DEL Preview: EHC Red Bull München hosts ERC Ingolstadt

Thursday, 22. February 2024 | DEL Preview: EHC Red Bull München hosts ERC Ingolstadt

Derby thriller on "Wings for Life" match day: Munich hosts Ingolstadt// DEL - PRE-REPORTAfter two recent wins, EHC Red Bull Münchenare looking to add to their tally. On Friday (19:30 | LIVE on MagentaSport and in our blog), we welcome ERC Ingolstadt for the fourth and final Upper Bavarian derby in this main round.

The Olympic Ice Stadium is sold out for the tenth time this season. Doubly pleasing, because: One euro from every ticket sold goes to the "Wings for Life" foundation. The foundation has set itself the task of finding a cure for paraplegia.

Before and during the match, you can also take part in numerous charity campaigns. One highlight is the special jersey that the Red Bulls will wear in their 47th game of the season in the PENNY DEL.

Our team goes into the derby in fourth place in the table, while Ingolstadt is in ninth place. The runners-up have had the better of the three previous duels.

Ortega: "We'll have to be at our best"

We want to stop the Panthers' run on Friday. Austin Ortega explains what it will take: "We'll have to call on our top form, because Ingolstadt play at a high tempo and have good individual players." Ortega will also be crucial, as our striker has made a brilliant start to the international break. The US-American, who recently scored his 100th goal in the DEL, contributed three goals to our victories against Schwenningen (7:3) and Düsseldorf (3:1). "In Düsseldorf, we played very confidently for three periods. We were dangerous and defended well. We have to take that into the game against Ingolstadt," Ortega demands.

Ingolstadt come with a series in their luggage

Ingolstadt have not yet booked their play-off ticket, but have recently won three games in a row. In the victories in Iserlohn, against Düsseldorf and in Berlin, however, the Panthers always had to go into overtime. Mark French's team showed that it can win close duels.

Winners Garteig and Kozun

The Panthers can also rely on goalie Michael Garteig this season. The Canadian has already recorded five clean sheets and leads the shutout rankings. He is also the goalie with the most playing time (2560:53 minutes). In the last win in Berlin (3:2 n. P.), he unnerved the league leaders with spectacular saves.

The second match winner was Brandon Kozun. The forward was re-signed at the beginning of November and has been on fire in recent games. Four points since the international break are the ERC's top score. His two goals were also the winning goals for his team.

Simpson ends slump, Rowe is missing for ERC

Wayne Simpson is also one of Ingolstadt's difference makers. Actually, because the US-American has been in a form slump recently. Simpson waited 18 games without scoring until he netted again last Thursday in the win in Düsseldorf.

The ERC will be missing Andrew Rowe. Ingolstadt's top scorer this season (14 goals) will miss the final round due to an upper-body injury. But even without Rowe, the quality of the Panthers is high and the Red Bulls have been warned. "The best plan is to just keep doing what we've been doing," Ortega emphasizes.

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The 800th DEL game of EHC Red Bull Munich in pictures

DEL record against Ingolstadt

Wins: 36 Losses: 26 Winning percentage: 58 percent Goal ratio: 206:168 Last match: ERC vs. RBM: 2:1 Last ten games: S S S S S N S S N N N Last ten home games: N N S S S S S S N S N S N