Adler Mannheim may have already qualified for the 2023/24 Champions Hockey League Playoffs, but the prospect of three additional points and top rank in the Regular Season Standings was a sweetener to keep the side laser-focussed against their Slovak hosts at the Steel Arena.

It was an even, clean first period with both sides trading shots, although hosts HC Košice would outshoot their German rivals 6-4. A penalty from Mannheim defenceman John Gilmour gave the hosts the first powerplay of the night. Košice managed good control, but couldn't find any space on Felix Brückmann.

Forward Joona Jääskeläinen opened the scoring at 18:33, thanks to a sneaky tip off a faceoff taken by centerman Brett Pollock. The 27-year-old Finn, who is in his first season with Košice, sent a bullet to the top corner of the net, beating the glove of Brückmann to make it 1-0 for the hosts. 

The pace of the second period was turned up a notch after Mannheim's Stefan Loibl picked up the puck on the doorstep of Dominik Riečický. His shot didn't make it through but moments later, top scorer David Wolf's did. The forward collected a stretch pass, pulling the trigger in stride to pick up the 1-1 equaliser for his team. 

A spate of penalties dished on both sides would give Košice two more minutes of powerplay action and things got even messier after a boarding call resulted in Gilmour's ejection from the game. 

The five-minute powerplay in favour of the hosts was a golden opportunity to regain the lead, but instead, Mannheim turned the tables, scoring a shorthanded goal. A deke onto the backhand of Canadian Kris Bennett would beat the outstretched skate of Riečický to make it 2-1 for Mannheim.

Trailing by a goal in the third period, Riečický came up with clutch saves to keep his team in contention, but Mannheim had two more up their sleeves. A second shorthanded goal through Tyler Gaudet extended their lead 3-1 and a fourth goal from Daniel Fischbuch put the game out of reach for the hosts who ultimately outshot the visitors 22-21.

The 4-1 win in regulation brings Alder Mannheim's tally to 16 points, making them the top-ranked team in the Regular Season Standings with 5 wins and a single OT loss, while Košice exit having suffered six straight losses.