Overview

• The defending DEL champions were thrashed 1:7 in Mannheim and lost 1:5 at Bremerhaven in back-to-back games.
• With six regulars unavailable, Berlin could dress only three forward lines and had to reshuffle its power-play units.
• Key missing players include Ty Ronning, Yannick Veilleux (serving a five-game suspension), Marcel Noebels and Blaine Byron.
• Defense is further weakened by long-term casualty Kai Wissmann and the not-yet-licensed Markus Niemeläinen.
• Sporting director Stéphane Richer faces calls to add reinforcements, with seven of eleven foreign-player licenses used and a thin early-season market, and Berlin now hosts Straubing on Friday before Schwenningen on Sunday.