Eisbären Berlin One Win From Historic Three-Peat After Dominant Game 3 Victory

By Daniel Richardson, Editor-in-Chief

BERLIN — The Eisbären Berlin are on the verge of making German hockey history. One win is all that stands between the capital club and a third consecutive Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) championship after a commanding 5-1 victory over Adler Mannheim in Game 3 of the finals Tuesday night at SAP Arena. The triumph gives Berlin a commanding 3-0 series lead in the best-of-seven showdown and sets up a potential title-clinching opportunity as early as Thursday.

The story of the night was written by one player: Eric Mik. The 26-year-old defenseman, born and raised in Berlin, delivered a performance for the ages, scoring three goals — including two in the second period — to propel his team toward immortality. Mik’s offensive explosion marked just the second hat trick of his professional career and the first in DEL playoff history by a Berlin defenseman.

The Night That Changed Everything

The game got off to a chaotic start. Just 21 seconds in, Eisbären captain Kai Wissmann was assessed a game misconduct for a hit to the head of Mannheim’s Maximilian Heim. The Adler forward was slow to get up and required medical attention before eventually returning to the bench later in the contest. Mannheim capitalized on the ensuing power play, with Lukas Reichel setting up Marc Michaelis for a 1-0 lead at the 3:00 mark.

But Berlin’s response was swift and decisive. On a feed from Leo Pföderl, Mik fired a shot past Mannheim goaltender Maximilian Franzreb to tie the game at 1-1 with 11:00 remaining in the first period. From that moment on, the Eisbären never looked back.

Mik struck again early in the second period, then completed his hat trick with a third goal midway through the frame. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Berlin had outshot Mannheim 38-22 and controlled possession for nearly 60% of the game. The 5-1 scoreline flattered the home side, which managed just one goal on 22 shots against Eisbären netminder Jonas Stettmer.

Eric Mik celebrates after completing his hat trick in Game 3. The Berlin defenseman has been instrumental in his team’s push for a third straight DEL title. (Photo: Uwe Anspach/dpa)

What This Means for German Hockey

A victory in Game 4 would make the Eisbären the first team in DEL history to win three consecutive championships. The league, founded in 1994, has never seen a three-peat, though Berlin came close in 2012 and 2013 before falling to Eisbären Krefeld in the finals.

“This is what we play for,” said Mik after the game, his words carrying the weight of a player who has spent his entire career in the Berlin system. “Every shift, every practice, every offseason workout — it’s all for moments like this.”

The potential three-peat would also cement Berlin’s place as the most successful franchise in DEL history. With 11 championships already to their name (including titles in the old Bundesliga era), another victory would give them a dozen league crowns — four more than their nearest competitor, Adler Mannheim.

The Road to Game 4

For Mannheim, the task ahead is daunting. No team in DEL playoff history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. The Adler, who finished the regular season with the league’s best record (48-12-4), now face the prospect of elimination on their home ice.

“We’re not done yet,” said Mannheim head coach Craig MacTavish, whose team has now lost three straight games by a combined score of 13-3. “We have to find a way to be better in our own zone, to generate more chances, and to believe that You can still turn this around.”

The Eisbären, meanwhile, have been nearly flawless in the postseason. Their 12-2 playoff record includes series sweeps of Fischtown Pinguins and Grizzlys Wolfsburg before taking a 2-0 lead in the finals with a pair of home victories. Tuesday’s win in Mannheim marked their first road triumph of the playoffs, a psychological hurdle cleared at the perfect time.

Key Factors in Berlin’s Success

Several elements have converged to place the Eisbären on the brink of history:

• Defensive Depth: Berlin has allowed just 2.0 goals per game in the playoffs, the lowest mark among all 14 postseason teams. Stettmer, a 24-year-old netminder in his first full season as the starter, has been particularly sharp, posting a .932 save percentage in the playoffs.
• Special Teams: The Eisbären power play has converted at a 28.6% clip in the postseason, with Mik emerging as an unlikely weapon from the blue line. Their penalty kill, meanwhile, has been nearly perfect, allowing just one goal in 22 shorthanded situations.
• Home-Ice Advantage: Berlin has been nearly unbeatable at Mercedes-Benz Arena, going 7-1 at home in the playoffs. Their two finals victories in Berlin were both decided by three goals or more.
• Leadership: Veteran forwards like Leo Pföderl and Marcel Noebels have provided steady production, although captain Kai Wissmann has been a stabilizing presence despite his early ejection in Game 3.

Eric Mik: The Unlikely Hero

Mik’s emergence as a postseason force has been one of the most surprising storylines of the 2026 DEL playoffs. The Berlin native, drafted by the Eisbären in the third round of the 2018 DEL Entry Draft, has spent most of his career as a stay-at-home defenseman. Prior to this postseason, he had never scored more than six goals in a single season.

But in the playoffs, Mik has been a revelation. His three goals in Game 3 doubled his postseason total entering the game. For the playoffs, he now has five goals and two assists in 14 games, matching his regular-season output in nearly half the time.

“Eric has always been a smart player, but this year he’s added a new dimension to his game,” said Eisbären head coach Serge Aubin. “He’s reading plays better, jumping into the rush at the right times, and most importantly, finishing his chances.”

Mik’s journey to this moment has been anything but linear. After splitting time between Berlin and the DEL-2’s Lausitzer Foxes early in his career, he finally earned a full-time role with the Eisbären in 2020-21. Since then, he’s developed into one of the league’s most reliable defensemen, though his offensive production remained modest until this season.

What’s Next

The series now shifts back to Berlin for Game 4 on Thursday, April 30. Puck drop at Mercedes-Benz Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Local time (1:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. UTC). If the Eisbären complete the sweep, they will hoist the DEL trophy on home ice for the first time since 2024.

For Mannheim, the focus will be on making small adjustments and hoping for a momentum shift. “We have to win one game,” said MacTavish. “Just one. And then we’ll worry about the rest.”

But with Berlin playing its best hockey of the season and a city ready to erupt in celebration, the Eisbären are just 60 minutes away from etching their names into German hockey lore.

Key Takeaways

• Historic Opportunity: A win in Game 4 would make Eisbären Berlin the first team in DEL history to win three consecutive championships.
• Eric Mik’s Breakout: The 26-year-old defenseman scored his first career playoff hat trick in Game 3, more than doubling his postseason goal total in the process.
• Dominant Defense: Berlin has allowed just 2.0 goals per game in the playoffs, the best mark among all postseason teams.
• Mannheim’s Uphill Battle: No team in DEL playoff history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
• Home-Ice Edge: The Eisbären are 7-1 at Mercedes-Benz Arena in the playoffs, including two decisive victories in the finals.
• Next Game: Game 4 is Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. Local time (1:30 p.m. ET) in Berlin. A Berlin win would clinch the championship.

What do you think — can Adler Mannheim pull off the impossible, or will Eisbären Berlin make history on Thursday? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow Archysport’s DEL coverage for all the latest updates.