DEL preview: EHC Red Bull München welcomes the Kölner Haie

Thursday, 25. January 2024 | DEL preview: EHC Red Bull München welcomes the Kölner Haie

Top match in front of a top crowd: Red Bulls host CologneSold-out Olympia Eisstadion on Friday// DEL - PRELIMINARY REPORTWhen EHC Red Bull München and the Kölner Haie meet in the PENNY DEL, it's often a spectacle. On Friday (19:30 | LIVE on MagentaSport and in our blog), the last game of the main round will be played against the cathedral city team.

The prestige duel has been sold out since Wednesday. However, you still have a small remaining chance on our secondary market. Go to the event and click on the "Ticket exchange" button.

Bring in consistency

The main round of the PENNY DEL is entering the home straight. We go into the 41st matchday in fourth place in the table, with the Sharks three points and two places behind us. So there is plenty of excitement. Our boys want to build on their performance against Bremerhaven last Sunday.

Coach Toni Söderholm's team won 4:2 against the visitors, who had traveled here as league leaders. Jonathon Blum explains what is important now: "We have to bring consistency to our game."

Highlights: Red Bull München vs. Pinguins Bremerhaven (21.01.2024)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Cologne expert Blum: "I feel very good"

The duels against Cologne so far this season have been clear-cut affairs. First, the Sharks won 5:2 at the Olympic Ice Stadium before we celebrated two clear victories in the cathedral city (5:1 and 6:3). Blum scored in each of these games and five times in total.

With 15 scoring points over the past twelve matchdays, the American is even the DEL's top scorer in this period. "I feel really good on the ice right now," says Blum, who always follows the same plan: "I try to set up my teammates so that they can then score. Hopefully that will also work on Friday."

Beware of the Sharks' top attack

The Sharks could draw level with us if they win on Friday - but could also slip out of the top six if they lose. Blum therefore expects a motivated opponent: "The Sharks work hard. They keep the game simple and exert a lot of pressure. And they have very dangerous forwards."

Highlights: Kölner Haie vs. Red Bull München (05.01.2024)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

The Red Bulls will have to keep a particularly close eye on the Sharks' top line of top scorer Gregor MacLeod (39 points), goal scorer Justin Schütz (19 goals) and the physically strong Alexandre Grenier.

Ancicka shines and extends

In goal, coach Uwe Krupp has decided on Tobias Ancicka as number one. The 22-year-old repays the trust with performance. He has saved 91.2 percent of the shots on goal and has kept a clean sheet three times so far.

Cologne extended his contract early last week by two more years until 2026, but Ancicka was unable to prevent the two away defeats last weekend in Berlin (4:5 n. V.) and Nuremberg (3:4 n. P.).

Bad luck with injuries continues: Almquist the next absentee

While the Red Bulls have returned to winning ways on the ice, the current bad luck with injuries continues. In addition to Maxi Kastner (leg injury | out for at least another four weeks), Nico Krämmer (upper body injury | one week) and Dominik Bittner (upper body injury | out for the season), Adam Almquist is now also out. The Swedish defenseman will have to miss four to six weeks due to a lower-body injury.

DEL record against Cologne

Wins: 40 Defeats: 20 Winning percentage: 67 percent Goal difference: 202:140 Last game: KEC vs RBM: 3:6 Last ten games: N S S N S S N N S S Last ten home games: S S S S S S S N S N N N