Ice hockey attacker Yasin Ehliz knows after the outstanding main round in the German ice hockey league that Munich is the favorite in the playoffs. "We can only lose," said the EHC Red Bull Munich offensive player. "But we are extremely hot. We play all year to get to this phase," said the 30-year-old, describing the appeal of the playoffs.

On Wednesday (7.30 p.m./Magenta Sport), the Munich team will start the playoffs in their own hall against the Fischtown Pinguins from Bremerhaven. From the quarter-finals, the winners will be determined in best-of-seven mode for the first time since 2019. Four wins are required to progress. Many Munich hopes rest on Ehliz, who was voted DEL player and striker of the year just at the weekend.

Ehliz has already won Olympic silver, but not yet the German championship title. "Now the big pot is missing. I want it," said the Munich man aggressively. Born in Bad Tölz, he has worn the jersey with the Red Bulls on his chest since 2018. After two final defeats in 2019 and 2022, the title should finally come. "I came to Munich to win this title," said Ehliz.

After a superlative main round, Don Jackson's team is the clear favorite for the title. At the end of Munich's best main round ever, the lead over second-placed Ingolstadt was 19 points. The EHC dominated and delivered one record after the other: Bayern lead the statistics for the most goals (205) and the fewest goals conceded (132).