With 47 points out of 22 games, the Barons climbed to second in the standings, trailing league leader Nuremberg Ice Tigers (48/23) by a point. Defending champion Adler Mannheim is third (46/24). The Krefeld Pinguine (46/23), Kölner Haie (46/26) and Augsburger Panthers (45/24) he top six.
With 3,836 in attendance at Hanover’s Preussag Arena, the Barons dominated the game in the first period but thanks to Scorpions goalie Björn Leonhardt, it was still scoreless after the first 20 minutes.
Hannover turned the momentum in the second, but it was the Barons who scored. Defender Shane Peacock broke the deadlock on the one-man advantage. Netminder Künast passed the puck to Peacock, who rushed to the Scorpions blueline and rifled a shot at the net. It was deflected by a defender and got past Leonhardt.
The Hannover Scorpions outshot the Barons 26-9 in the final two periods, but goalie Künast was invincible.
“Künast was tremendous tonight,” Barons sports director Fedra remarked. “In this form, he should be the starter on the German national team.”
Hannover Scorpions - Munich Barons 0-1 (0-0, 0-1, 0-0)Scoring: 0-1 (32:33) Shane Peacock (Christian Künast - 5:4).
Penalties: Hannover 12 plus 10 misconduct for David Haas, Munich 10.
Attendance: 3,836 (Preussag Arena, Hanover).