2 replies to this topic

[General:Moters]

Hi everyone,
half an hour ago I arrived at home after a hockey game that will have to be mentioned in the record books.

Since the start of the season, the Anaheim Ducks are partners with my German hometown team, the Cologne Sharks (Kölner Haie).
Right now, the postseason is on in Germany's elite league, the DEL.

Cologne (3rd seeded) plays the Mannheim Eagles (Adler Mannheim, 6th seeded and reigning champions) in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

Tonight they played game 3 (with the score tied at one win each) in the Kölnarena.

16,893 people enjoyed a game they will not forget anytime soon.

The game started at 17.30 pm. Mannheim scored just about 30 seconds into the game. Cologne answered with three goals in the first period to take a 3-1 lead after 20. Mannheim cut the lead to 3-2, before the Sharks got the two-goal-advantage back in the second. Mannheim evened the game late in the third at four.

Overtime was to decide this one. Just two days before, Frankfurt and Iserlohn set the record for the longest game in the German league's history when the Roosters from Iserlohn won after 117 minutes (57 minutes of overtime). That record wasn't meant to last long.
Both goalies (for Cologne: Robert Müller, former Washington Capitals draftpick, for Mannheim: Adam Hauser, former Manchester Monarchs goaltender and last year's Cologne Sharks' goaltender) have been amazing (Müller made 96 saves on 100 shots!), but one certainly has to mention the referees. Zero-tolerance is something that doesn't always work out in this league. In overtime, they just decided to call nothing. Virtually nothing. No sticks slashed in halfs in a player's hands, no hold, no hook at all. In 108 minutes of overtime-hockey, they called one penalty - a charging call that could be argued about.

With 08:16 played in the sixth overtime, at 00.10 am, 6 hours and 40 minutes after the game began, Buffalo Sabres prospect Phillip Gogulla scored to give Cologne the 5-4 win and let the arena explode. I'm still very much out of my mind.

This is the 2nd longest game in hockey-history worldwide. The record is at 116.30 minutes of overtime hockey played between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons in March 1936.

[DoPeY5007]

wow, those OT playoff games get crazy!

Sounds like you had a blast

[General:Moters]

wow, those OT playoff games get crazy!

Sounds like you had a blast

Oh yes. A huge blast. Totally unreal.
I've been sitting right in front of some very annoying and aggressive Mannheim fans, it would have been devastating to see them celebrating the win...

The longest game in hockey in 72 years. And it happened in my hometown. And I was there. I can't believe how lucky I am to have been part of that.