Ingolstadt finally managed to defeat the solid Munich Red Bulls in Game 3 (2-3). This is an opportunity for Mark French’s players to return to the series. For 22-year-old striker Leon Hüttl, « we just have to concentrate every time we play, play more simply at home and show more calm and composure than during the first home game ».
And that’s what happens right from the start of the game. Both teams are very focused and serious. The first real chance comes at 4’10 following a shot from Maximilian Szuber that young goalkeeper Jonas Stettmer deflects from his mitt, but the rebound is not exploited. But it should be noted that the defensive game is very compact and direct on the carrier of the puck. The two teams are unable to find good conditions to frame the shots.
In the second part of third, Munich exerts a greater forcing and settles in the offensive zone. Ingolstadt is well grouped and plays perfectly without the puck. No space is left unattended and the conquests are relentless. Only Austin Ortega manages to approach the cage, well shifted. He sends the puck in a very tight angle and Stettmer makes a save with the pad (14’34). Note the significant number of offside whistles against both teams.
In the second period, Niederberger takes two powerful shots and the ERC increases the speed of skating. During Hüttl’s penalty (hanging), goalkeeper Stettmer is decisive to keep his team in the match on an attempt by Ortega (26’14). The game goes side to side and no one gives up an inch of ground. Stachowiak rushes into a 2 against 1, he makes the pass in the back and recovers the puck to shoot. It is with the help of the arm that Niederberger makes the stop in the middle of a slide. This is the chance of the match (33’35)! Barely spaces have opened than the two teams completely close the device in a very defensive match.
In the third period, once again Niederberger came out perfectly with two powerful shots but the rebounds were not used (44’45). Just after, Ty Ronning’s shot in full swing is deflected from the shield (45’55). Stettmer makes a lacrosse raise to play quickly. But the puck comes into the boards in the neutral zone. No player gets it, except the Munich team. And it was Ben Smith who inherited it and quickly projected himself into a central corridor left empty by Charles Bertrand, who mistakenly left for the outside. The American approaches and his shot hits the mark (47’18: 0-1).
With this goal in advance, the players of Don Jackson exert a very high and solid pressure. Ingolstadt is embarrassed and cannot bring up the puck under good conditions. The endgame is coming. Yasin Ehliz has the best opportunity with a lap of the cage, but his backhand fails in the boots of Stettmer (56’18). Munich push to keep their opponent in their zone and keep the puck. Mark French releases his goalkeeper, the punishment is severe because McKiernan scores in an empty cage and Max Kastner also (0-3).
Ingolstadt was really not far from his opponent, also proved that defensively the team was impervious. But Munich used one of their opponent’s rare errors. Now Munich are coming home and could conclude with the overall victory. But in view of the performances of matches 3 and 4, it will be necessary to fight hard, because Ingolstadt will not give up. We can still conclude: what intensity and what a finish!
Post-match comments :
Don Jackson (coach, Munich): “It was one of the best matches we’ve ever played. Ben Smith broke the defensive curtain with his goal. Also, Mathias Niederberger was very strong in goal. »
Mathias Niederberger (goalkeeper, Munich): “We hardly made any mistakes today. Now we have to keep focusing on ourselves and do the exact same thing again. We have to close everything. Our goal is to close the series on Sunday. »
Mark French (coach, Ingolstadt): “It was a tough game. We defended well but we didn’t have any major pressing phases this time. This was due to our execution, but also to the well-structured team in Munich. In Game 3 we won more faceoffs, today we were significantly weaker – and we had to follow them. »
Fabio Wagner (defender, Ingolstadt): “The only thing we can blame ourselves for is not converting chances. We tried to push again in the final third and spend more time in the offensive zone – we didn’t succeed. »
Ingolstadt – Munich 0-3 (0-0, 0-0, 0-3)
Friday, April 21, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at Saturn Arena. 4815 spectators.
Referees: Andris Ansons (LET) and Sean McFarlane (USA) assisted by Andreas Hoffer and Marius Wolzmüller.
Penalties: Ingolstadt 2′ (2′, 0′, 0′); Munich 2′ (0′, 0′, 2′)
Shots: Ingolstadt 15 (4, 6, 5); Munich 32 (8, 15, 9)
Score evolution:
0-1 at 47’18: Smith assisted by Boyle
0-2 at 59’05: McKiernan (empty goal)
0-3 at 59’34: Kastner assisted by DeSousa and Hager (empty cage)
ERC Ingolstadt
Forwards:
Enrico Henriquez Morales – Justin Feser (-1) – Frederik Storm (-1)
Tye McGinn (-1) – Daniel Pietta (-1) – Ty Ronning (-2)
Marko Friedrich – Wojciech Stachowiak – Charles Bertrand (-1)
Philipp Krauss (-1) – Mirko Höfflin (-1) – Wayne Simpson (-2)
Defenders:
Matthew Bodie (-2) – Leon Hüttl (-2, 2′)
Maury Edwards (-1) – Colton Jobke
Emil Quaas – Fabio Wagner
Stefan Matteau (-1)
Guardian :
Jonas Stettmer
Substitute: Kevin Reich (G). Absent: Michael Garteig (ankle), Ben Marshall (knee), Brian Gibbons (knee), Jerome Flaake.
EHC Munich
Forwards:
Yasin Ehliz (+1) – Ben Smith (+1) – Austin Ortega (+1)
Frederik Tiffels – Andreas Eder – Justin Schütz
Chris DeSousa (+2) – Patrick Hager (+2) – Maximilian Kastner (+2)
Filip Varejcka – Ben Street – Trevor Parkes
Defenders:
Ryan McKiernan (+1) – Maksymilian Szuber
Konrad Abeltshauser (+1) – Jonathon Blum
Maximilian Daubner (+2) – Daryl Boyle (+2)
Emil Johansson (2′)
Guardian :
Mathias Niederberger
Substitute: Danny Aus Den Birken (G). Absent: Zach Redmond, Julian Lutz (supernumeraries).