Eispiraten Crimmitschau took a 5-3 decision in Kassel, settled in regulation on the strength of a two-goal middle period. The road side never trailed after the first intermission, and Kassel's late push came one goal short.
The teams split the opening period 1-1, then Crimmitschau scored twice in the second to lead 3-1 going to the third. Kassel found two in the final frame, but the visitors matched them goal for goal, and the period finished 2-2 with the running score 3-5.
The decisive number is the second period: 2-0 Crimmitschau, the only frame either side won. Kassel's three goals would have been enough on most nights; here it left them chasing a deficit they built in twenty minutes.