Florida Panthers center Marcel Goc set up Alder Mannheim’s first goal but didn’t do much after that during a disappointing 5-3 loss to second place Kolner Haie in Friday action from the D.E.L. (German Elite League). Goc finished the game with a -2 rating and had no shots on goal while skating on a line with Christoph Ullmann and Adam Mitchell. The win by visiting Kolner closed the gap between the two teams at the top of the table to two points with Kolner still holding a game in hand on the Eagles.
Kolner’s Christopher Minard opened the scoring with an even strength goal at the 6:17 mark of the first period. Adler Mannheim replied on the power play two minutes later. Defenseman Doug Janick picked up the goal with the assists going to Frank Mauer and Marcel Goc. Philip Gogulla restored Kolner’s lead with another even strength goal at 13:32 of the opening frame.
In the second period, Felipe Schutz and Daniel Tjernqvist scored to give Kolner an insurmountable 4-1 advantage. Matthias Plachta got one back for Mannheim at the 11:52 mark with assists going to Yanick Lehoux and Marcus Kink. The helper gave Lehoux a D.E.L. leading 30 points on the season.
Kolner Haie’s Nathan Robinson completed the scoring in the third period. Christopher Minard picked up his third point of the night with an assist on the even strength goal.
Dennis Endras took the loss for Adler Mannheim while Danny Aus den Birken made 33 saves to pick up the win for Kolner.
Marcel Goc now has 15 points (3G/12A) in 14 games for Adler Mannheim
Note: Dmitry Kulikov missed his fourth straight game in Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s 7-3 loss to HC Lev on Friday.