DEL preview: EHC Red Bull München welcomes Grizzlys Wolfsburg

Thursday, 12. October 2023 | DEL preview: EHC Red Bull München welcomes Grizzlys Wolfsburg

DEL home series to be extended: Munich welcomes WolfsburgStudent Hockey Night at Oberwiesenfeld// DEL - PREVIEWAfter the Champions League performance during the week against Lukko Rauma (1:4), EHC Red Bull München is back in the league on Friday evening. For the 10th matchday, we welcome the Grizzlys Wolfsburg at 19:30 (live on our blog).

After three home wins in a row before, the Red Bulls suffered a defeat in the Olympic Ice Stadium on Tuesday despite an overall strong performance in the top division. Nevertheless, we managed to qualify for the knockout phase of the CHL ahead of schedule: Biel-Bienne (16th) and Tappara Tampere (17th) took the points away from each other in a direct duel on the last matchday, so that we definitely can no longer slip out of the top 16.

Now the German champions want to continue the DEL winning streak in front of their home crowd, and can also take something from the game against Lukko Rauma in terms of play. 51:26 shots speak a clear language - the efficiency must be further worked on.

Student Hockey Night on Friday

Students, trainees and pupils over 18 years pay only 10 Euro for a standing room ticket. After the game, your ticket will get you into the "Call me Drella" and the "089-Bar" for free and you will get a Red Bull Vodka for free. You can buy your tickets here.

Highlights: Red Bull München vs. Iserlohn Roosters (05.10.2023)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Offensive engine still sputters

While our boys are fifth in the table with 16 points, Wolfsburg is ninth. However, only one point separates the two teams. The Lower Saxons won their last two away games (5:2 each in Ingolstadt and Düsseldorf) and also showed in the 2-1 win against Mannheim that they are a force to be reckoned with again this year. Most recently, however, they suffered a 5-0 home defeat to the Eisbären Berlin.

Especially offensively, things are not yet going well in Auto-Stadt. With 22 goals scored in nine games, coach Mike Stewart's team, together with Ingolstadt and Nuremberg, has the most harmless attack of all the teams up to eleventh place.

Highlights: Red Bull München vs. Grizzlys Wolfsburg (12.04.2023)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Newcomers stand out so far

The new players on the Aller have already hit the ground running. Five of the top six point scorers were added in the summer. Matt White (three goals, five assists), who transferred to the Grizzlies from Berlin, leads the scoring list. Defenseman Ryan O'Connor (new from Iserlohn) is the hoped-for reinforcement on the blue line with seven points already. Chris Wilkie (Bietigheim, four goals), Andy Miele (HV71, six points) and Justin Feser (Ingolstadt, five points) have also already arrived in their new home.

Physicality, switching game and clear actions

Dominik Bittner was not on the ice with any of the five aforementioned cracks last year. The defenseman moved to the Red Bulls before this season after four years in Wolfsburg. The anticipation for the reunion is nevertheless great. "I'm looking forward to the game. There are still many players with whom I have a lot in common and with whom I have a close friendship. Armin Wurm, for example, has been my best man and his wife in turn the maid of honor of my wife," revealed the 31-year-old. However, the Wolfsburg defender has not yet played in this round.

Unsere #3 Dominik Bittner spielte vier Jahre in Wolfsburg

Probably no player on our team knows more about Wolfsburg's system of play than Bittner. "Wolfsburg always plays a very physical game, and the Grizzlys also have a very fast switching game," our No. 3 reported. "They play the disc out from behind without any frills. It doesn't have to be the perfect pass, it's often just about gaining space. We always have to be on our guard in our defensive work to the back and in our positional play."

Balance against Wolfsburg

Comparisons with the Grizzlys have now become a real classic, as the two teams also face each other in the playoffs almost year after year. Last season, the series even went over seven games before Munich made the final perfect with a 7:2 win at Oberwiesenfeld.

Of the last ten games, a full eight ended with no more than a two-goal difference. Seven of them went to the German champions.

DEL record against Wolfsburg

Wins: 73 Defeats: 40 Win ratio: 55 percent Goal differential: 218:188 Last game: RBM vs. WOB 7:2 Last ten games: S S S N N S S N S Last ten home games: N N S S S S N S S