The Selber Wolves close the DEL2 main round with a 2:1 in Freiburg. It didn’t look like that for a long time. The playdowns will be against Heilbronn from March 15th.
Get a little more self-confidence and maybe even regain home rights for the playdowns, but at least start the knockout phase with a good feeling: Nothing seemed to come of this weekend for the Selber Wolves for a long time. After the 4-2 defeat against Kassel on Friday, the Waßmiller protégés were 1-0 down at EHC Freiburg until ten minutes before the end of a rather lackluster performance up to that point. The wolves then showed morale and celebrated a 2:1 (0:1, 0:0, 2:0) win. But the win didn’t change anything about the overall situation. The Selber start on March 15th with an away game in the playdowns, in which, as expected, it is in a best-of-seven series against the Heilbronner Falken, who showed a great performance at the weekend. Four wins are then necessary for staying up, the loser has another chance in round two against the loser from the duel of the ice pirates Crimmitschau against the Bayreuth Tigers.
Gimmel is celebrating a comeback
In addition to the suspended Miglio (see info box) and Deeg (ill), Selb also missed Trska and Naumann on Sunday. Instead, Reddick, who was the last player in the contingent, and – very gratifying – Gimmel were back in the squad after a long injury break. There was also a change between the posts: Weidekamp was once again able to gain match practice for Bitzer – and in the end was deservedly named Wolves’ Player of the Day. “He kept us in the game,” said Waßmiller.
The 15 Selber supporters, who didn’t shy away from the more than 500 kilometers to Breisgau, saw a brisk first third with some good opportunities on both sides. The wolves from the Fichtelgebirge got off to a better start, appearing dangerously in front of the Freiburg goal through Kolupaylo, Kalns and Gelke. As time went on, the Wolves Freiburg, who had already secured home rights for the pre-playdowns before this game, shifted the action more and more in front of Weidekamp’s box, who did an excellent job. It would have been almost goalless in the first break – if Freiburg’s top scorer Immo hadn’t scored 65 seconds before the siren in the first power play of the match. Of course, the lead was well deserved because the Waßmiller protégés had come under a lot of pressure.
The second third was similar. Freiburg, which was coached by sporting director Peter Salmik after the separation from coach Robert Hoffmann, was the game-determining team for a long time. From time to time, Selb put pinpricks without radiating the very big goal danger. At this point it was almost certain that given the high lead of Heilbronn against Bad Nauheim at the same time, home rights in the playdowns would no longer work. However, the wolves did not want to finish the main round without a point or a goal.
Gläßl with Premierentor
At least one goal worked out in the 49th minute. In the power play, Gläßl made it 1-1 with his first goal – a nice hammer at that. While it had almost seemed like both teams didn’t want to hurt each other anymore, shortly after the equalizer, Kolupaylo (Selb) and O’Donnell got into a physical fight, both of which received a five-minute penalty brought in. As a result, the wolves got into the game better and better – and 101 seconds before the final siren even scored the 2-1 winner, which after the first 50 minutes hardly any of the 2200 spectators would have seriously believed. But which is all the more important for self-morality.
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Same wolves: Weidekamp (Bitzer) – Lavallée, Kania, Reddick, Fern, Schaaf, Gimmel – Schwamberger, Vantuch, McNeill, Kolupaylo, Kruminsch, Kalns, Melnikow, Gelke, Hammerbauer, Woltmann, Nock, Klughardt.
Referee: Schuetz, Singer. – Viewers: 2218. – Tore: 19. Immo (O’Donnell, Prapavessis; 5-4) 1:0, 49. Min. Gläßl (Reddick, Gelke) 1:1, 59. min. Schwamberger (Vantuch) 1:2. – penalty minutes: Freiburg 6 + 5 for O’Donnell, Selb 8 + 5 for Kolupaylo.
