Former relegation candidate Düsseldorfer EG has continued his successful streak and is now knocking on the door of the playoffs.
Covered by: Alexander Ihle with 5:3 for DEG.
Photo Alliance / Maximilian Koch
DEG left the ice as winners four times in their last five games but scored just two points each time. Facing third-placed Straubing Tigers on Thursday evening, Düsseldorf scored the full three points again. In the end, the score was 5:3 (1:2, 3:0, 1:1) – thus marking the fourth win in a row.
With one more game to play, the Rhinelands have a five-point lead over bottom club Iserlohn Roosters in the relegation zone. DEG also moved one point clear of 10th-placed Nürnberg Ice Tigers, who were in last place heading into the match. “For me, it's just about collecting points. I'm not interested in a play-off position,” DEG team boss Harald Wirtz explained to MagentaSport.
“We played real shit for 60 Minutes.”
On the other hand, the Straubing Tigers, after two previous wins, missed the opportunity to catch up with the top two with league leaders Izbern Berlin and their chasing Fishtown Penguins Bremerhaven, who are currently five points away. Straubing's Sandro Schönberger complained: “We lost the game from the start. Although we were better in the first third, we played in chaos for 60 minutes. In the end we also lacked the greed for points.”
The decisive factor in Dusseldorf's success was the home team's three-goal lead in the middle third. Kyle Comiskey excelled with two goals (24 and 34), before Adam Bayerle (38) gave the former champion an important lead with two goals. The remaining goals for the hosts were scored by Cohen Oleshevsky (7th place) and Alexander Il (55th place).
Straubing quickly overcame the early deficit with the equalizing goal scored by Justin Brown (eighth). JC Lebon (17) gave Bayern a temporary lead before the first third siren sounded. In the final third, Michael Connolly (48th) managed to reduce the score again.
Düsseldorf awaits an all-out relegation battle against Iserlohn Roosters on Sunday (4.30pm) at the Saillersee Stadium. Straubing welcomes Ingolstadt at the same time.
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