In a thrilling encounter on Friday evening, April 25, 2025, the Ravensburg Towerstars defeated the Dresdner Eislöwen 7-4 in game five of the DEL2 final series, narrowing the series deficit to 2-3. The match showcased an electric atmosphere in the CHG-Arena, with 3,418 fans cheering on the home team, eager to see their squad fight back after a disappointing loss in the previous game.
The Eislöwen, who were aiming to clinch the championship with a win, faced an uphill battle right from the start. Ravensburg took control early, with Fabio Sarto scoring the opening goal in the ninth minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Dresden. The young forward, just 20 years old, placed a precise shot into the upper corner, marking his first playoff goal and ending a scoring drought of nearly 103 minutes for the Towerstars.
Ravensburg continued to apply pressure, and just 56 seconds into the second period, Adam Payerl doubled the lead to 2-0, taking advantage of a misplay by Eislöwen goalie Danny aus den Birken. Eleven seconds later, Maximilian Hadraschek made it 3-0, as his shot deflected off aus den Birken’s head and into the net. The Towerstars were on a roll, and Mathew Santos further extended the lead to 4-0 with a power play goal in the 23rd minute.
Despite the daunting scoreline, the Eislöwen showed resilience. Simon Karlsson broke through for Dresden in the 25th minute, scoring with a seemingly harmless shot that slipped past Ravensburg’s goalie Ilya Sharipov. This goal sparked a glimmer of hope for the Eislöwen, who began to find their footing in the game.
However, the Towerstars quickly restored their four-goal advantage when Robbie Czarnik scored in the 32nd minute, making it 5-1. The Eislöwen refused to back down, though, and capitalized on a power play opportunity when Sebastian Gorcik found the net in the 34th minute. Just 28 seconds later, Tomas Sykora scored another power play goal, narrowing the gap to 5-3 and igniting excitement among the visiting fans.
As the game progressed into the final period, Payerl struck again, scoring his second goal of the night in the 44th minute to make it 6-3. The Eislöwen kept pushing, with Andrew Yogan finding the net in the 52nd minute to bring the score to 6-4, giving Dresden fans a reason to believe in a comeback.
But the Towerstars weren’t finished yet. Santos sealed the win with a final goal in the 57th minute, scoring his second of the night and ensuring a 7-4 victory for Ravensburg. The match was a testament to the Towerstars' determination and skill, as they fought to keep their championship hopes alive.
Ravensburg's coach, Bo Subr, expressed confidence following the game, stating, "We need to play the same way on Sunday and bring the series back to Ravensburg." The next game is set for Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 17:00 in the Joynext-Arena, where the Eislöwen will look to secure the championship title in front of their home crowd.
Meanwhile, Eislöwen coach Niklas Sundblad reflected on the game, acknowledging the slow start that put his team at a disadvantage. "We started very poorly, were too slow, and Ravensburg applied a lot of pressure. We have to play better defensively to win," he said. The Eislöwen still lead the series 3-2, but they must regroup quickly to avoid letting this opportunity slip away.
As the teams prepare for the next matchup, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Eislöwen will aim to bounce back and clinch the title, while the Towerstars seek to force a decisive game seven. With the excitement building, fans from both sides are sure to be on the edge of their seats for what promises to be an unforgettable showdown.
