Pinguins Bremerhaven move above the Playoff cut-off line thanks to a 2-0 victory over Swedish powerhouse Luleå Hockey. It was a superb defensive performance from the Pinguins, who outshot Luleå 22-12 in the game. Goaltender Leon Hungerecker was steady when needed.

A win could have secured a Playoff berth for visiting Luleå, who will now try to accomplish that next week. 

The first period flew by without many whistles – there were no goals, one penalty, with Bremerhaven holding a slight 6-5 edge in shots.

The home team struck early in the second period. Off the rush, Alex Friesen made a pass to Bennet Roßmy at the attacking blueline, and the 22-year-old German finished it off brilliantly, using a fake to get around the last Luleå defenceman back and then sliding the puck between Joel Lassinantti’s pads.

In the second half of the middle frame, the game started to become a bit chippier with more stoppages and several post-whistle skirmishes.

Despite trailing entering the third period, Luleå struggled mightily to mount any offence amidst the tight checking of Bremerhaven, and failed to hit the target when they did get chances.

Finally, with 6:33 remaining in regulation time, the Pinguins managed to give themselves a bit of breathing room. With Oscar Engsund in the box for hooking, Bremerhaven’s dangerous powerplay went to work and it was the team’s primary offensive weapon that struck. Dane Nicholas B. Jensen teed up a one-timer from the point by Slovene Jan Urbas, and his blast found the net through a crowd.

Luleå pulled Lassinantti with over two minutes to play but they were only able to manage two more shots on Hungerecker, who stopped them to secure the win and the shutout.