Eisbären Berlin wins DEL

After 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009, the team of Germany's capital has won the league for the fifth time in seven years. 4503 spectators in the sold-out Wolfsburg Arena attended a dramatic game in which Berlin, at the end kept the upper hand.

After two losses in a row, Wolfsburg's head coach Pavel Gross tried to mix things up for the fifth and crucial game of the best of five series. Gross gave the usual backup goalie Daniar Dshunussow a shot to replace Jochen Reimer as starting goaltender in the net. That kind of tactic seemed to work out very well.

The Grizzly Adams took a 1-0 lead as John Laliberte scored the game opener 8:14 into the first period. However, Berlin’s veteran and leading playoff scorer Stefan Ustorf would tie the game 1-1 only 90 seconds later. Wolfsburg fought hard and with only 1:54 Minutes remaining of the first period John Laliberte was able to net his second goal of the night, by a great assist of Jason Ulmer. Though, the Grizzly Adams were able to take that lead into the second period, it didn't take a long time for the "Polar Bears" to equalize the game again. With 3 minutes played of the second period Tyson Mulock deked Daniar Dshunussow and made it 2-2. After Mulock's goal the team of Berlin's head coach Don Jackson stuck completely to their game plan but was not able to benefit from their scoring opportunities until Florian Busch found again the back of Wolfsburg's net with 8:53 minutes remaining in the second period. Neither Berlin nor Wolfsburg was able to score another goal before the 2nd break.

However, the game was tied up very quickly again after the break. With 46 seconds played of the third period Norm Milley tallied his 4th Play Off goal. The "momentum" seemed to have switched to Wolfsburg, but nevertheless Berlin was able to strike back quickly.

During a 5:4 Wolfsburg power-play, Berlin's veteran Derrick Walser managed to steal the puck and scored another goal for Berlin less than 2 minutes after Milley's 17th goal of the season. Wolfsburg didn't give up though. More than 5 shots on Berlin's net within 2 minutes led Berlin's goaltender Rob Zepp to let another in. Kai Hospelt was able to tie up the game for third time. Both teams really deserved to win the crucial fifth game of the Play off series which never missed excitement or drama. A crowd of 4503 people in the sold-out Wolfsburg Arena watched a high caliber hockey game that found its winner with 3 minutes and 22 seconds remaining of the third period when Berlins's Constantin Braun tallied another power-play goal.

"Congrats to the team of Berlin. They deserved it to win. I have to recognize that. They are experienced, smart and have used their scoring opportunities," said Wolfsburg coach Pavel Gross, "but I have to make also a compliment to my own team. We gave everything."

Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams won the regular season of the 2010-11 DEL campaign, Eisbären Berlin ranked 3rd before the start of the postseason.
 

Period 1
Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg - John Laliberte (Tyler Haskins, Armin Wurm) 8:14
Eisbären Berlin - Stefan Ustorf (Travis James Mulock, André Rankel) 9:48
Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg - John Laliberte (PP 1) (Jason Ulmer, Jan-Axel Alavaara) 18:06
 
Period 2
Eisbären Berlin - Tyson Mulock (Jeff Friesen) 2:34
Eisbären Berlin - Florian Busch (PP 2) (Derrick Walser, Richard Regehr) 11:07
 
Period 3
Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg - Norm Milley (unassisted) 0:46
Eisbären Berlin - Derrick Walser (PP 1) (ohne Assist) 2:36
Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg - Kai Hospelt (Christopher Fischer, Sebastian Furchner) 4:54
Eisbären Berlin - Constantin Braun (PP 1) (Travis James Mulock, André Rankel) 16:38

 

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