Red Bull hockey stick
Ingolstadt downplays “wild bird” humiliation
04/17/2023, 1:18 p.m
This swatter hurts, not only because ERC Ingolstadt is now 2-0 down in the playoff series. The way the team went down against the big favorites from Munich was frightening. The trainer now demands a quick learning effect.
Mark French wanted to get over the severe setback as quickly as possible. “It doesn’t matter whether you lose by one goal or seven. It’s a defeat,” said the coach of ERC Ingolstadt after his team’s 7-1 defeat in the second final of the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) against industry leader Red Bull Munich: “But we must forget quickly.”
His players would be well advised to do so. Because after two defeats from two games, the Ingolstadt team face the third game on Tuesday (7.30 p.m./MagentaSport) with your back against the wall. “You only learn by making mistakes, but you can’t make those mistakes twice,” warned French. In any case, on Sunday there were enough examples of how best not to do it. While the Schanzer showed a very strong performance in the final third at the start last Friday, they seemed unfocused and overwhelmed again and again in the second game against the winner of the main round from Munich.
“Emotions overwhelmed us”
In what Munich’s defender Konrad Abeltshauser said was “wild” at the beginning, the Ingolstadt team collapsed within about 100 seconds after Maurice Edwards’ successful lightning start (after 35 seconds). Ben Smith (1st minute), Filip Varejcka (2nd), Maximilian Kastner (3rd) quickly made it 3-1 for the guests. “The emotions overwhelmed us in the first third,” analyzed French. Munich increased to 4:1 within the first ten minutes – and was satisfied afterwards.
“We didn’t let ourselves be disturbed and simply downplayed our boots,” said Yasin Ehliz, who was strong again. At the same time, the DEL player of the year was alarmed before returning to Munich: “Ingolstadt has a great team. They will shake it off and attack again on Tuesday.” In general, the Munich team made an effort not to fall into too much euphoria. “We’re going one step at a time,” emphasized Abeltshauser. The signs are still good, especially since Ingolstadt has additional worries after the heaviest home defeat in a playoff final series.
Strange defeat statistics
After the injury of regular keeper Michael Garteig, Kevin Reich, who had been extremely strong in the playoffs against Munich, had to leave after fifteen minutes, according to French for health reasons. It is unclear whether the ex-Red Bull goalkeeper can return in game three. And yet: A look into the past should continue to provide optimism in Ingolstadt. In the 2014 final series, the Panthers were also 2-0 down after two games against the Kölner Haie – but later stormed to their first championship.
However, that’s the way it is: ERC Ingolstadt suffered five defeats in this year’s playoffs, four of them in their own hall – a rather unusual statistic. “We’ve been discussing that throughout the playoffs,” said Ingolstadt striker Daniel Pietta after the 1:7. “Of course you want to play away like you do at home,” said ERC defender Leon Hüttl. “Away from home we’re a bit more aggressive.” At least these are good starting points.