DEL preview: EHC Red Bull Munich receives the Augsburg Panthers

Saturday, 21. October 2023 | DEL preview: EHC Red Bull Munich receives the Augsburg Panthers

Derby time at Oberwiesenfeld: Red Bulls expect PanthersMunich winning streak against Augsburg// DEL - PRE-REPORTAfter nine days without a home game, EHC Red Bull München returns to its own living room on Sunday afternoon. At 4:30 p.m. (live on our blog), the derby against the Augsburg Panthers will take place at the Olympia-Eisstadion.

Actually, the signs in the Fuggerstadt were already pointing to relegation from the PENNY DEL last season. Since the end of February, the penultimate place in the table had been cemented, so Augsburg was dependent on support from the DEL2. But none of the three teams eligible for promotion (Dresden, Kassel, Krefeld) made it to the finals. Participation in the finals series would have been enough to make it into the top flight of ice hockey, since the Ravensburg Towerstars, as the second finalist, were not allowed to advance due to economic reasons.

Above all, the Kassel Huskies were considered top favorites. The Huskies dominated the entire main round and went into the playoffs with a 38-point lead. But in the best-of-seven semifinal series, the North Hessians were surprisingly eliminated by EC Bad Nauheim (2:4) on Easter Monday. In Augsburg, on the other hand, the champagne corks were popping, as the founding member of the DEL thus remained first-class at the last minute in its 30th season.

Family game day at Oberwiesenfeld

Sunday is all about the family. That means you can save a lot of money if you come to the Red Bulls with your whole family. More information and tickets are available here.

Highlights: Augsburger Panther – Red Bull München (15.01.2023)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Finn power for the new start

In order to play a better role right from the start this season, Christof Kreutzer put together an almost completely new team. The 56-year-old has been coach and sporting director in one person since this season. Augsburg's search for reinforcements was particularly fruitful in the Finnish league. No other DEL team has more Finns in its ranks.

From HIFK, the Panthers acquired Otso Rantakari, a strong offensive defenseman. The blueliner recently scored 31 points (eight goals) and a plus-minus of +16 for the team from Helsinki. In his first DEL games, the 29-year-old already showed that he can be the hoped-for reinforcement.

Goal-scoring duo in double pack

Two compatriots also found their way to Augsburg. Jere Karjalainen and Anrei Hakulinen joined together from this year's CHL opponent Lukko Rauma in Munich. The duo combined for 69 points last season, including 25 goals. Hakulinen was even captain the past two years.

Like Rantakari, the two strikers are already absolute cornerstones in the team of our upcoming opponent and are always good for a goal. In the 4-1 defeat against Ingolstadt on Friday, however, only Alexander Oblinger scored.

Derby winning streak of the Red Bulls

The duels against the Fuggerstädter have always been successful from Munich's point of view. The German champions have always come out on top in the past seven matches. The last defeat was almost exactly two years ago.

Last season, the only close game was the Red Bulls' 3:2 win in their first home game. The other three encounters were easy for us. But no matter how: The main thing is to keep the points at Oberwiesenfeld on Sunday.

Our defender Dominik Bittner will not be in the game. In the game against the Schwenninger Wild Wings last Friday night in the 53rd minute of the game, our number 3 was given a major penalty and a disciplinary game time penalty in accordance with DEL Rule 48 for a check to the head and neck area. After evaluating the evidence, the DEL Disciplinary Committee was of the opinion that a violation of DEL Rule 48 occurred. The Disciplinary Committee considered a one-game suspension plus a fine to be appropriate.

DEL record against Augsburg

Wins: 40 Defeats: 19 Win ratio: 68 percent Goal differential: 194:134 Last game: AEV vs. RBM 1:6 Last ten games: N S N S S S S S S S S Last ten home games: S S S S N S S S S S