For the Adler Mannheim, the season in the German Ice Hockey League ended with frustration in the semi-finals. The eight-time German champion had to accept the decisive fourth defeat against ERC Ingolstadt in a 0:2 (0:1, 0:0, 0:1).
For the first time since 2015, the Ingolstadt team returned to the series of finals in which they will face EHC Red Bull Munich or the Grizzlies Wolfsburg from Friday. The decision of the other semi-final series comes after a 2: 3 (0: 1, 1: 2, 1: 0) Munich in Wolfsburg on Wednesday in game seven.
The Mannheim team wanted to fight for a seventh semifinal, but the third home defeat in the semifinals against Ingolstadt, who came second in the preliminary round, sealed the elimination of coach Bill Stewart’s team. “It always sucks when you’re eliminated. I think we played well. But if you don’t score, you don’t win,” said Mannheim’s former NHL defender Korbinian Holzer at MagentaSport.
Wolf’s return doesn’t help Mannheim either
In front of 13,600 spectators in the sold-out arena, Mannheim had been trailing behind since the fourth minute, Wayne Simpson scored for the ERC. Ingolstadt’s goalkeeper Kevin Reich was unbeatable for coach Bill Stewart’s Eagles throughout the game. The return of national striker David Wolf, who had been suspended for three games after a beating, did not help the Eagles either. The second goal from Ingolstadt by Stefan Matteau came 0.6 seconds before the end.
“We struggled a bit with different things all year. It’s difficult to analyze right after the game, we’ll work it out intensively,” said Holzer. Mannheim is waiting for the first final since 2019. In the playoffs, the Ingolstadt team confirmed the impression from the strong preliminary round, which they had finished second in their first season under Canadian coach Mark French.
Wolfsburg’s goalkeeper makes Munich despair
Meanwhile, Munich missed the first chance to decide the semi-final series against Wolfsburg. The main round winner and challenger have now won three times each. On Wednesday there will be a showdown in Munich. “Anyone who thought that we could easily march through here was wrong,” said international striker Yasin Ehliz.
In Wolfsburg, the hosts defended in front of 4,022 spectators in the sixth duel with a lot of passion and once again had strong support in goalkeeper Dustin Strahlmeier. Munich developed more train forward, shot much more often on goal. The hosts scored callously: Thanks to Trevor Mingoia (18th minute), the Lower Saxony team went into the first break 1-0.
The hosts quickly extended their lead, Tyler Morley successfully deflected (22nd). In the majority, Andreas Eder shortened the lead for Munich (34′), but Fabio Pfohl restored a two-goal lead (35′). In the final section, Bayern Munich put a lot of pressure on them, but apart from Chris DeSousa coming back in the game (41′), they didn’t take advantage of their chances and despaired of Wolfsburg goalkeeper Ray Meier.
