DEL - All even, Krefeld and Berlin force Game 3

Eisbären Berlin – Nürnberg Ice Tigers 6-3, Series 1-1

After Wednesday’s home win for Nürnberg, Berlin was under pressure to win tonight. In the first minutes they overcompensated this a bit by taking penalties and Nürnberg took advantage of it. After only 3 minutes it was again Leo Pföderl, who got a hattrick in game 1, scoring first on the powerplay. When he scored, there was also a delayed penalty against Berlin and so the powerplay continued. But Berlin found the perfect answer with a shorthander by Antti Miettinen. Just 3 minutes later the Eisbären had finally found the right mix between a passionate and rational play and turned the game around through Henry Haase’s rebound goal after Reimer could not hold on to a Frank Hördler shot. After 15 minutes it was Berlin’s turn to shine on the powerplay: Matthew Foy found Julian Talbot completely free in the slot and he didn’t let this chance go to waste and secured a 3-1 lead in the first break.

The second period started as the first ended. Berlin on the powerplay and a great combination via Petr Pohl and Frank Hördler finds Marcel Noebels free in the slot, who puts it past Jochen Reimer. A few minutes later Antti Miettinen grabbed a loose puck on the blue line and suddenly found himself in a shootout-like situation, which he used with all his experience from 500+ NHL games to set the score to 5-1. At this point the game was decided already.

In the last period Petr Pohl could use another breakaway for Berlin while Patrick Buzas and Jason Jaspers got a two more goals for Nürnberg. Berlin managed to keep control over the game and hold on to a 6-3 win in the end to even the series at one game each. On Sunday both teams will meet again in Nürnberg for the deciding game.

Krefeld Pinguine– Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams 2-0, Series 1-1

The game in Krefeld started with the same passion as the game in Berlin and also with a similar amount of powerplays, but both goalies could keep the puck out of the net through the first and half of the second period. It was Daniel Pietta, who broke the spell after 33 minutes with a shot from the left playoff circle finishing off a nice breakaway setup by Istvan Sofron and brought ahead the Penguins. Seconds before the second period came to an end Marcel Müller doubled the score using a misunderstanding in Wolfsburg’s defense for a free breakaway, which he converted with a smooth move around goalie Felix Brückmann.

Wolfsburg could never find its offense and stayed harmless during the rest of the game. Consequently Krefeld stayed on top in a scoreless last period and like Berlin could even the series with Wolfsburg to force a Game 3 on sunday.

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