Pinguins Bremerhaven, the runners-up from Germany, split two impressive outings at home last weekend against Swiss clubs. In their first away game, they brought a dominant performance to Denmark, shutting out SønderjyskE Vojens 5-0. They were especially deadly on the powerplay, going 3-for-6. Maximilian Franzreb made 15 saves for the shutout.

The Pinguins were dominant in the first period and had the home team back on their heels. SønderjyskE took the period’s only two penalties and the Pinguins Slovenian contingent made them pay both times.

The first goal came just past the nine-minute mark on a give-and-go between Miha Verlič and Žiga Jeglič, with Jeglič from near the boards teeing up the Verlič one-time snapper in the slot. The shot beat Mattias Pettersson under the glove.

On the 2-0 goal with 4:10 to go in the period, it took Bremerhaven just nine seconds to cash in with the man advantage. This time, Verlič had the puck below the goal line and he found Jan Urbas in front, who fired it home.

In the first half of the second period, SønderjyskE showed some life. In the second minute of the period, Jonas Borring Hansen got a breakaway and tried to go five-hole but Franzreb closed the door. Then they got a powerplay a few minutes later but were unable to cash in.

Bremerhaven started to push back in the latter half of the middle frame and, in the late going, scored their third powerplay goal of the game. This time it was Phillip Bruggisser relaying a pass to Max Görtz, who one-timed a laser over the glove of Pettersson.

If there was still any doubt about the outcome, Bremerhaven erased it with two even-strength goals in the first seven minutes of the third period. First, it was Ross Mauermann, who had lots of time to walk in from the point and fire a shot from the faceoff circle, and then Alex Friesen made it 5-0 by burying a rebound.

The only question left was whether Franzreb would hold his shutout and, although SønderjyskE did get a powerplay in the middle of the third period, that was never seriously threatened until he was forced to make a great save off of Søren Dietz-Larsen in the last minute.