Whenever the Polar Bears have been able to successfully play a game this season — which was too rare — the subsequent analysis is about only one thing: the desire to finally start a small series. Maintain the happiness of triumph for a longer period of time.
“It was a good start, but the most important thing will be what we do in the next games. We also need to win two or three games in a row,” said striker Frank Mauer, who had put in a good performance after 3 -2 home game against Kölner Haie on Wednesday night at Magentasport. “We threw the door wide open, now we have to go through it.”
Hard to believe, but true: The Berliners last had fun at the beginning of October, when they won back-to-back against Düsseldorf (5:2), Ingolstadt (3:1) and Nuremberg (3:2 after extra time ). The fact that the next opponents on foreign ice are now called Düsseldorf (Friday, 19:30) and Nuremberg (Sunday, 15:15) could be seen as a good omen.
Seven points ahead of Augsburg
In addition, striker Bennet Roßmy and defender Rayan Bettahar are returning to the Berlin squad after a questionable U20 World Cup in Canada for the German team. Jan Nijenhuis and Norwin Panocha will probably have to give way again for them.
Even if after the important home win, which extended the lead over the Augsburg Panthers to seven points and the relegation zone, the previous performance was almost euphorically praised by those concerned, an improvement in form is needed. The Polar Bears can rely on the power play this season, two of the goals against the Sharks came with an extra man on the ice – and well timed just before the respective break. And the third third in particular showed the potential of this team in terms of speed, early control and duel management.
It was a good start, but the most important thing will be what we do with it in the next games. Sometimes we have to win two or three games in a row.
Forward Frank Mauer on the challenges of the coming days
The Berliners, on the other hand, had to tremble until the final siren because the best counter-attack opportunities and a correspondingly comfortable lead were missed. When Cologne scored the 2:3 goal two minutes before the end, the horror was palpable. There were also numerous wrong passes in the first 40 minutes. Cologne’s lead after about four minutes had meanwhile caused new uncertainties.
There are still 19 matches left in the main round
Defender Morgan Ellis, who celebrated his own goal for the first time in his 37th game of the season, said: “You can’t get frustrated when something like this happens, there’s still plenty of time to play. If we’re each other on the other hand, if we are good at controlling and scoring goals, then we also win games”.
Of course, Ellis knows the situation is still extremely delicate. “There are only 19 games to play. We really have to win every next game. We have to do everything possible to score points.” Especially away from home, where they suffered three defeats in five days just before the end of the year, they now need a mark of respect.
“We’ve had a couple of good away games lately, but we haven’t played 60 minutes and hardly scored any points. Now we just have to score points,” said Ellis. Otherwise it is simply impossible to finally start a winning streak again.
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