/* GERMANY – After four days of play the DEL’s league table looks nothing like most of the experts would have thought. First placed Koelner Haie (Cologne Sharks) and tenth placed Ingolstadt Panthers are separated by a mere two points. Being declared defending champions Eisbaeren Berlin’s (Berlin Polar Bears) fiercest contenders, the Adler Mannheim (Mannheim Eagles) find themselves currently in twelfth position. Whether this fairly surprising ranking is due to a supposed close competition within the league or it is only because the favorites have not finished warming up yet – that is open for discussion. Take the Hamburg Freezers for example. Entering the second weekend as overall leaders, coach Paul Gardner’s squad earned a point in a hard fought 2-3 OT loss in Berlin, but did not stand a chance on home ice on Sunday, when they lost 0-3 against the Krefeld Penguins. It was a similar fate for the DEG Metro Stars: While they impressed with a 3-1 win at the witches ‘ caldron in Iserlohn, Duesseldorf was shutout at home, when the Kassel Huskies came away with the closest of possible margins, 1-0. Mannheim made it three losses in a row. Following an 3-4 OT loss in Augsburg the Eagles played perfect hosts against the Hanover Scorpions, helping them to their first win of the season (5-4) That leaves Straubing as the only team who have yet to record a win. The Tigers’ sole point resulting from Sunday’s 2-3 overtime defeat in Cologne. The Bavarians will have to build on that partial success soon otherwise their race for tenth place will be over before it even actually started. But then again, the immediate future does not seem much brighter for some notable competitors, just ask folks at Mannheim or Hanover. Contact: Carsten.vanzanten@prohockeynews.com
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