Kickoff to the new year: Red Bulls travel to Wolfsburg

Thursday, 01. January 2026 |

DEL preview, match day 35: EHC Red Bull München visits Wolfsburg

Kickoff to the new year: Red Bulls travel to Wolfsburg// DEL - PREVIEWAfter a successful December, EHC Red Bull München kicks off the new year at Grizzlys Wolfsburg. The first face-off in 2026 will take place on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (live on MagentaSport & in our blog).

The calendar year 2025 ended for the Red Bulls with a 3:2 derby win against the Augsburg Panthers, which lifted our team into third place in the table - despite a long injury list. At least Markus Eisenschmid returned to the line-up. On his comeback from injury, our number 11 immediately proved to be a decisive factor.

Highlights: EHC Red Bull München vs. Augsburger Panther (30.12.2025)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Eisenschmid hammer on comeback

It was Eisenschmid who put us ahead in the second period with an onetimer - the puck reached a speed of 146.8 km/h. It was also Munich's hardest shot in the derby. He also set a new personal best for the season with a total of seven finishes.

Eisenschmid played as if he had never been away - even if it felt different for him: "It was very, very exhausting. I was sitting in the dressing room after the first period, sweating and tired. You can prepare however you want, but a game is always different." He wants to get his match fitness back quickly. Next stop: Wolfsburg.

While the Red Bulls picked up 25 points in the last month of the year, the Grizzlys Wolfsburg ended the calendar year with a balanced record. Coach Mike Stewart's team won half of its ten games, picking up 16 points in the process. The Lower Saxons are eighth in the table - and thus on course for the 1st playoff round.

The Grizzlies' special teams have also been strong this season: the over-percentage units rank third in the league (rate: 25 percent), while the under-percentage units are even the best at 84.8 percent.

Machacek and White: the usual suspects

The usual suspects were once again conspicuous in December: Spencer Machacek (eleven points) and Matt White (ten) topped the scorers' list in December - making them the two best Grizzlies scorers of the current PENNY DEL season. Curious: White shone as an assist provider with nine assists, although the Canadian is actually known for his dangerous finishing.

Especially against our Red Bulls, the striker is always in top form. In the two duels this season alone, he scored five goals - including a brace in the Grizzlies' 4:3 win in the last meeting and even a hat-trick in the 7:5 away win in the first duel of the season. In total, he has ten goals.

Highlights: Grizzlys Wolfsburg vs. EHC Red Bull München (28.10.2025)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

In goal, Dustin Strahlmeier is back in top form after a season that was weaker by his standards. With a save percentage of 92.2 percent, he is clearly better than his colleague Hannibal Weitzmann (88.5 percent), who was ahead of him last season. In the last five games, Strahlmeier shone with 94.4 percent of shots saved, but he was also unable to prevent the two recent defeats in Ingolstadt (1:2 n. V.) and against Straubing (2:5).

Eisenschmid: "Then someone has to stop us first!"

The Red Bulls await an opponent in Wolfsburg who wants to get back on the road to success. Our boys want to build on their strong December and continue to score points until the Olympic break.

"We're on a very good path," emphasizes Eisenschmid and adds: "The development is very positive and if we continue to develop like this, then someone will have to stop us first!"