Düsseldorf Metro Stars break through in game five

It wasn’t meant to be for the Hanover Scorpions to reach the German Hockey League (DEL) finals for the first time in franchise history, at least not this year. The Düsseldorf Metro Stars took game five 3:1 and the series three games to two, although they were down 1:0 after only eight seconds when Matt Dzieduszycki converted a pass from Eric Schneider and beat Metro Stars goalie Jamie Storr. But after eighteen minutes it was Adam Courchaine again who scored for Düsseldorf after Hanover Captain Dan Lambert had turned the puck over in his own zone to Metro Stars forward Brandon Reid. In the second period Scorpions winger Klaus Kathan appeared to have scored, but the goal was disallowed after the officials had checked video replays. One minute before the second intermission Reid’s shot bounced off the crossbar.

The game was still tied in the third period when Rob Collins’ wrist shot went past Scorpions goalie Dimitri Pätzold for the eventual game winner. And when Hanover tried to get the equalizer in the final minute, pulling Pätzold and putting an extra skater on the ice, Reid scored into the empty Scorpions net. Storr had 33 saves for the Metro Stars while Pätzold stopped 29 shots. Düsseldorf will travel to Berlin for game one of the finals against defending champions Berlin Polar Bears on Thursday at 7:30 pm in the O2 arena. (Oliver Stein)