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Berlin (dpa) - In ice hockey, a German champion will be determined for the 100th time today, Friday.
In the third and last final game of this season, the Eisbären Berlin and the Grizzlys Wolfsburg face each other in the arena at Ostbahnhof (7.30 p.m. / MagentaSport and Sport1).
«I just believe that we have the greater will.
We showed in the last game that if we get everything we can and accelerate, it will be difficult for Wolfsburg, ”said Berlin Olympic runner-up Jonas Müller.
Before the 4-1 on Wednesday, the Lower Saxony had won all four main round games and the first final duel with their consistent defensive tactics.
An overview of the starting position, the ways to this showdown and the history:
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THE INITIAL SITUATION: Each team has won a game in the final series. Whoever gets the second victory is crowned champion. The first duel of the “best-of-three” series last Sunday was won by outsiders Wolfsburg 3-2 after extra time, putting the Berliners under pressure. The former series champion reported back on Wednesday evening with a 4: 1 in Wolfsburg and prevented an early championship decision. After the confident performance of game two, there is a lot to be said for the polar bears.
THE WAY FROM BERLIN TO THE FINAL SERIES: The polar bears were the first to finish the northern group of this unusual DEL season. In the quarter-final and semi-final series against Iserlohn and Ingolstadt, the former series champion was close to knockout because game one was lost. The team turned out to be a specialist in comebacks. "Maybe this year it should be like this that we always lose the first game and need the pressure," said Müller.
THE PATH FROM WOLFSBURG TO THE FINAL SERIES: The Lower Saxony team of former national coach Pat Cortina also shot the playoff series against Bremerhaven and Adler Mannheim.
In particular, the success in the semifinals over the Mannheimers with the former Wolfsburg coach Pavel Gross came as a surprise.
Mannheim was a top favorite for the title.
The Wolfsburg, only third in the north group, developed into specialists for close victories.
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THE MEANING OF THE TITLE FOR THE POLAR BEARS: For the Berliners it would be the first title win since 2013. Between 2005 and 2013, the Eisbären had shaped the DEL and won the championship seven times. With a win now against Wolfsburg, the capital club would be the sole record champion again with eight DEL titles. The polar bears are currently sharing the record with Adler Mannheim. «We deserved the opportunity. It was a long journey. It's time to finish it, ”said coach Serge Aubin.
THE SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE GRIZZLYS: Wolfsburg were in the final in 2011, 2016 and 2017 and lost each time.
With another away coup, Wolfsburg would now celebrate its first championship title.
It would be the biggest surprise since winning the ERC Ingolstadt title in 2014. It would also be a remarkable success for Coach Cortina.
The Italian-Canadian went down in history in 2013 as the first national coach to miss the Olympic qualification with the German national team.
It was not foreseeable that he could develop from a failed national coach to a master coach.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210506-99-499591 / 2
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