DEL playoff fight heats up

Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg - Krefeld Pinguine 3:0

After relatively succesful weeks in which Krefeld had cut the distances to the pre-playoff spots they had to travel to top-6 team Wolfsburg. The Penguins were warned not only because of the better position in the standings for Wolfsburg but also because in their last away game against the Grizzlys, Krefeld hat to take a 2-10 loss. For Wolfsburg it was the first time ever in their DEL history to score so many goals in one match. Friday's DEL game started better for Krefeld than the last time but still they had to let through an early wrist shot by Matt Dzieduszycki (7.). Around "half time" it was Christoph Höhenleitner who extended the lead while his team was shorthanded. First guest goalie Scott Langkow could only block the puck in the direction of the Grizzly attacker and then a Krefeld defender was too slow. To make it even worse Langkow received the goal through the five-hole. Krefeld never really found a way into the game and so Benedikt Kohl decided the match early in the last period (43.) with a nice individual effort. For Krefeld the loss was heavy as their direct competitors were all sucessful but they could still be thankful that one of the best power play teams inthe league wasted all its nive opportunities with the men advantage.

Hamburg Freezers - Augsburger Panther 1:3

Augsburg had to win in Hamburg to stay in touch with the playoff spots and so they didn't waste too much time to show the hosts they wanted to take all three points despite being the worst away team of the league with 16 consecutive losses in the opponent's arenas. After only 77 seconds Justin Fletcher opened the score for the guests. Late in the first period Sean O`Connor even did increase the lead in his second shot after he failed in his wrap around try. After an even middle period without goals Kyle Helms decided the match ten minutes prior to the final horn. When he received a pass directly in front of the goalie he had only to bring the puck over the goal line. In the last minute of play Serge Aubin could only score the consolation goal.

ERC Ingolstadt - Adler Mannheim 4:2

In the top game of the day between the third and the second of the league table, Jamie Siefers (23.) brought the guests from Mannheim in front after a first period with goals. Kris Sparre and Prestin Ryan could turn the match around completely withing two minutes but later in the middle period it was Frank Mauer who could tie the game again (34.). In an even last period Timmy Pettersson scored another one for Ingolstadt which became the game-winner as Mannheim didn't find another answer. Instead Thomas Greilinger made the final score of 4-2 perfect with an emtpy-netter in the last minute of play.

Eisbären Berlin - EHC München 1:2

Plagued with injuries DEL champion Eisbären Berlin went into the game against EHC München. In a close game the fans had to wait long for the first goal. After 29 minutes it was Martin Buchwieser who brought the guests in front when his shot in the power play found the back of the net - it was the first away goal for the Bavarians after three games. München continued with its aggresive play but Richie Regehr (54.) tied the game also in the power play. The shock for the guests didn't seem to be that heavy as they get back in front in the same minute after a goal by Sören Sturm and dedended the lead until the final horn.

Straubing Tigers - Kölner Haie 5:2

In the match between two direct competitors for the sixth spot which avoids the pre-playoffs, Straubing was able to increase the distance to the Kölner Haie to eight points. In a Haie power play reinforcement Johan Akerman slid on the ice and lost the puck so that the way was free for Karl Steward who made a nice backhand pass from behind the goal to Matt Hussey who did the 1-0 for the hosts after three and a half minutes. Later in the period Straubing also had the opportunity to show something in the power play and Bruno St. Jacques increased the hosts' lead with a nice blue line shot. Early in the middle period Ryan Ramsay decided the game with his shot from the right wing against his former club. The last period had a crazy beginning. First Cologne came back with two fast goals by Gogulla and team captain John Tripp - the second one in the power play when he deflected a shot from the blue line. Still in the 42nd minute Karl Stewart scored for Straubing to destroy all hopes for Cologne. Carsen Germyn with an empty-net goal for the 5-2 was the last hightlight of the match.  

Nürnberg Ice Tigers - Iserlohn Roosters 3:2 OT

In the match of two teams in desperate need for points to make the playoffs, the hosts from Nürnberg had the better start and after six minutes Greg Leeb brought them in front. Despite many chances - especially for the Ice Tigers - the result didn't change until the middle period where Mike York (23.) tied the game for Iserlohn. Now Iserlohn had the same problem as Nürnberg in the first as they couldn't score another time despite of being the better team on the ice. Instead Yasin Ehliz scored the 2-1 for the hosts late in the second period (39.). In the last 20 minutes it was the same picture as in the previous two periods. The dominating team was outscored by the opponent. Early in the last period Jeff Giuliano had tied the match again for the Roosters. When the game went into overtime it was Paul Traynor who ended it with a positive result for Nürnberg with only 13 seconds left to play.

DEG Metro Stars - Hannover Scorpions 6:3

Bottom club Hannover Scorpions had only won two of its last 14 games so that their playoff ambitions were already unrealistic prior to the away game against the DEG Metro Stars. Despite dominating the first period they lay back 1-2. Evan Kaufmann and Jeff Ulmer had scored for the hosts who had only five shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. At least Chris Herperger could cut the lead to one for Hannover (16.). In the middle period the Scorpions continued with their efforts and were rewared with the equalizer by Martin Hlinka (24.). In a period where both teams did pay less attention to their defensive work, Düsseldorf soon found an answer and after goals by Simon Danner and Marco Nowak they were back in front with a two-goal distance. When Andreas Morczinietz scored the only power play goal of the match (37.) the game seemed to become close again but with 29 seconds left in the period Tyler Beechey destroyed the guests' hope for a positive result. In the middle of the last period it was Evan Kaufmann with his second goal of the day who did the final score of 6-3.   

 

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