final period, Berlin’s defense remained vulnerable, Daniel Schmölz equalized for the guests. The extra time remained goalless, Pföderl ensured the capital team’s happy success in the penalty shootout.
Bremerhaven benefits and advances
The new league leaders are the Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven. They won 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 1:1) at the Schwenninger Wild Wings.
Colt Adam Conrad scored the decisive goal for Bremerhaven shortly before the end (57th). Lukas Kälble had previously taken the lead in the middle third (40th), but Phil Hungerecker equalized for Schwenningen in the meantime (49th).
Mannheim overtakes Schwenningen
For Schwenningen it was the third defeat in a row, in the table the Wild Wings had to let their in-form rivals from Mannheim overtake them.
The Eagles celebrated their fourth win in a row with a comfortable 3-0 (3-0, 0-0, 0-0) win over the Grizzlys Wolfsburg and moved past Schwenningen into eighth place with 46 points. Mannheim pulled ahead within 123 seconds thanks to David Wolf (5th), Maximilian Eisenmenger (6th) and Jordan Szwarz (7th).
Augsburg’s Hakulinen scores three times
Champion Red Bull Munich prevailed 3-2 (1-0, 0-1, 2-1) against bottom-placed Iserlohn Roosters, while runner-up ERC Ingolstadt beat the Straubing Tigers 1-0 (1 :0, 0:0, 0:0) had the upper hand.
The second-to-last Augsburger Panther won 4-1 (1-0, 1-0, 2-1) against the Kölner Haie thanks to a hat-trick from Anrei Hakulinen. Their Rhenish rival, the Düsseldorfer EG, did better with a 3:1 (0:0, 1:0, 2:1) win at the Löwen Frankfurt.
