The Schwenninger Wild Wings forced a seventh game in the quarterfinals of the DEL playoffs. Head coach Steve Walker’s team defeated the Straubing Tigers 4:0 (1:0, 2:0, 1:0). A curious series continues.
After two recent defeats in the series, the Wild Wings were under pressure in front of their home crowd. The guests from Straubing got off to a better start in front of 5,080 spectators. After a good three minutes the score was 5:1 for the Tigers. Thomas Larkin finished for the Wild Wings.
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In the 7th minute, Schwenningen countered after a bully in their own third, Tyler Spinks asserted himself robustly and gave Tigers keeper Hunter Miska no chance – 1-0. In an intense encounter, the Tigers remained the more active team. Seven minutes later, goalkeeper Joacim Eriksson saved the Wild Wings’ narrow lead when he got the upper hand in a one-on-one with Tyler Sheehy. Shortly afterwards the Swede was also at the post against Nicolas Mattinen.
Wild Wings are outnumbered
Because Schwenningen’s Stephan Daschner had to go to the penalty box for tripping in the last action of the first third, the Wild Wings went into the second 20 minutes outnumbered. And yet the hosts extended their lead. After winning the puck, Phil Hungerecker pulled away and made it 2-0 with his fourth playoff goal (22nd).
As a result, the Swans’ defense had to work hard to maintain their lead. But keeper Eriksson and his colleagues withstood the pressure from Straubing. After half an hour, the Schwenningen team were able to establish themselves in the opponent’s third for several minutes and had three top chances within a short space of time.
Shortly afterwards, Walker’s team had the majority for the first time, but had difficulty building up. It was only shortly before the end of the two minutes that Daniel Pfaffengut managed to finish, but was denied by Miska. The Schwenningen team were now significantly better in the game and remained consistent in exploiting their chances. In a three-on-two situation, Kyle Platzer kept a cool head and scored to make it 3-0 (39′). Curiosity: In the sixth game of the series, one of the opponents managed to take a 3-0 lead.
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Platzer makes everything clear for the Wild Wings
In the final third, both teams played an even match. The Swans did a better job of keeping the Tigers away from their own goal than at the start of the second 20 minutes. Even when Benjamin Marshall had to go to the penalty box for two minutes, Schwenningen didn’t allow a goal. On the contrary: when the penalty had just expired, the Wild Wings successfully forechecked. Platzer initially failed, but then hit the follow-up shot from the air into the goal (54th) and thus secured the final point.
The Wild Wings ultimately secured victory. The guests from Lower Bavaria missed out on advancing early despite their visual superiority. The decisive seventh game will take place on Saturday from 2:45 p.m. in Straubing. For Schwenningen it would be the first place in the last four since 1990.
All other quarter-final series have already ended. The semi-finals begin on Easter Monday. The main round winners Bremerhaven, the main round runners-up Eisbären Berlin and defending champions EHC Red Bull Munich have already qualified.
Broadcast on Friday, March 29, 2024 8:00 a.m., SWR2 News, SWR Aktuell