Friday, 18. September 2026 |
DEL, Matchday 1: Red Bull München defeats the Adler Mannheim
In front of 10,796 fans at a sold-out SAP Garden, Dominik Kahun (2), Moritz Warnecke, and Chris DeSousa scored the goals for the four-time German champions in the shootout. The hosts will play their next game this coming Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in an away game against the Grizzlys Wolfsburg.
Highlights: EHC Red Bull München vs. Adler Mannheim (September 18, 2026)
// Gameday
Game Summary
Munich clearly dominated the first period and created several good scoring chances early on. Just two minutes into the game, Kahun found himself alone in front of the Mannheim goal after a breakaway, but Adler goalie Maximilian Franzreb made a strong save. Shortly afterward, Tobias Rieder also failed to score on a power play while alone in front of the net (3rd minute). Kahun, who clearly had big plans for his return after eight years, would eventually celebrate after missing another chance. In the 6th minute, Jeremy McKenna delivered a technically precise pass to Kahun, who coolly converted the assist to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Red Bulls pressed for the equalizer, but Chris DeSousa and Rieder were once again denied by Franzreb (11th minute). Munich weathered Mannheim’s first major surge with a lot of effort and two strong saves by Mathias Niederberger in the hosts’ net. Shortly before the end of an entertaining first period, both teams exchanged counterattacks once more—but Munich held on to its narrow lead (18th minute).
The second period took a little longer to get going. A double-minority situation for the Red Bulls brought the excitement back into the game. After several brilliant saves by Niederberger, Nicolas Mattinen fired the puck low past the goalie to tie the game at 1–1 (26th minute). During a lull in scoring chances, the Red Bulls ramped up the pressure again after the power play ended. First, Lucas Thaler and Rieder missed the puck (33rd minute), before Warnecke, after another attempt, buried the puck in the net for a 2–1 lead (34th minute). The 18-year-old even gets to keep this one: it was the defenseman’s first DEL goal. But the debut goal wasn’t to be the last notable play of the second period: In the 37th minute, Kahun stole the puck during Mannheim’s build-up, skated in alone on Franzreb, and danced past him in spectacular fashion. A two-goal performance and a dream goal for the fan favorite.
At the start of the final period, the physical intensity picked up once again. A power play in the 44th minute created the first clear scoring chances for the Eagles, but Niederberger was there to make several saves. Shortly afterward, however, even the in-form Munich goalie was beaten. Max Celce deflected a hard cross-ice pass to cut the deficit to 2–3 for the visitors (48th minute). The home team initially shook off the goal and, on a power play of their own, found themselves in front of Mannheim’s net again. However, a turnover at the center line and the ensuing counterattack as the penalty expired evened the score: Kühnhackl to Poirier, 3–3 (51st minute). Munich looked for a response but initially hit only the outside post (57.) and time and again ran into Franzreb.
In overtime, the Red Bulls had strong chances through Rieder (61.) and Taro Hirose (62.), and Niederberger also made two key saves. In the end, the winner of this high-caliber match had to be decided in a shootout. Thanks to brilliant penalty shots by Kahun and DeSousa, the winner was Red Bull München.
1/10
2/10
3/10
4/10
5/10
6/10
7/10
8/10
9/10
10/10
Our DEL Season Opener for the 2026/27 Season in Pictures (September 18, 2026)
Maximilian Kastner:
“When you’re leading 3-1 in the final period, of course you want to close it out. But it was to be expected that it would be a tough and entertaining game. We can learn from how it played out. Overall, though, it was a successful season opener for us.”
Goals:
1:0 | 06:07 | Dominik Kahun
1:1 | 25:09 | Nicolas Mattinen
2:1 | 33:23 | Moritz Warnecke
3:1 | 36:46 | Dominik Kahun
3:2 | 47:15 | Max Calce
3:3 | 50:23 | Jérémie Poirier
4:3 | 65:00 | Chris DeSousa
Press Conference: EHC Red Bull München vs. Adler Mannheim (September 18, 2026)
// Gameday
“Now the lights are coming on, and we're starting from scratch.”// STORIES
New Rules in the PENNY DEL for the 2026–27 Season // GAMEDAY
Before the Season Starts at SAP Garden: All the Important Updates for Your Stadium Visit // FANS