Eisbären Berlin Fall to ZSC Lions After Losing 3-Goal Lead in CHL Quarterfinal

The German champions must overcome a one-goal deficit in the second leg to advance in the Champions Hockey League.

Eisbären Berlin lost 3-4 to the ZSC Lions in the first leg of the Champions Hockey League quarterfinal after leading 3-0 early in the match.
Goals from Zach Boychuk, Gabriel Fontaine, and Lean Bergmann initially put the Berlin team in control before the Swiss champions staged a comeback.
ZSC Lions' Derek Grant, Sven Andrighetto, Dean Kukan, and Jesper Frödén scored to secure the victory, with the final two goals coming in the last period.
Eisbären's coach Serge Aubin emphasized the need to avoid costly mistakes in the return leg, which will decide who advances to the semifinals.
Berlin hopes for the return of captain Kai Wissmann, who missed the first leg due to injury, as they prepare for the decisive game in Zurich on December 17.