Kassel took a commanding 7-3 victory on the road against Dresdner Eisbären in the DEL2 on Thursday evening, a result that completely overturned expectations. The visitors had lost 4-1 in Dresden earlier this month, but came back with a performance that left the home side searching for answers. This was only the second meeting between the two sides this season, and the outcome could not have been more different.
Kassel's recent form had been mixed at best. They had lost 2-4 to Iserlohn Roosters and 1-4 to Dresden in their last two league outings, before edging past Grizzly Wolfsburg 4-3. Dresden, meanwhile, had looked solid with three wins in their last four matches, including that earlier victory over Kassel. Everyone expected another home win for the Dresden side.
What happened instead was a Kassel team that seemed to have found something. They scored seven goals, which is rarely a bad omen for the opposition. Dresden managed only three in reply, and the final margin tells you all you need to know about who controlled the game. The visitors took their chances, and the home side did not.
We had backed the hosts with 85 per cent confidence before kickoff. That confidence evaporated quickly. Kassel simply outplayed them in the moments that mattered, and Dresden offered nothing in response. The result leaves Kassel top of the table after one game, while Dresden sit 14th with zero points and a loss on their record.
