Munich, Germany - After almost a month in the top spot, the Berlin Eisbären got knocked out of first place Friday night. On gameday 15 in the DEL, Berlin squandered a third-period lead in Cologne where Hans Zach’s Kölner Haie extended their impressive win streak to eight games. The Mannheim Adler seized the opportunity and took the league lead with a close win over Hamburg. Elsewhere, Hanover’s Gilbert Dionne shined in Paulin Bordeleau’s head coaching debut with the Scorpions.

Defenseman Brad Schlegel had a goal and an assist as the Kölner Haie notched three third-period powerplay goals to down the Berlin Eisbären 3-1 (0-1, 0-0, 3-0). Berlin’s league leading offense was held to just a goal. Steve Walker got the Eisbären on the scoreboard just 3:10 into the game. But efficient special team play turned the momentum in the final period. Schlegel came up with the equalizer early in the third. Dwayne Norris scored the go-ahead goal midway through the period. Niklas Sundblad’s tally on the two-man advantage put the game out of reach with just under eight minutes left in regulation.

Andy Roach was the man of the day as Mannheim reclaimed the league lead with a hard-fought 2-1 (0-0, 2-1, 0-0) win over the last-place Hamburg Freezers. Roach scored both Adler goals, including the game-winner at 29:25. Mannheim is now a point ahead of Berlin, third-place Cologne has closed the gap to first to five points.

New head coach Paulin Bordeleau celebrated a successful debut with the Hannover Scorpions. Gilbert Dionne tallied three goals and an assist as the Scorpions blanked the ailing Kassel Huskies on the road, 6-0 (2-0, 3-0, 1-0). Bordeleau, who made his first DEL appearance last year with the now defunct Essen Moskitos, replaced Swede Christer Abrahamsson during the week. The loss was Kassel’s eight in nine games.

Heart-breaking loss for Ingolstadt

Andrej Podkonicky scored with only four seconds to go to give the thriving Iserlohn Roosters a lucky 3-2 (0-1, 2-1, 1-0) win over expansion team ERC Ingolstadt. Wth the clock ticking down and the contest seemingly headed for overtime, Podkonicky took the puck through the neutral zone and unleashed a slapshot from the Ingolstadt blueline that found its way past netminder Ilpo Kauhanen and sealed the fifth straight loss for the injury-plagued ERC.

Ingolstadt took an early lead on the game’s first-powerplay when Jean-Francois Jomphe’s feed from the left boards found captain Jason Young all alone between the hash marks. Young wristed the puck over Waite’s left shoulder to claim the lead just 4:18 into the contest. However, a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity changed the momentum early in the second period. Doug Ast rifled a slapshot from the left slot past Kauhanen to tie the game at one apiece. The Roosters took the lead midway through the period. From the right slot, Steve Washburn knocked the puck across the goal crease to a wide-open Scott King who lifted the puck under the crossbar to put Iserlohn ahead 2-1. With just under six minutes to go in the period, Jomphe came up with the equalizer on the man advantage, knocking the puck past Jimmy Waite from the near slot. Ingolstadt kept pressing, but got denied by Waite again and again. Defenseman Francois Bouchard blew the biggest of many good scoring opportunities late in the middle frame. With the teams skating four aside, Bouchard forced a turnover in the left corner of the Roosters zone, pulled to the net and had goalie Waite already beaten after a deke, but couldn’t lift the puck into the open net.

Augsburg’s losing streak continues

Brad Purdie and Dan Lambert each tallied four points as the Krefeld Pinguine routed Augsburg on the road, 6-1 (2-0, 3-1, 1-0), handing the Panthers their sixth straight loss.

Elsewhere, Terry Yake tallied three assists as the Nuremberg Ice Tigers downed the Schwenningen Wild Wings 3-1 (1-0, 0-0, 2-1). The Frankfurt Lions stunned the DEG Metro Stars 3-1 (1-0, 1-0, 1-1).