Krefeld Penguins secured a convincing 6:3 victory over Straubing Tigers in DEL action on Sunday evening. The visitors made no mistake in capitalising on their hosts' defensive frailties to claim three points away from home. With both sides sitting on zero points in the standings, the result shifted momentum decisively towards Krefeld. It was a performance that left little doubt about who controlled the game.
Straubing remain rooted to 13th place after two defeats from two matches played. Their goal difference sits at -14 following the aggregate of their opening fixtures. Krefeld, meanwhile, occupy seventh position with a win and a loss to their name. The gap between them and the bottom of the table has only widened.
The scoreline tells its own story. Six goals conceded in a single match is not something a team recovers from easily, especially at home. Straubing never really got going, and by then the visitors had switched to a back three of sorts — pressing higher, forcing errors. They found a way through every time the hosts dallied on the ball.
I had backed the home side at 89 per cent confidence. That call was wrong, and I'll own that. What shifted the game was Straubing's inability to hold their shape when under pressure. Krefeld rolled the dice with a more aggressive approach and it paid off. The visitors came for a cross he never reached — metaphorically speaking, they were always one step ahead.
Straubing's recent run reads like a cautionary tale. Losses to Eisbaeren Berlin, Munchfeld, and twice to Ceske Budejovice have piled up. The 2:7 defeat in early September still hangs over them. Krefeld, on the other hand, have shown resilience — three consecutive 3:2 victories before their 1:3 setback against Bremerhaven. They've hit a wall, but not yet.
The result leaves Straubing staring at the drop, with two more games to turn things around. Krefeld can now look forward to building on this win. In a league where every point matters, Sunday's outcome could prove pivotal when the standings tighten. There is unrest in the dressing room — or at least, there should be.
