The Eisbären Berlin also won the second playoff semi-final of the German Ice Hockey League against the Straubing Tigers in an overtime thriller. In the third-longest match in DEL history at 111 minutes, coach Serge Aubin’s team won 4:3 (0:1, 2:0, 1:2, 1:0) on Wednesday after triple extra time and leads the series best. of-Seven with 2:0.
In Straubing, the Berliners turned the game around after the Tigers’ opening goal from Philip Samuelsson (15th) through national players Jonas Müller (38th) and Leonhard Pföderl (40th) as well as Blaine Byron (44th). The Tigers got back into the game thanks to Joshua Samanski (50th) and Cole Fonstad (56th). In the third overtime, Ty Ronning scored the much celebrated 4-3 winning goal.
Bruggisser with the decision
The Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven are also on course for the final. The main round winner beat defending champion EHC Red Bull Munich 3-2 (1-0, 1-2, 0-0, 1-0) after extra time. Munich started with a lot of momentum after the 3-0 defeat in game one, but Bremerhaven countered coldly. Markus Vikingstad shot the guests from northern Germany into the lead after 14 minutes. After Miha Verlic’s second goal (26th), it looked like the Penguins would win again.
Former national coach Toni Söderholm’s team seemed frustrated, Bremerhaven’s goalkeeper Kristers Gudlevskis seemed invincible. Then Markus Eisenschmid ended the goal drought: after a total of 94 minutes, the striker scored Munich’s first goal in the semi-final series. Just three minutes later, Maximilian Daubner equalized 2-2 (37′). In extra time, Phillip Bruggisser made the decision (73′).
The fans who had traveled along celebrated in the stands, the departure date for the tired heroes was approaching, and memories of the past year inevitably came flooding back. The quarter-final series in the German Ice Hockey League, when the Fischtown Pinguins were already leading 2-0 against their seemingly overwhelming rivals from the south.
At that time it was 2:4 in the end – and the champions later Munich. Bremerhaven has been warned, but is equally thrilled after the passionately fought away win in Munich. This time, the surprise team is convinced that the lead will hold, this time the big favorite from Munich will not come back.
“The result may be similar, but they are two completely different teams,” said successful coach Thomas Popiesch: “I do believe that the team has matured.” Also Bruggisser, who scored in the 14th minute of extra time to make it 3-2 , described the new, “adult” Bremerhaven in the MagentaSport interview. “We have become smarter,” said Nino Kinder.
“Munich pressed brutally”
What was outstanding in Munich was the fighting spirit and strong nerves in the important minutes of extra time. “I just really enjoy overtime,” said Popiesch. Two games had already gone into overtime in the 4-0 win in the quarterfinals against ERC Ingolstadt.
In any case, the people of Bremerhaven are not afraid, but they have the necessary respect for the master. “We have taken a good step, but the series is far from over, Munich is a brutally strong opponent,” said Kinder and called for them not to let up in the next game: “We have to keep fighting with the same passion.”
The game continues in Bremerhaven on Friday (7 p.m. at MagentaSport). The main round winner had already dominated game one on the North Sea coast and won 3-0. The hope of continuing the winning streak, which has now lasted for nine games, is great, but so was the exhaustion after the self-sacrificing fight.
“Munich pressed brutally in overtime, but we stuck together and blocked the shots even though we were tired,” said Kinder. His coach also emphasized the unity. “It was a strong team performance. “The special teams and the goalkeeping performance were particularly crucial,” said Popiesch.
Bernd Schwickerath Published/Updated: Bernd Schwickerath Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 5 Günter Klein, Munich Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
Munich coach Toni Söderholm also had to acknowledge this. Bremerhaven didn’t become the main round winner for nothing, said the former national coach, who wasn’t there in last year’s race to catch up. It is not the look into the past that gives the Finn hope for a new comeback, but rather his appearance in the present. “We were much better than in game one, much more present emotionally and in terms of running. Overall, I can’t blame the team. If you play like that, you deserve victories in this series too,” said Söderholm.
