The Heilbronner Falken were able to extend their winning streak against the Bayreuth Tigers on Friday evening. In front of 1,222 spectators, after the arduous 3:2 win on Wednesday in Upper Franconia, they managed a safe 5:0 victory in the direct second leg against decimated guests. Della Rovere, Volkmann, Fabricius, Williams and Kirsch were the hosts’ goalscorers, with Andryukhov also earning a shutout from the goal.
Top scorer Williams returned to the team for the Falken, and licensed players Tosto and Dziambor were also available, while Preto and Thiel had to be done without. Bayreuth, on the other hand, could only muster ten field players and two goalkeepers, but still had the most top performers. While the quantity in the line-up was lacking, the quality of the Tigers flashed again and again in the first third. Cabana failed early to Andryukhov, on the other side the Falcons took the lead with the first dangerous shot on target. It was a co-production of the jubilarians: Corey Mapes, who had been honored before the game for his 400th appearance for the Unterländer, shot the disc to the goal, birthday boy Stefan Della Rovere deflected and scored the 1-0. As a result, Heilbronn had to realize that even ten Tigers could not be defeated in gentle gear, the hosts’ game lacked intensity. Bayreuth, on the other hand, had some good chances – Hohmann hit almost baseball-style, Pruden just hit the outside of the post. The Falcons then put pressure on in the final phase, but were unable to defeat Herden a second time.
In the middle third, the Unterland then shifted up a gear and were now clearly the game-determining team. Lautenschlager was denied by Herden in a solo attempt, but the effort was rewarded in the 29th minute. Herden was able to parry a shot from Tosto, but Volkmann was there and sunk the rebound to make it 2-0. Five minutes later, the Falcons followed suit. After a slap shot from Kirsch, the disc bounced back from the rink into the goal area, where Fabricius was spot on and somehow pushed the disc over the line to make it 3-0. After that, Heilbronn took things a little easier, so that the Upper Franconians also had one or the other chance, but Andryukhov was once again a safe support.
In the last third, the Falcons didn’t let much burn, but also failed to add the fourth goal early on. But Bayreuth should not come back and could not use a majority game. Instead, it was Williams who scored the 4-0 with a precise shot in the Unterländer’s first power play and thus finally made the decision after 51 minutes. Kirsch set the final point to 5:0 with a majority 38 seconds before the end.
Another home game for the Heilbronner Falken is already on the agenda for next Tuesday. The Lausitzer Foxes will be guests at 8 p.m.
