Christoph Schmidt becomes the match winner for Regensburg – an ex-polar bear also scores

The Eisbären Regensburg won their home game in the DEL2 on Friday evening in front of 4,013 spectators in the Donau-Arena. After an exciting game, the Regensburg team defeated Wolves Freiburg 4:3 (1:0, 1:2, 2:1).

Coach Ville Hämäläinen was once again able to make the most of his personnel, but as announced, he decided to give Xaver Tippmann and Richard Divis, who had been out for a longer period of time, another break. Instead, Corey Trivino moved back to his usual spot as center in row two. In row three, new addition Pierre Preto celebrated a decent debut in the Eisbären jersey and thus filled the gap that the loss of Matej Giesl left in the third Eisbären row last week.

The start of the parties was balanced. Both teams play from a solid basic order and create their first chances straight away. For Regensburg, Korbinian Schütz fired the first shot on goal after a good two minutes, while Daniel Schwaiger tested Eetu Laurikainen for Freiburg. Just like the one opposite Fabian Hegmann, this one held without any problems. As a result, the defensive lines of both teams revealed weaknesses.

Fast first third

After five minutes of play, ex-polar bear Petr Heider missed the target against the well-advancing David Morley. He put the puck directly in front of the goal, where Olle Liss shot over it. On the other hand, Moritz Köttstorfer gave Freiburg a good chance with a risky pass, but they missed it.

So the game swung back and forth and after new signing Preto missed the Eisbären’s best chance to date after a good quarter of an hour, the goal was in. Andre Bühler passed the disc to Kevin Slezak on the right, who passed it neatly in the middle to the approaching Gajovsky. He took the momentum with him and stayed cool in front of Hegmann and scored to take the lead (17:19).

The second third started off swinging from Regensburg’s perspective, with the Eisbären quickly scoring their first goal through Corey Trivino. After that, however, the game slowed down a bit, despite power play situations on both sides. And suddenly the puck was in the Eisbären goal. Spencer Naas was served by Nikolas Linsemaier and sank the target next to Laurikainen (28:57).

Heider meets Kurios

And it got even worse – and more surprising. After 35 minutes had been played, at the end of a double advantage from Freiburg, Petr Heider quickly took a desperate shot, the puck flew far over, but hit the boards behind Laurikainen’s goal, then jumped over the goal back in front of the goal and found it in a confusing melee One way into this and the game was turned out of nowhere (35:20). But the Eisbären reacted quickly: Corey Trivino drove the puck into the Freiburg goal just two minutes later, where goalie Hegmann didn’t cut a good figure (37:43). The polar bears didn’t care. It was a tie going into the final third.

And this started more energetically on both sides and the polar bears set the first offensive accents. But the goal was scored again by the guests from Breisgau, who counterattacked after an attack by the Eisbären. Sebastian Streu and Nikolas Linsmaier played this well, the latter putting Freiburg in the lead (43:40). But the polar bears struck back again. Christoph Schmidt deflected a shot from Jakob Weber into the goal (46:33).

Schmidt is throwing the party

And then the polar bears showed strong nerves again and managed to turn the game around completely. And again it was Christoph Schmidt. He scored a brace on a pass from Aleandro Angaran and secured the victory for Regensburg (54:38).

On Sunday the Regensburgers will continue at 5 p.m. with the Eispirates in Crimmitschau.

Statistics:

Regensburg – Freiburg 4:3 (1:0, 1:2, 2:1)

Eisbären Regensburg: Laurikainen – Giles, Bühler; Weber, Schütz; Demetz, Mayr; Köttstorfer – Gajovsky, Moser, Slezak; Liss, Trivino, Morley; Ontl, Schmid, Preto; Schmidt, Grimm, Angaran

Wolves Freiburg: Hegmann – Stowasser, Ventelä; Schwaiger, Heider; Leitner, harbor judge – Elo, Linsenmaier, Naas; Miller, Schwamberger, Reisnecker; Billich, Streu, Burghart; O’Donnell, Otten, Saakyan

Goals: 1:0 (17:19) Gajovsky (Slezak-Bühler), 1:1 (28:57) Naas (Linsemaier-O’Donell), 1:2 (35:20) Heider (Miller-Streu), 2:2 (37:43) Trivino (Liss-Morley), 2:3 (43:40) Linsenmaier (STreu-Stowasser), 3:3 (46:33) Schmidt (Weber-Angaran), 4:3 (54:38) Schmidt (Angaran); Referee: Markus Schütz/Vladislav Gossmann; Viewers: 4013; Penalty minutes: Regensburg 8 – Freiburg 4