Eisbären Berlin champions again: Grandiose victory in Munich

Created: 05/04/2022Updated: 05/04/2022, 22:40

The Eisbären Berlin celebrate after winning the final with the trophy in a rain of confetti.

© Peter Kneffel/dpa

Thanks to Mathias Niederberger, the title decision in the German Ice Hockey League was clear.

Because of the outstanding goalkeeper, the Eisbären Berlin were crowned champions at the EHC Red Bull Munich.

Munich – National keeper Mathias Niederberger showed one of his most spectacular performances during his farewell performance for ice hockey champion Eisbären Berlin.

Ironically, with his probably future employer EHC Red Bull Munich, Niederberger was the match winner in the fourth playoff final in the grandiose Berlin 5:0 (1:0, 3:0, 1:0).

After the ninth title win of the record champions of the German ice hockey league, the Berlin field players rushed euphorically onto the ice, threw away their helmets and sticks and stormed towards Niederberger.

"He was the big difference, no question"

"That was maybe the best game I've ever seen from him," cheered Eisbären master coach Serge Aubin at MagentaSport and his Munich colleague Don Jackson also praised appreciatively: "He was the big difference, no question." The former Berlin master coach could still be happy: Niederberger should play for the EHC in the coming season.

"I gave everything I had," said the goalie.

In addition to the 29-year-old from Düsseldorf in the Berliner Tor, merciless efficiency and experienced old stars were responsible for the decisive third win in the best-of-five series.

At 10:09 p.m., the polar bears cheered in a golden shower of confetti in Munich with the championship trophy.

Shortly before, the 37-year-old defender Frank Hördler had been named the most valuable player in the DEL playoffs.

Three goals from Matthew White (9th/37th/60th minute) and further goals from Frans Nielsen (25th) and Marcel Noebels (26th) ensured the necessary third win in the final series.

The polar bears cheer after the 4-0 in the second period in front of Munich's goalie Henrik Haukeland (r).

© Peter Kneffel/dpa

With their ninth title, the polar bears passed the eight-time champions Düsseldorf, Cologne and Mannheim, all or some of whom still collected their titles in the former Bundesliga.

The Berliners confirmed the title from last year, which was won under different conditions.

With even stricter corona regulations, the past season took place without any spectators.

A year ago, in the playoffs, only two wins were necessary to advance or win the title.

Calm and confident polar bears

In the meantime, fans have long since been allowed back into the halls and the 5,533 spectators in the sold-out small Munich Olympia Hall made for a more atmospheric championship setting than in 2021. The audience was quickly confounded by the calm and self-confident polar bear.

Even FC Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann in the audience brought no luck to the EHC.

The Eisbären players cheer after their 5-0 victory at the end of the game.

© Peter Kneffel/dpa

The home side started powerfully but tensed up too quickly under the pressure to win at all costs.

The early sticking point in the game was the ninth minute: an EHC goal by Justin Schütz was correctly disallowed due to Niederberger's handicap.

Shortly thereafter, the Berliners struck.

White used a dream pass from the veteran Frank Hördler, who was strong in the playoffs.

This had an effect.

But the polar bears grew more self-confident.

In the middle section, an ice-cold double strike from the polar bears made the preliminary decision.

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First, the now 38-year-old longtime Danish NHL star met Nielsen for the third time in the final series.

Only 51 seconds later, national striker Noebels increased.

At the latest after another brilliant act by Niederberger in the 35th minute against Ben Street, it seemed clear: EHC must continue to wait for the fourth title win.

Again White with a deflected shot and a hit into the empty net in the last minute made the Berlin final victory perfect after four out of five possible games.

National coach Toni Söderholm should also have been happy about that: From the two final teams, a good half dozen players could join the squad for the World Cup in Finland (May 13th to 29th).

dpa