Eisbären Berlin claimed their fifth victory of the 2024/25 Champions Hockey League campaign with a 5-3 showing over the Sheffield Steelers in their First Game of this Round of 16 two-game knockout series. The Germans' two-goal aggregate lead puts them in a good position to extend their season, while Sheffield will have some work to do in the Return Game if they hope to keep their campaign alive.

Berlin enjoyed the better of the opportunities in the opening frame and their pressure paid off when Zachary Boychuk tucked one home at the 18:35 mark to give the visitors the lead. Sheffield's Matthew Greenfield stopped the initial shot, but Boychuck was there to slide the rebound past the netminder to secure his first of the tournament.

As the puck dropped in the second period, it was the Germans continuing to control the play. Just over a minute into the middle frame, Berlin extended their lead when Mitchell Reinke roofed the puck over Greenfield. A defensive collapse by the hosts gave Reinke all kinds of time and space as he picked his spot and fired it past the goalie to make it 2-0.

But it wouldn't take long for Sheffield to find some life.

Moments later, a Daniel Ciampini shot from the point found its way onto the stick of Mark Simpson who was parked in front of the net where he managed to tip the puck in, beating Jake Hildebrand topside and bringing his team to within one.

The visitors answered immediately, however, as Berlin reclaimed their two-goal aggregate lead when Ty Ronning capitalised on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Liam Kirk gained possession in the offensive zone, glided around a defender and sauced a pass to Ronning who registered his second point of the night and third tally of the tournament.

With under six minutes to go, the British side continued to claw their way back into the game with their second of the night off the stick of Samuel Tremblay. The 29-year-old scooped up a rebound just above the blue paint and fired it under the bar and over the glove of Hildebrand.

Then, just as Sheffield's powerplay expired, they managed to tie it up with less than a minute to go in the second stanza. Veeti Vainio slid a D-to-D pass to Dominic Cormier who slung it past the screened Berlin netminder to even things at 3-3.

The hosts had a chance to take their first lead of the night with an early powerplay opportunity in the third, but Berlin's PK was up to the task. Instead, it was Blaine Byron making it 4-3 in favour of the Germans when he sent one over the pad, under the blocker and tucked just inside the post at 43:58. Leonhard Pföderl would go on to make it a 5-3 contest with a deflection for his third point of the game.

Sheffield attempted to close the gap one more time before the final horn, but Berlin's defence was able to shut down any chance of a comeback as they take their aggregate advantage back to Germany.