The Eisbären fans were ready for the first reunion with sporting ambition after winning the tenth title. Long before the sold-out Corrugated Iron Palace in Hohenschönhausen with 4227 spectators the third game of this year’s Season in the Champions Hockey League against Dynamo Pardubice, the fans met to chat, toast and warm up together for the coming months of ice hockey.
In the ice rink it was much more difficult to communicate. In their usual manner the drummers and lead singers did everything they could to get the mood going. The fans from Pardubice who had travelled with them also tried to make themselves heard now and again.
However, they only managed to do so for a short time shortly before the end of regular time, when their team scored 2:2, which meant that overtime and then a penalty shootout were necessary. Nevertheless, the hosts left the ice as winners, because Leo Pföderl scored the decisive goal to make it 3:2 (1:1, 1:0, 0:1, 1:0) in the shootout.
The Eisbären were still missing new signing Markus Niemeläinen
Given the lack of personnel in defense, the worst was to be feared. Due to injuries to Marco Nowak, Korbinian Geibel and Rio Kaiser, only five defenders were in the squad. Markus Niemeläinen, whose signing was announced on Thursday afternoon, was not yet able to play.
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Defenders were only in the Eisbären squad.
Nevertheless, the Eisbären seemed ready for this challenge. Lean Bergmann scored Berlin’s first lead in the 12th minute. However, this only lasted for a short time because Martin Kaut equalized in the guests’ first power play (14th minute). Pardubice had no answer to Frederik Tiffels’ 2:1 goal (34th minute) and so the hosts went into the final third with this lead.
The Eisbären held out against the pressure until the 59th minute, when Roman Cervenka scored to make it 2:2, but this only dampened the mood for a short time. Sparta Prague will be visiting the Wellblechpalast on Sunday (7 p.m.).
