Adler Mannheim Reach DEL Final for First Time Since 2019 Championship

Adler Mannheim have secured their place in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) Final for the first time since capturing the championship in 2019, defeating EHC Red Bull München 4-1 in the semifinal series. The victory sets up a highly anticipated showdown for German hockey’s top prize, with Mannheim waiting to learn whether they will face defending champions Eisbären Berlin or regular season leaders Kölner Haie in the final.

The decisive Game 5 victory came in front of Mannheim’s home crowd, where the Adler clinched the series with a 4-1 triumph. Goals from Alexander Ehl (4th minute), Nicolas Mattinen (23rd minute), Matthias Plachta (34th minute), and Leon Gawanke (41st minute) powered Mannheim to victory, even as Maximilian Franzreb delivered a standout performance in goal for the home side.

For EHC Red Bull München, Tobias Rieder was the lone scorer, finding the net at the 8-minute mark. Despite the loss, München had pushed the series to a deciding fifth game after winning Game 4 by a 5-1 score on their home ice.

Adler Mannheim’s path to the final represents a significant milestone for the franchise, marking their first appearance in the DEL championship series since their seventh league title in 2019. That championship run saw Mannheim defeat EHC Red Bull München 4-1 in the finals, with Dennis Endras earning playoff MVP honors.

The 2018-19 DEL season, which culminated in Mannheim’s last title, featured Adler Mannheim as regular season champions with an impressive 2.23 points per game average. Danny aus den Birken of EHC Red Bull München was named both DEL Player of the Year and Goalie of the Year that season, while Mannheim’s Joonas Lehtivouri earned defenceman of the year honors.

Now, seven years later, Mannheim returns to the final with a blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent. Head coach Dallas Eakins praised his team’s performance following the series-clinching victory, highlighting the collective effort and goaltending that proved decisive.

“We have played very solid and had an outstanding goaltender,” Eakins said, crediting Maximilian Franzreb’s performance between the pipes as a key factor in the series outcome.

The Mannheim lineup featured several key contributors throughout the semifinal series. Alexander Ehl opened the scoring in Game 5 just four minutes in, setting an early tone. Nicolas Mattinen doubled the lead in the second period, followed by Matthias Plachta’s goal to craft it 3-0. Leon Gawanke added an insurance goal in the third period before München’s late consolation marker.

On the München side, Tobias Rieder’s early goal provided a brief spark, but the visitors were unable to sustain momentum against Mannheim’s balanced attack and resilient defense.

The outcome of the other semifinal series will determine Mannheim’s opponent in the final. As of the latest update, Eisbären Berlin held a 3-2 series lead over Kölner Haie, meaning the defending champions were one victory away from securing their own final berth.

Berlin had won Game 5 of their series by a 5-2 score, with goals coming across all three periods. The Haie now face elimination and must win Game 6 on their home ice to force a decisive Game 7.

Should Berlin advance, Mannheim would face a familiar foe in the final, having last met Berlin in playoff competition during their 2019 championship run. If Köln pulls off the upset, it would mark a first-time final appearance for the Haie since topping the regular season standings.

Regardless of the opponent, Mannheim’s return to the DEL Final represents a resurgence for one of Germany’s most storied hockey franchises. The club, which has won seven DEL titles in its history, aims to add an eighth championship to its resume.

With the DEL Final scheduled to begin on April 24, 2026, Mannheim now turns its focus to preparation, knowing that home-ice advantage in the potential final series remains undetermined pending the outcome of the Berlin-Kölne series.

The journey back to the DEL Final completes a narrative arc for Adler Mannheim that began with their 2019 championship and now sees them positioned once again to compete for German hockey’s ultimate prize.

As the Mannheim faithful celebrate this return to the final stage, the focus quickly shifts to the ultimate goal: capturing the league title and ending the seven-year wait for another DEL championship banner to hang in the SAP Arena rafters.

Stay tuned to Archysport for continuing coverage of the DEL Final as the matchup is finalized and preparation begins for what promises to be a compelling conclusion to the 2025-26 Deutsche Eishockey Liga season.