Bern vs ERC Ingolstadt

Baumgartner's short-handed goal at 29:52 was the killer. Ingolstadt had just gone on the power play, hoping to cut the deficit to 2-1 and build momentum. Instead, Bern's aggressive penalty kill sprung Lehmann to find Baumgartner clean through. At 3-0, the game was effectively over — Bern had conceded only one goal across the opening 30 minutes and the structure was suffocating.

• Sonny Milano — A goal and an assist on the day. Set up Aaltonen's opener at 03:52 and scored the power-play goal at 57:26 that sealed the 5-1 result. Player of the match.
• Miro Aaltonen — Opened the scoring inside four minutes. His chemistry with Bemström and Milano was Bern's most dangerous attacking weapon.
• Benjamin Baumgartner — Scored the pivotal short-handed goal that made it 3-0. His defensive work on the penalty kill was equally valuable.
• Connor Hughes — Bern's starting goaltender went the full 60 minutes, allowing only Pietta's third-period consolation. Solid when called upon.

Player of the match: Sonny Milano (1 goal, 1 assist)

Bern's penalty kill was the decisive statistical battleground. The hosts faced six Ingolstadt power plays totalling 10:52 of shorthanded time but allowed zero goals — a 100% kill rate — and added a shorthanded goal for good measure. At the other end, Bern converted 1 of 5 power plays (20%) through Milano's late strike. Ingolstadt's power play went 0/6. The penalty minutes were relatively even (14 PIM for Bern, 12 for Ingolstadt), but Bern's special-teams edge was decisive.

For SC Bern, the result extends a productive pre-season towards the 2026/27 National League campaign. Scoring depth — five different goal-scorers, none with more than one — is a positive sign for head coach Serge Aubin as his side also prepares for Champions Hockey League group-stage fixtures.

ERC Ingolstadt, preparing for the 2026/27 DEL season under head coach Mark French, will take some positives from a third-period fightback but must tighten up defensively, especially against transition offence. The Panthers have their first home game of the season next: EV Zug visit the SATURN-Arena on Friday 4 September (18:00 CET).

A thoroughly professional pre-season win from Bern, who controlled proceedings from the opening shift. The short-handed goal was the decisive blow. Ingolstadt showed flashes in the third period but never truly threatened a comeback against a well-drilled Bern side that looks sharp ahead of the new season.