Ice hockey DEL playoffs: Munich and Bremerhaven approaching the semi-finals
Red Bull Munich is on track for the DEL playoffs. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Ice hockey champions EHC Red Bull Munich remain confident so far after a difficult main round in the playoff quarter-finals. Bremerhaven is also on the verge of a milestone. Mannheim has problems.
Defending champions EHC Red Bull Munich appear to be in top form at a crucial time in the German Ice Hockey League and are just one win away from the playoff semi-finals.
Former national coach Toni Söderholm’s team also won the third quarter-final game at the Grizzlys Wolfsburg 4:3 (0:1, 3:0, 0:1) and can win the best-of-seven series at home on Sunday fourth victory.
“That’s the plan. You want to take advantage of the opportunity you now have at home,” said captain Patrick Hager on the Internet broadcaster MagentaSport. The national player scored two goals for the champions, who only finished the main round in fifth place.
Eisbären in the lead against Mannheim
For Adler Mannheim, the biggest favorite next to Munich before the start of the season, things are not going so well in the playoffs after an equally problematic main round. After the opening win in the quarter-final series last weekend against the Eisbären Berlin, the Adler lost the third game in the capital 2:3 (0:2, 0:1, 2:0). The Eisbären now lead the series 2-1. This time Mannheim weakened itself with a game misconduct penalty for former NHL defenseman Korbinian Holzer.
The Fischtown Pinguins, on the other hand, are facing a milestone in their history: For the first time since promotion to the DEL in 2016, Bremerhaven could move into the semi-finals on Sunday. Once again it was top scorer Jan Urbas who shot the North Sea club to victory against runner-up ERC Ingolstadt 4:3 (0:1, 2:1, 1:1) after extra time. The Slovenian scored in the fifth minute of overtime for the third win in the third game for the main round winner.
In the Straubing vs. Schwenningen series, the Black Forest could have won the decisive away win. The Schwenningen Wild Wings won 4:3 (3:0, 0:2, 0:1) after extra time and now lead the series 2:1. In the seventh duel of the season for both teams, it was the first away win. Tyson Spink scored for Schwenningen in the 17th minute of extra time.
dpa
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