dThe Fischtown Penguins Bremerhaven For the first time in the club's history it reached the play-off final of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). The Seestadt team beat the current champion, EHC Red Bull Munich, 3-0 (0-0, 1-0, 2-0) on Tuesday with former national coach Toni Söderholm.
Surprisingly, the northern team won the best-of-seven series 4-1. Starting next Wednesday the rivals will be Eisbären Berlin or the Straubing Tigers. The capital club currently leads 3-1 in the semifinal series.
As in the third game in Bremerhaven, Munich started with a little more energy. The few scoring chances were not a problem for Penguins goalie Kristers Gudlevskis. “They are an incredibly disciplined team. “They don't give us many opportunities,” he also confirmed. Munich Defender Les Lancaster after the first third on MagentaSport.
Too many penalty times
Hard in front of his own goal, cold in front of the Munich goal: Jan Urbas, DEL's best scorer in the regular season with 21 goals and 31 assists, gave coach Thomas Popiesch's team the lead with an accurate shot (32nd minute ).
In the last third the Isar guests put pressure. The also outstanding goalkeeper Gudlevskis and the strong defense of the Penguins prevented a tie on several occasions. In addition, the Munich team was weakened due to penalty times. With two more players on the ice, Phillip Bruggisser made it 2-0 (51st).
Munich, with a double majority, missed a goal in the final minutes. Once again Bruggisser scored his second goal of the game shortly before the end penguins The Bremerhaven player won the match and secured Munich's first elimination in a DEL semi-final.