The Eisbären Berlin struck seven times in Mannheim’s SAP Arena, a ruthless display of efficiency that left the Adler reeling and sent a clear message in the DEL Finals opener.
Before a crowd of 13,600, the defending champions turned six first-period shots into three goals, with Liam Kirk striking twice — once early and once to seal the 7:3 victory — while Jean-Sébastien Dea notched his first playoff goal. The Berliner dominance continued into the second frame, where Ty Ronning and Markus Vikingstad extended the lead to 5:0, effectively dismantling Mannheim’s resistance before the Adler could find their rhythm.
Yet for all the clinical precision, dissatisfaction lingered in the Berlin camp. Head coach Serge Aubin praised the first two periods but condemned the third, where avoidable lapses allowed Mannheim to score three times and briefly reignite hope. “We gave them a way back in,” Aubin told MagentaSport. “We must raise our level further.” His frustration is notable given his flawless playoff record — 14 series wins with Berlin — suggesting even perfectionists see room for growth when the stakes are highest.
The Adler’s night turned doubly bitter. Captain Kai Wissmann received a game misconduct and five-minute penalty for a dangerous hit on Leon Gawanke, who left the ice injured. Wissmann now faces a potential suspension for Game 2. Simultaneously, Justin Schütz exited with an injury, forcing Mannheim to reshuffle its lineup mid-series. Coach Dallas Eakins lamented the loss of two key contributors but framed it as an opportunity for others to step up — a sentiment tested immediately as Berlin’s depth shone through.
Goals from Kris Bennett, Alexander Ehl, and John Gilmour made it 5:3, but Berlin responded with empty-net strikes from Marcel Noebels and Kirk’s second, underscoring their lethal transition game. The result extends Berlin’s playoff dominance over Mannheim to eight straight wins dating back to 2002, a streak that now looms large over a Final series Adler last reached in 2019.
Mannheim fans began exiting before the final whistle, a rare sight in a Final game and a testament to how thoroughly Berlin dictated terms. The Adler will need more than morale to overturn a 1:0 deficit — they’ll need adjustments, health, and a level of consistency the Eisbären have so far refused to allow.
Why was Serge Aubin unhappy despite the 7:3 win?
Aubin criticized his team’s third-period performance, saying they allowed Mannheim to claw back into the game after building a 5:0 lead, insisting the team must elevate its level further to succeed in the series.
What injuries did Mannheim suffer, and how might they affect the series?
Mannheim lost Justin Schütz and Leon Gawanke to injuries in the third period — Gawanke after a hit by Kai Wissmann — forcing the Adler to compensate for two key players as the series moves to Berlin for Game 2.
