PENNY DEL: EHC Red Bull München receives Iserlohn Roosters

Wednesday, 04. October 2023 | PENNY DEL: EHC Red Bull München receives Iserlohn Roosters

Nine points in sight: Red Bulls also want to defeat Iserlohn// DEL - PREVIEWOnly two days after the 5:3 victory against Nuremberg, EHC Red Bull Munich invites again to the Olympia-Eisstadion. On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., we welcome the Iserlohn Roosters. It will be the last act of our home three-game set.

Munich still has a chance of scoring the maximum possible nine points. The victories against Frankfurt (5:2) and Nuremberg have reduced the gap to the top of the table to two points. Still, coach Toni Söderholm sees room for improvement: "We're missing a few little things that would give our game more clarity." Against Iserlohn, the Red Bulls want to improve these nuances.

Red Bull München vs. Nürnberg Ice Tigers (03.10.2023)

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

Record against Iserlohn

Munich has won the last five PENNY DEL games against the Roosters. In the most recent comparison, our team prevailed 8:3 at Oberwiesenfeld. Filip Varejcka was among the scorers. However, the international expects more resistance this time: "The Iserlohners will want to come back after their defeat on Tuesday. It will be another fierce game."

Poss: "Have to find our consistency - and fast!"

Varejcka addressed the Roosters' 8-2 home loss to Eisbären Berlin. "I have no explanation for it," coach Greg Poss told MagentaSport after the game. After just one win from the past six league games, his team slipped to second-to-last place. "We have to find our consistency - and quickly," Poss demands.

Defensive problem zone

The plan to play fast and aggressive field hockey with young players has not worked so far. The main concern is the defense. An average of 4.6 goals conceded per game is too many to be successful in the long term. Goalkeepers Andreas Jenike and Kevin Reich (formerly of Munich) are not to be envied at the moment.

The Roosters tried to compensate for the departure of offensive defenseman Ryan O'Connor (Wolfsburg) with Ben Thomas, among others. The strong-skating Canadian recently defended for Tappara Tampere and won the national championship and the Champions League with the Finns. So quality is definitely there.

Top-class players from overseas

For the attack, Andrew LeBlanc (has already scored seven times in the DEL against Munich) and Marcel Barinka from Augsburg, among others, were lured to the Seilersee. The top-flight player among the newcomers, however, is a DEL rookie: Michael Dal Colle played a total of 116 NHL games (21 points) for the New York Islanders. Most recently, the 27-year-old Canadian played for TPS Turku.

A small surprise is revealed when looking at the scorer list. Whereas in previous years it was mainly the contingent players who shone for Iserlohn, this season four Germans have been scoring the most: Colin Ugbekile, Cedric Schiemenz, Sven Ziegler and Emil Quaas (formerly of Munich) each have five goals after seven games.

"Getting into the flow of the game better"

The Red Bulls don't want to give the Roosters a chance to work their way into the game. A good start is important. "We have to work well in the first period and allow fewer shots than last time. Then we will get into our game flow better," says Varejcka. If this succeeds, the third win in the home three-game set is within reach.

DEL record against Iserlohn

Wins: 33

Defeats: 20

Win ratio: 62 percent

Goal differential: 186:147

Last game: RBM vs. IEC: 8:3

Last ten games: N S N S N S S S S S S

Last ten home games: N S S S S N S S S S