3-2 loss to Dusseldorf drops team into mini-slump

Munich, October 22 - EHC München were hoping a bit of home-ice advantage would help break a two-match loss streak and bring a cure to help the team overcome injuries.  But the evening did not start as well as planned.

The packed house of 3,763 were barely settled in as the Metro Stars took a 2-0 advantage thanks to goals from Rob Collins and Andrew Roach.

"During the first 15 minutes, DEG were the better team," explained EHC coach Pat Cortina.  "But we battled back to get in the game."

Dylan Gyori scored two power play goals to tie the game 2-2 by the end of the 1st period.

The next two periods included a lot of action, hard hits and close opportunities, but tremendous goaltending from both Munich's Sebastian Elwing and DEG's Jean-Sebastien Aubin prevented further scoring.

Cortina complimented his goalie.  "Elwing got better as the game went on, he made some key saves and kept us in the game."

The key moments in the 3rd period when EHC should have won the game when they had consecutive power plays.  Despite good possession and creating some great chances, including one that hit the bar, they could not get the puck in the net.

Then came the exciting finish in the 5-minute overtime.  Dusseldorf lost possession with 4 seconds left.  Munich recovered and broke towards Aubin.  A shot, saved!  Rebound, put back, score!  Buzzer sounds, crowd going crazy, win for the home team!  Or was it?

"It was clearly not a goal," explained Cortina.  DEG coach Jeffrey Tomlinson was looking at the clock the whole time.  "I was hoping it was not a goal."

The bang-bang finish led to a penalty shootout and then Daniel Kreutzer won it with the last penalty shot and Aubin stopped Munich's last attempt.  "We weren't lucky with how we played, but lucky with the points, we'll take'em," admitted Tomlinson.

"The difference in the game is we made some mistakes that force us to work harder," said Cortina.  "We have to be smarter with the puck. In the adverse situation that we are in right now with all the injuries, we have to be smart with the way we use our energy."

EHC take on two teams this week seeking revenge from earlier losses.  They travel to Ingolstadt on Tuesday for a Bavarian Derby against ERC.  Back on October 5th, ERC came back from a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 in Munich.  EHC return home Thursday to take on the Freezers who won 4-1 on September 12th in Hamburg.  Face-off is at 19:30.