Memmingen has the match point: Deggendorf is with its back to the wall in the final

For two periods, game four of the Oberliga final series remains goalless – then Memmingen decides the match within a few minutes. The Indians win 4:1 in the sold-out Alpha Cooling Arena at Hühnerberg in front of 3,700 spectators, now lead the best-of-7 series 3:1, and thus have three chances to secure the fourth win and the title.

Two disallowed goals keep the game open for a long time

The starting position was clear: Memmingen wanted to extend its control over the series, Deggendorf absolutely wanted to avoid slipping into a decisive "do-or-die" game. Accordingly, the encounter is close, disciplined, and low on errors for a long time. After the first period, it is 0:0, after the second as well – and up to that point, it feels like a final where a single moment can change everything.

Both teams also have a goal each that briefly stirs up the arena – and then does not count. In the 22nd minute, a Memmingen celebration is stopped by video review: Brett Ouderkirk deflects the puck with a high stick, the goal is disallowed. Later, Deggendorf seemingly scores through Julian Elsberger (36th), but again the rule interpretation intervenes: Harrison Roy is in the crease of Indians goalie Justus Roth, the goal does not count. Thus, the game remains goalless after 40 minutes – with the result that the pressure on the next mistake, the next disorder, the next rebound grows even more.

Brassard scores first – and Memmingen ruthlessly exploits the phase

The decisive break comes in the final period. In the 44th minute, Felix Brassard delivers the first blow: He wins the puck in the Deggendorf zone against Petr Stloukal, breaks away and scores the 1:0 at the near post – over the left shoulder of Timo Pielmeier. In a game previously characterized by control and caution, this goal acts as a signal for Memmingen to finally take over the rhythm.

What follows is the sequence that often decides a final: not just one goal, but a second that denies the opponent the chance to regroup. Only 134 seconds after the 1:0 comes the 2:0. Niklas Heinzinger and Jaroslav Hafenrichter collide while backtracking and fall, Memmingen reacts quickly: Edgars Homjakovs passes across to Markus Lillich, who finishes. From a close game, it quickly becomes a task where Deggendorf suddenly has to chase – and Memmingen gets space and game time in its own hands.

The coaches also assess the decisive phase accordingly. Deggendorf's coach Casey Fratkin says he saw "much better Memmingen" in the third period. Indians coach Daniel Huhn emphasizes: "We played a very good game, only the finishing in the first 40 minutes wasn't so good, Felix's 1:0 was then the opener."

Deggendorf closes the gap – but Memmingen answers immediately

Despite the double strike, the game is not decided immediately. Deggendorf finds a way back: In the 54th minute, Petr Stloukal deflects a shot from Jan Bednar to make it 1:2. For a moment, the game is open again, the scenario of a late turnaround is in the air.

But Memmingen reacts as teams must do in title games: quickly and directly. In the 55th minute, Brett Ouderkirk restores the two-goal lead – and takes the crucial momentum out of Deggendorf's final offensive. Milan Pfalzer sets the final point in the 57th minute with an empty-net goal to make it 4:1.

Match point for Memmingen – Deggendorf must deliver

With the third win in the series, Memmingen is now on the verge of the decisive step: one more victory is enough for the title, the Indians still have three attempts. For Deggendorf, the situation is as tense as possible: on Tuesday, the DSC must avoid elimination in its own stadium. Only with a home win would there be a sixth final game on Friday at 6 p.m. in Memmingen; with another Deggendorf win in the Allgäu, a seventh game would follow on Sunday at 6 p.m. in Deggendorf.

The course of the series underlines why Memmingen is now in pole position: this season, the Indians have won six of eight direct duels with the DSC. Fratkin still counters – and points to what makes playoffs special: "The series is not over yet."