4:3 against Düsseldorf
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Winning streak now in double digits: Eisbären Berlin celebrate after a crazy final phase
imago images/Contrast
Audio: rbb24 Inforadio | 27.10.2024 | Jonas Ziegler | Bild: imago images/Contrast
The Eisbären Berlin have won the German Ice Hockey League for the tenth time in a row. However, they made things exciting against bottom-placed Düsseldorf. After the Berliners seemed almost defeated, they celebrated in extra time.
Polar bears more active, but Düsseldorf also hits
The role of favorites could hardly have been clearer before the game. The furious first in the table received the reeling last in front of 14,200 spectators. After all: the Düsseldorf team won 4-3 against the Augsburg Panthers during the week. It was their first win after regular time in the twelfth game of the season.
In the arena at Ostbahnhof, however, the Rhinelanders were challenged from the start, especially on defense. The Eisbären were more active, were quickly and clearly ahead in the goalscoring statistics – and should have been leading after eleven minutes at the latest: Marcel Noebels, however, failed to put the puck into the empty goal from close range. Minutes later, the 32-year-old veteran was still shaking his head on the bench, smiling in disbelief. “It was a bit too precise,” he said in an interview with “Magenta Sport”.
It took seven more minutes until the polar bears could celebrate. With the majority, Kai Wissmann shot from the blue line and the puck made its way through the crowd in front of DEG goalie Henrik Haukeland to make it 1-0 (18th). But Düsseldorf showed taker qualities. Eleven seconds before the end of the first period, the bottom of the table equalized – now in the power play -: Tyler Angle took a shot and the puck went into the goal from Philip Gogulla’s skate (20th).
Pföderl takes the lead in the power play
The second third remained goalless for a long time – and for good reason. Although the Eisbären still had more of the game, it was a one-sided affair on the ice. But the Berliners were not really compelling in their actions. Degrees? Available yes, really dangerous only rarely. This was also due to the fact that Düsseldorf only showed sporadic counterattacks offensively, but were very compact on defense.
So the next goal – like goals one and two – again required a power-number situation. This time it was DEL top scorer Leo Pföderl who hammered the puck from the left side into the near corner of the goal for a 2-1 lead and made the favorite deservedly celebrate.
Outnumbered hit number four
But Düsseldorf did not give in yet. On the contrary: they came out of the locker room with more courage. That paid off immediately. After 26 seconds in the final third, Tyler Gaudet pushed a rebound past Eisbären goalie Jake Hildebrand to make it 2-2 (41′). The goal came – how could it be otherwise this evening – again in the power play. Manuel Wiederer was currently sitting in the penalty box.
Just a little later, DEG even had the best opportunity to increase the score to 3:2. In this scene, Hildebrand prevented a catastrophic start to the third period – and the polar bears picked themselves up again. Lean Bergmann could have taken the lead on the counterattack after a pass from Blaine Byron (43′), and Pföderl also tested Haukeland (45′).
In the end it will be spectacular
The clear dominance was still a thing of the past, there were no further top chances for the time being – and when the increasingly exhausted Eisbären did come in front of the DEG goal, Haukeland was always there reliably. In the last minutes of regular time things got spectacular again. And how: First Alexander Ehl scored for Düsseldorf to take the lead 3-2.
Of all people, the underdog from the Rhineland seemed to end the Eisbären’s winning streak. The home team took the keeper out of the gate and risked everything. Düsseldorf had opportunities to increase. But instead Pföderl hit back with 13 seconds left – and brought the previous season’s champions into overtime.
In that case, the Berliners had the better end for themselves. It was Jonas Müller who scored the decisive goal to make it 4-3 for the Eisbären in the second minute of extra time. This meant the tenth win in a row was perfect for the league leaders.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, October 27, 2024, 8:00 a.m
