Schwenninger – Cologne

Playoffs in the German DEL and the match between Schwenninger – Kölner. Kölner won the regular season superbly. Surprising to many. But they never stopped impressing. Today's opponent Schwenninger finished all the way down in 9th place, but has advanced via qualifying against Wolfsburg.

The teams have now met twice in this series – and Cologne has taken the lead 2-0 in games, after both a win in the opening game and a solid home win. Now we are back on the ice at Schwenninger for game number three.

This is the best of seven games, and with a 2-0 lead, Cologne now has a golden opportunity to take a big step towards the next round. For Schwenninger, this is starting to look like a must-win game if they are to keep the series alive.

Kölner finished 6th in the regular season last year, while Schwenninger finished in the same position with 9th place. That really tells you which team has developed the best this season.

Schwenninger – already above the target.

Schwenninger had hopes of reaching a step further than last year, when they lost the same knockout round that they have passed this year. This could mean that the team is basically playing without pressure, and that it has nothing to lose. At the same time, the pressure is now starting to show, with 0-2 in matches.

They have been better at the end of the season, and in that sense have deserved to be where they are. It looked dark for a long time. Especially a period of 9 consecutive losses throughout December made it a joke for a playoff spot.

A lack of players who produce well enough is a big part of the reason Schwenninger ended up far down this season as well. Although the team is usable in the backcourt, they score too little. Canadian Platzer is the team's leading point scorer, but is only number 42 in the points statistics, with 39 points in 52 games.

In 52 games they have 72 points, scoring 147 and conceding 157. Only three teams have scored less during the season. Compared to today's opponent, this is exactly what has now really become visible in this series.

Cologne – full control in the series.

Kölner surprised everyone, including themselves, in the regular season. They won absolutely brilliantly, even with a slightly weak finish towards the playoffs. 116 points against the next team Adler Mannheim's 103 points did their part to allow them to do so.

And in the playoffs they have so far shown why they won the series. Two straight wins against Schwenninger have put them in full control, and they appear as solid as they have throughout the season.

They have a golden opportunity to advance, and maybe they can surprise everyone once again. This team seems to have the level to go all the way.

The team has produced the most goals up front of any team. They have simply been a pleasure to watch. This team scores a lot – and they score against anyone.

They have 116 points and a 200-136 goal difference in 52 games. That's an average of almost 4 goals per game. Danish Russell and Canadian MacLeod are both in the top six in the points league, and with several contributing, this is a team with great offensive breadth. That's also something that has separated the teams in the first two games.

Conclusion – the same team has the upper hand.

Sometimes you get a clear grip on an opponent. That's exactly what Kölner seems to have achieved with Schwenninger.

The teams met four times in the regular season – and Cologne won all of them. Now they have also won the first two playoff games, both in regular time. This gives a clear indication of the balance of power.

Looking at last year, this was completely the opposite, as Schwenninger won all four matches. That says a lot about the steps Cologne has taken this season.

It seems like the team takes all opposition seriously, and with the ability to go up 3-0 in matches, we expect the same approach here.

We therefore try the following bets at good odds:

Hockey at 19:30: Schwenninger - Cologne: Cologne winner (1.91)

Remember you can always find more tips on our odds list!!!