Cologne back on top

10 Dec 2012 | Dennis Mende

Mannheim and Hamburg with slip-ups.

The by then still league leaders Adler Mannheim had a great start with two early power play goals through Adam Mitchell and Michael Glumac against EHC Red Bull München. In the last minute of the first period though the guests cut the lead to just one through Paul Stastny. Man of the match would become Blake Wheeler who scored a hat trick to secure the win for the away team. Christian Wichert added another one for a solid 5-2 road win by the Bavarians.

Chasers Hamburg Freezers couldn't use this as they lost themselves in the Northern derby against the Hannover Scorpions despite being twice in front through Matt Pettinger. Ivan Ciernik and Christopher Herperger tied the match for the home side before Marvin Krüger gave the three points to the Scorpions with his goal for the 3-2 at 47:54. After 8 wins in the last 11 matches Hannover now is 6th in the table.

The Cologne Sharks pathed the way for their home win against Augsburg in the middle period. Philip Gogulla, Charlie Stephens and Andreas Holmqvist let their side run away with a three-goal lead after Marcel Ohman (Cologne) and Ryan Thang (Augsburg) had scored in the first 20 minutes. At 53:24 Sergio Somma cut the lead to only but in the last minute of regulation Felix Schütz restored the three-goal lead for a solid 5-2 win that earned Cologne the first place in the DEL table due to the better win percentage compared to Mannheim (both have 48 points).

With their 8th (!) consecutive win Krefeld Pinguine have conquered the fourth spot in the league table. Also away in the derby against Düsseldorfer EG they showed a great performance. Although Ashton Rome opened the score for Düsseldorf already after 17 seconds, the guests from Krefeld went on with a hat trick through Daniel Pietta and one goal by Richard Pavlikovsky to earn a 4-1 win.

Michel Périard and Thomas Greilinger twice earned the lead for Ingolstad in the Bavarian derby against the Straubing Tigers with the equalizer through Carsen Germyn in between. With 01:03 left on the clock John Laliberte decided the match with an empty netter.

The Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg were able to leave the last position in the league table by defeating guests Iserlohn Roosters with 4-1. Despite dominating the first 40 minutes, Wolfsburg even lay behind at the begin of the third period after a goal by Robert Hock. The first three penalties that Iserlohn took during the last 20 minutes were then decisive as Wolfsburg used all these power plays to turn the game around through Matt Dzieduszycki, Aaron Brocklehurst and Kai Hospelt. Defender Vincenz Mayer even added another one at 57:48.