Main round winners Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven and defending champions Red Bull Munich have quickly moved into the semi-finals of the DEL playoffs. The North Germans won the fourth quarter-final duel at ERC Ingolstadt 3-1 (1-0, 0-0, 2-1) and won the best-of-seven series 4-0.
Munich was also in a hurry, the team of former national coach Toni Söderholm eliminated the Grizzlys Wolfsburg with their fourth win in their fourth game. This time the champions had the upper hand with 2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 1:0). Filip Varejcka (46th) scored the decisive goal.
DEL record champions Eisbären Berlin are also on track. The Berliners dealt the Adler Mannheim another low blow in the duel between the heavyweights and won away with 3:1 (1:0, 0:0, 2:1). With a win on Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) in their own hall, the Eisbären could move into the semi-finals given their 3-1 overall lead.
Markus Vikingstad (6th), Ross Mauerman (42nd) and Dominik Uher (46th) scored for Bremerhaven. The Penguins had won the last two duels in the series in overtime; in the fourth comparison on Sunday, the favorites had significantly less trouble. Bremerhaven was able to overcome the late goal by Wojtek Stachowiak (57th).
In front of 13,600 spectators in Mannheim, vice world champion Marcel Noebels put the Berlin team in the lead (17th). In the second third, the Eagles pushed for an equalizer, but missed several top-class chances. Two-time Stanley Cup winner Tom Kühnhackl missed the best shot opportunity when he was outnumbered (28th). It wasn’t until the final period that Jordan Szwarz made it 1-1 (52′). Tobias Eder in the majority (58th) and Manuel Wiederer with a shot into the empty goal (59th) made the decision in the final minutes.
It is the ninth play-off duel between the two most successful clubs in DEL history. The Mannheimers, who started the series with a 7-1 away win, last triumphed against Berlin in 2002, after which they failed five times.
