It was another high-class game on Sunday evening at the top game in Memmingen. In front of 2,816 spectators in the ALPHA COOLING Arena at Hühnerberg, Casey Fratkin’s team came back into the game after being 3-1 down, but in the end had to admit defeat to the second-placed Indians 4-3 after a penalty shootout.
The Deggendorf head coach was able to rely on almost a complete squad in the duel with the Swabians, only Philipp Wachter and Luca Zitterbart were not part of the game. Marco Baßler and Marcel Pfänden, however, returned to the squad.
From the first minute on, a high-class and intense game developed with chances for both sides, with the first goal only coming in the 15th minute. With a double majority, Marco Baßler put Deggendorfer ahead 0-1. But the Indians’ response didn’t take long to arrive. Almost two turns of the pointer later, it was Memmingen’s Brett Ouderkirk who scored – also in the power play – to make it 1-1. The home team continued to improve in the first third: in the 19th minute, Edgars Homjakovs made his way down the wing and scored with a backhand to make it 2-1 at halftime.
In the second half it was still a game with a lot of speed and high intensity. After half the game, the Deggendorfers pushed for the equalizer and were countered ice-cold by the Indians. Homjakovs’ solo effort could only be stopped by a foul and Linus Svedlund converted the subsequent penalty in the 33rd minute to make it 3-1 – which also represented the score after 40 minutes played.
In the final third, DSC quickly scored. Harrison Roy completed a quick counterattack in the 42nd minute on a pass from Jaroslav Hafenrichter to make it 3-2. The Deggendorfers stuck with it and put increasing pressure on the Indians. In the 55th minute the time had finally come. Petr Stloukal brought the puck towards the goal area and Dylan Jackson somehow pushed the hard rubber disc over the line to make it 3-3. The score remained at this level after 60 minutes of play.
Even in the five-minute extra time there was no winner, so the game had to be decided in a penalty shootout. There, Memmingen’s Linus Svedlund became the match winner and secured the extra point for his colors.
The Fratkin squad continues with the next top game on Tuesday. The Heilbronn Falcons will be guests at 8 p.m.
