Sunday, 31. March 2024 | Playoff preview: EHC Red Bull München in DEL semi-final against Bremerhaven
Red Bulls invite Bremerhaven to a clash: The series preview for the playoff semi-finalMeeting with the main round winner// DEL - SERIES PREVIEWEHC Red Bull München will face the Pinguins Bremerhaven in a play-off series for the fourth time in total. Both teams have marched confidently through the final round so far and are in top form going into the first clash on Easter Monday in the North Sea.Both our boys and the Seestadt team have recently had a few days to recover after the quarter-final series. The two teams have been in lockstep in the playoffs so far.
While Munich beat Wolfsburg at home last Sunday (2:1) to win the series 4:0, Bremerhaven triumphed in Ingolstadt (3:1) on the same day and also made it 4:0. Both clubs thus achieved a so-called sweep.
Red Bulls are ahead in the direct duel
So now the only unbeaten teams in this year's playoffs will meet. And the Red Bulls know how to hold their own against the Penguins.
PENNY DEL Halbfinale 2024 | EHC Red Bull München vs Pinguins Bremerhaven
// PREVIEW
In the regular season, Toni Söderholm's team won three out of four matches against the main round winners. In Bremerhaven, we won 5:2 and a close 1:2 after a penalty shoot-out, while at Oberwiesenfeld we came out on top 2:1 and 4:2.
"I expect a very disciplined Bremerhaven team. They played a very consistent main round and won it," explained Mathias Niederberger.
White vest in the playoffs against the Penguins
The reigning German champions are also ahead in the direct comparison in the playoffs. Munich has won all three quarter-final series against Bremerhaven since 2016/17 and has never lost more than two games.
The last meeting in the final round was not so long ago. Last season, the northern Germans led the series 2:0 in the quarter-finals before the Red Bulls turned up the heat and triumphed 4:2 in the end.
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The top match against Bremerhaven in pictures
And there's another fact that makes us feel positive: this is the seventh time we've reached a DEL semi-final and we've never lost a semi-final series!
Bremerhaven's power play a real factor
For the first time in their club's history, the Penguins went into the playoffs in mid-March at the top of the table with 107 points after the main round. Coach Thomas Popiesch and manager Alfred Prey formed a real top team over the years.
Bremerhaven also won the most games (29) and conceded the fewest goals (116). The power play also worked brilliantly with 25.3 percent - also the top value in the German Ice Hockey League.
In the playoffs, the team from the seaside town even increased its power play. Six powerplay goals (37.5 percent success rate) were one of the building blocks for advancing. On the other hand, our semi-final opponents were somewhat susceptible when short-handed and conceded four goals in eleven situations.
Already two wins in overtime
What was striking in Bremerhaven's quarter-final series: Jan Urbas and Co. showed strong nerves and were not rattled by minor setbacks. They had to go into overtime twice, with the Penguins scoring the winning goal both times.
Our number 35 also emphasized this: "They showed that they don't shake and don't show any nervousness. Just like us," Niederberger summarized.
"Goalkeeper of the Year" in the box, Slovenian trio in attack
Kristers Gudlevskis is a great support in goal. The Latvian became the number one between the posts after Maximilian Franzreb was injured last September and impressed with his strong performances. At the end of the main round, the 31-year-old was voted "Goalkeeper of the Year" in the PENNY DEL.
"Gudlevskis is an outstanding goalkeeper," Niederberger also praised his colleague. "But I'm not worried at all. We have very good forwards, they'll give him a run for his money," said our keeper.
Jan Urbas and Ziga Jeglic have once again been important pillars so far. The two DEL top scorers after the main round, the ex-Munich native Urbas recorded 52 points and Jeglic 50, together with their Slovenian compatriot Miha Verlic form the infamous "Karwanken Express". The trio have already scored eleven points. Defender Nicholas Jensen has already provided seven assists and Ross Mauermann has scored four goals.
The semi-final dates at a glance:
HF 1 | Pinguins Bremerhaven vs. EHC Red Bull München | April 1 | 2:00 p.m.
HF 2 | EHC Red Bull München vs. Pinguins Bremerhaven | April 3 | 7:00 p.m. | Sold out - remaining chance for tickets via Ticketbörse
HF 3 | Pinguins Bremerhaven vs. EHC Red Bull München | April 5 | 7:00 p.m.
HF 4 | EHC Red Bull München vs. Pinguins Bremerhaven | April 7 | 5:00 p.m. | Sold out - remaining chance for tickets via Ticketbörse
HF 5* | Pinguins Bremerhaven vs. EHC Red Bull München | April 9 | 7:30 pm
HF 6* | EHC Red Bull München vs. Pinguins Bremerhaven | April 11 | 7:30 p.m.
HF 7* | Pinguins Bremerhaven vs. EHC Red Bull München | April 13 | 6:00 p.m.
*if necessary
Playoff record against Bremerhaven
Wins: 12
Losses: 3
Winning percentage: 80 percent
Goal ratio: 60:26
Last playoff game: BHV vs. RBM 1:2
Last ten games: S S S S S N N S S S S S
Last ten away games: S S S S S N S S S
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