Playoffs DEL: Preview of the final against Ingolstadt

Thursday, 13. April 2023 | Playoffs DEL: Preview of the final against Ingolstadt

Showdown for the title: This has never happened before in a playoff finalGame 1 and 3 of the final series sold out// DEL - PREVIEWFinal! Starting Friday (19:30) Munich and Ingolstadt will fight for the German championship. It is the duel of the best teams of the main round, and also the first of its kind. The series preview.

"The road to the final was certainly no walk in the park for either team," says Patrick Hager. The Red Bulls defeated Bremerhaven in six games and Wolfsburg in seven, Ingolstadt eliminated Düsseldorf after five games and Mannheim after six.

This has NEVER happened before

This marks a first in the history of the German Ice Hockey League. Never before has there been a Bavarian derby in the final series. "There is nothing better for the fans," Hager knows. The two teams have met before in the quarterfinals of the 2021 playoffs. Back then, we lost out in the best-of-three format.

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

// DEL - HIGHLIGHTS

"We still have a score to settle," announced Don Jackson at the press conference after Game 7 against the Grizzlys. For the mastermind (eight titles) and record coach in DEL history, this will be his twelfth appearance in the final. Jackson sees Ingolstadt as a "tough competitor" who has played an "incredibly strong" season so far.

Hager and the special series

For Munich and Ingolstadt, the decisive round of the playoffs is not unfamiliar territory: the Red Bulls have been in the last six of seven DEL finals series. Three times Jackson's team rejoiced in the end (2016, 2017, 2018), in 2019 (vs. Mannheim) and 2022 (vs. Berlin) the Red Bulls lost out.

The Panthers are in a final series for the third time after 2014 and 2015. Nine years ago, the Ingolstadt team celebrated its first and so far only title in the club's history. If you're from Munich and take a look at the ERC's championship squad at the time, one name immediately catches your eye: Hager. Our captain wore the jersey of the Schanzers for three years - that's another reason why the series against Ingolstadt is one of special significance.

Panthers without a speed limit

"Ingolstadt is incredibly strong in terms of running, probably has the fastest team in the league. We have to find the right balance and not be surprised by their high speed," said Hager.

So far this season, the Red Bulls have managed that very well: Because all four duels in the main round went to us. The most spectacular was probably our away game in Ingolstadt on October 28, 2022, when our guys scored five (!) goals in the first period and got off to a furious start. We wouldn't mind a start like that in Game 1 on Friday (7:30 p.m.) at the sold-out Olympia-Eisstadion. Let's finish the #Mission4Minga successfully.

The main round results against Ingolstadt

3:1 | 6:3 | 3:2 | 3:1

Ingolstadt's playoff top scorer

Justin Feser (10 points | 3 goals | 7 assists)

Daniel Pietta (10 | 2 | 8)

Wayne Simpson (9 | 3 | 6)