DEL playoff moments: EHC Red Bull München vs Augsburger Panther 2018/19

Wednesday, 13. March 2024 | DEL playoff moments: EHC Red Bull München vs Augsburger Panther 2018/19

Playoff moments, part three: The longest series in historyOnly 21 goals in over 504 minutes// PLAYOFF-MOMENTSPlayoffs, baby! On 16 March, the Red Bulls kick off the "hottest time" of the year again. To get you in the mood, we take a look back at some very special playoff series. Our third instalment tells of more than eight hours of derby time in just 13 days.

Only the Augsburg Panthers stood in the Red Bulls' way in the 2019 semi-final series on their way to a fourth consecutive final appearance. It was the first time the two teams had ever met in the playoffs. And as we know today, it was not only extremely exciting, but also long. As long as possible!

Munich and Augsburg fought the longest playoff series in DEL history to date. Between April 3 and 16, the duel lasted a full seven games and, believe it or not, 504 minutes and 46 seconds. That's over eight hours of pure playoff ice hockey - in just 13 days.

SAP Garden Opening: EHC Red Bull München welcomes the Buffalo Sabres

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"Runaway victories" with a two-goal difference

It gets even crazier when you take a look at the individual games. Because the first five games each ended with just a single goal difference. In games six and seven, the two Bavarian rivals made it comparatively "clear" with a two-goal difference and virtually celebrated the "landslide victories" of this series. It is therefore not surprising that two games went into the third overtime.

With so much playing time, there should have been goals without end. But they were wrong: there were just 21 goals at the end. Munich goalkeeper Danny aus den Birken and AEV goalie Olivier Roy were hard to beat. The two goalkeepers were in absolute top form.

Augsburg turns the series around

Game one was to be a real foretaste of the days to come. Mark Voakes scored in the 54th minute to make it 1:0 for the Red Bulls in the Olympic Ice Stadium, but Augsburg's Brady Lamb equalized immediately. It was not until the third overtime period, after 101:12 minutes, that Voakes again scored the acclaimed final goal.

Game two then became the first and last high-scoring game, with the Panthers scoring the 4:3 game-winner shortly before the end to level the series. Back at Oberwiesenfeld, the scenario was similar to game one, only with the result reversed. 60 minutes were not enough, Brady Lamb scored in the 104th minute to give the visitors a 2:1 victory. Advantage Augsburg!

Munich strikes back, AEV responds

But Munich was also able to make it 2-1. A brace by defenseman Derek Joslin was enough to tie the series at 2-2 in game four. A shutout was still missing in this close encounter, but it was to follow in the fifth meeting. Danny aus den Birken recorded 20 saves, Trevor Parkes the game-winner for a narrow 1-0 home win. Coach Don Jackson's team thus earned the first match puck.

Servus Eisstadion | Die Red Bulls verabschieden sich vom Olympia-Eisstadion

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AEV goalie Roy almost single-handedly fended it off in the Curt-Frenzel-Stadion. The Canadian saved all 33 shots of the Red Bulls and was not to be overcome in the 2:0 victory of the Fuggerstädter.

End of season or final: Decision in game seven

So for the second time in our club's history, after the playoff final against the Eisbären Berlin almost exactly one year earlier, an all-decisive game seven had to be played. Once again, our "beloved dump", as stadium announcer Stefan Schneider affectionately calls our still-home ground, was the scene of the crime. And fortunately, the outcome was the same.

The then reigning three-time defending champions went ahead in the 16th minute. Mads Christensen caused the first explosion of jubilation under the roof of the Oberwiesenfeld. And because his goalkeeper made Augsburg desperate by the dozen, the 2:0 by Patrick Hager (26) was already the decider. Aus den Birken secured his second shutout and the historic marathon series was over.

We can't wait to see which playoff moments from this year we'll look back on nostalgically in the future!