The playoffs are heating up as the Straubing Tigers face a tough road ahead against the Eisbären Berlin following their recent defeat in the quarter-final series. On March 19, 2025, the Tigers played host to Berlin in a highly emotional game that ended with a score of 2-4, plunging the Tigers deeper into an elimination scenario.
With an audience of 5,415 spectators, the atmosphere at the Eisstadion am Pulverturm was electric but turned sour for the Tigers as they grappled with the frustrations of the match. This marked the second game in a best-of-seven series, and the Eisbären are now just two wins away from reaching the semi-finals, which adds pressure on the Tigers to perform in their upcoming games in Berlin and back at home.
The match was not without its contentious moments. One pivotal moment that left players and fans alike fuming was when a goal by Adrian Klein was disallowed in the 10th minute due to what the referees deemed a premature whistle. Klein had pushed the puck over the goal line after Eisbären’s goalkeeper Jonas Stettmer had mishandled it, and although the referees’ decision was aimed at upholding fairness, it felt to many in the stadium like a major injustice. Marcel Brandt, a veteran defenseman for the Tigers, articulated the feelings of the team well when he conceded, “It plays a role in how a game ends” and noted that he felt “cheated” out of a goal following that disallowed score.
The Tigers were not without their moments of brilliance. After the disallowed goal, the team regrouped and capitalized on a power play when Josh Samanski managed to deflect a shot by Mike Connolly, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Celebrations were fleeting, however, as mere seconds later, Berlin swiftly equalized. Liam Kirk scored for the Eisbären just one minute after Samanski's goal, demonstrating that both teams were determined to claim victory.
As the game progressed, the Eisbären took control. Zach Boychuk scored the 2-1 goal for Berlin at the 26-minute mark, and soon after, Marcel Noebels managed to push the score to 3-1 just minutes before the end of the second period. Despite a valiant effort from Travis St. Denis who pulled one back for the Tigers, scoring their second goal at minute 30, the Eisbären held firm in defense for the remainder of the match.
Frustration enveloped the Tigers, who felt that the game was slipping through their fingers not only due to the score, but also because of what they perceived as inconsistent officiating. Tim Brunnhuber, another forward for Straubing, also commented on the disallowed goal stating, “Bitter, because for the second time this season, a regular goal was not given to us.” His sentiments echoed the frustration of his teammates as they realized that unfavorable calls from the referees played a significant role in the game’s outcome.
With time running out, Eisbären sealed their victory by scoring an empty-net goal in the final minute of the match. Gabriel Fontaine took advantage of the empty net for the Tigers, cementing the score at 4-2 and leaving the Straubing team with a bitter taste as they headed into the next matches.
Now, the Straubing Tigers must dig deep as they prepare for their next encounters in Berlin on Friday night and back home on Sunday. The stakes couldn't be higher; they must win at least one of these games if they hope to keep their playoff dream alive, or they risk heading into an early summer break. Players and fans alike are hoping to channel their frustrations into determination and rally together to overcome the Eisbären. After all, as Brandt reflected, it’s crucial to recognize that “many factors play a role in how a game ends,” and learning from defeats could potentially steer them back on the path to victory.
