Düsseldorf (DPA) – Kölner Haie is in the quarter-finals of the playoffs and will play against defending champions Isberen Berlin in the German Ice Hockey League starting Sunday.
Coach Uwe Krupp’s team won the second game of the first playoff round 3:2 (0:2, 2:0, 0:0) after extra time against ERC Ingolstadt. In the tenth minute of overtime, Maurice Edwards pulled High into the quarter-finals with a double advantage and Schanger ended the season.
The match winner was Cologne’s keeper Justin Poge, who retained his team in a long game against the Ingolstad team, which was initially under pressure. Already on Tuesday, Cologne won the first game of the “best-of-three” series 4:3 in tenth place in the preliminary round.
EHC Red Bull Munich’s quarter-final rivals, runners-up in the preliminary round, will only be determined in the deciding third game of the second pre-playoff series between Nuremberg and Düsseldorfer EG on Friday. The Franconians forced the deciding game with an impressive 6:5 (0:3, 2:1, 3:1), even after extra time. Gregor McLeod scored the winning goal in the eighth minute of extra time.
Earlier, Dane Fox brought in Franks, who were initially very undisciplined, back in the game with three goals. After a match penalty following a poor check by Chris Brown, Düsseldorf had already gone 3–0 and 4–1. DEG captain Alex Barta sparred over MagentaSport, saying, “Then you should do what you need.” “But sometimes that’s what happens. We’ll be there.”
Head coach Harold Kreis, who flew to his native Canada on Monday due to a family emergency, is said to be there again on Friday. After the dramatic win, Nuremberg sporting director Stefan Ustorf said: “Both teams have a very good commitment and fight.”
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