In the sixth game of the quarter-final series, the Adler Mannheim won against the Kölner Haie and thus made it into the semi-finals. After initial difficulties, the Palatinate turned the game.
David Wolf (24th minute), Matthias Plachta (30th) and Borna Rendulić (31st) scored the goals for Mannheim in Cologne 3:2 (0:1, 3:1, 0:0). Coach Bill Stewart’s team won the quarter-final series 4-2.
Adler Mannheim fall behind
Mannheim started cautiously and initially found it difficult to create opportunities. Cologne, on the other hand, put pressure on from the start, repeatedly appeared dangerously in front of the Mannheim goal, but failed either due to goalkeeper Arno Tiefensee or their own inaccuracy. They could not use a double majority either.
Towards the end of the first third, the Eagles freed themselves from the hosts’ pressure and had two great chances themselves: Ryan MacInnis deflected freely in front of goal, but Mirko Pantkowski was able to save. The Cologne keeper was there shortly afterwards when Markus Eisenschmid suddenly marched freely into the attacking zone and tried to pass him to the left. Mannheim fell behind around six seconds before the end of the first third: Maximilian Kammerer (20th) hit the far post.
Within a few seconds, the Adler Mannheim turned the play-off game against the Kölner Haie from 2:3 to 4:3 in the last minute on Friday evening. Another reason for SWR sports reporter Kersten Eichhorn to celebrate the system.
Mannheim turns the game, Cologne finds an answer
The Eagles didn’t seem to be impressed by this goal and equalized through Wolf (24th). It was his fourth goal of the playoffs. Matt Donovan had put the puck in front of goal and Wolf deflected it decisively.
Shortly thereafter, the game was interrupted for a few minutes because something had shifted on the cushions and they had to be repaired. As things continued, Cologne increased the pressure and were then caught off guard with a double strike: First Plachta scored with a well-placed one-timer to make it 2-1 (30th minute) for Mannheim and only a minute later Rendulić raised it, keeping calm and pushed into the far corner.
The Cologne team reacted in shock and needed a few minutes to find their way back into the game. When Mannheim’s MacInnis had to leave the ice for two minutes, Cologne came on: Andreas Thuresson (35′). scored after a pass from Nick Bailen. From then on, the people of Cologne hoped again.
Mannheim takes the lead over time
In the last third, Cologne struggled to equalize, but the Adler didn’t allow much and had the game largely under control. However, since they failed to score another goal themselves, the duel remained exciting until the end. In the turbulent final phase, Cologne threw everything forward and had another great opportunity, but Mannheim’s only 20-year-old keeper Tiefensee, who replaced the injured national goalkeeper Felix Brückmann, parried and held the 3:2. Not only because of this scene he was the outstanding player of the quarterfinal series.
After six intense and sometimes spectacular clashes, the Mannheimers celebrated their entry into the semi-finals.