Where does the ice pirate's journey lead?
Dorfen - "In Geretsried it will be decided whether we only want to fight for relegation or whether we can still dream of the pre-playoffs", Dorfens ice hockey director Manfred Detterbeck announced before the game on Friday. After the fourth defeat in the fourth away game, it looks as if the Dorfen ice pirates should only focus on lowering and securing the relegation.
Through the back door called pre-playoffs, the first and second place in the relegation round in Best of three mode can still qualify for the playoffs in the upper league against the seventh and eighth place in the upper league gear round. At the moment it looks as if the four teams, which are a bit ahead of Dorfen in the table, should rank first and second among themselves.
ESC trainer Randy Neal does not want to write off the two lucrative places yet. With regard to the upcoming second half of the year, he also emphasized that "the game in Schweinfurt next Sunday could be a key game in the struggle for relegation". The current fifth place would mean secure league preservation for the ESC, while the sixth and seventh places would mean relegation playoff. After the withdrawal from Bad Kissingen, only one relegation has to be determined.
"Should we be able to beat Königsbrunn on Friday, the top spots would be at least within reach again," said Neal. The second round program for the ESC brings four home games and only two away games. The four home opponents are exactly the teams in the current ranks one to four. The Eispiraten have won their two previous home games in the relegation round - admittedly, against the still pointless Schongauer and Schweinfurter.
The fact that the only weekend game away didn't work again was partly due to personnel problems with a total of eight missing players. "Geretsried is currently playing really well," Neal had to acknowledge, "and they have balanced, strong blocks". He was happy for Josef Folger. The 19-year-old scored his first Bayern league goal in the eleventh game of the season, having been used five times last season. "He also played quite okay," attested his coach, who also emphasized that his young players "still have a lot to learn and experience, but they can also make mistakes". In the first six minutes of the final third, at 2-2, everything was still possible on Friday. Neal: "Hopefully we make one of our very good chances, otherwise the shot will backfire, I kept thinking." The shot promptly backfired, because, according to coach Neal, "if you don't put them in the front, you will get them in the back at some point".
HELMUT FINDELSBERGER