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Friborg and Rapperswil celebrate home wins at the start of their quarter-final series. Champion Zug only beats Lugano in overtime and Biel turns a 0:3 into a 4:3 once morest the ZSC Lions. For the round up.
Today’s games at a glance
A rather flattering Zug victory
Defending champion Zug starts the playoff quarter-finals with a hard-fought victory. The qualifying winner beats Lugano 2-1 following extra time. Dario Simion was responsible for the decision in the 66th minute. Overall, it was a flattering win for Central Switzerland, who had all lost the last five qualifying games.
In the 39th minute, Gregory Hofmann redeemed the majority of the 7,200 spectators in the sold-out arena with the 1:0 for EVZ. The lead following 40 minutes was fine. Although the Zugers had a long break at the beginning of the game, they put their stamp on the game in the second third.
The Bianconeri’s equalizer in the 57th minute was just as well deserved by Justin Abdelkader, who had played for EVZ last season. The shot ratio in favor of the Luganesi in the final section was 13:3. It was thanks to goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni that the hosts didn’t make it 1-1 earlier. Lugano lost to Zug for the sixth time in a row.
Biel turns a 0:3 into a 4:3
In the series, which began on Wednesday, Biel increased the win to 2-0 with a 4-3 win over the ZSC Lions following extra time (following being 0-3 down) and a thrilling game. For 39 minutes, the ZSC Lions showed an extremely strong reaction to the 4:5 on Wednesday. Zurich led 3-0 up to the 39th minute. Denis Malgin, Denis Hollenstein and Justin Sigrist scored the goals. Biel’s back Yannick Rathgeb did not give a good figure in this phase. Rathgeb was in the penalty box for the first two goals conceded, and he looked bad once morest Sigrist at 0:3.
In the end that was no longer an issue, because Biel put on a miraculous comeback thanks to goals from Mike Künzle (39th), Jere Sallinen (43rd) and Fabio Hofer (60th). The Bielers might even have won the game in regular time. In the final section, they first (when the score was 2:3) played an unsuccessful power play for almost three minutes. After Fabio Hofer’s (fortunate) equalizer 35 seconds before the end, Biel had three more chances to score before the end of regulation time.
In the end, the decision was not long in coming in overtime. Toni Rajala shot the EHCB to you following 186 seconds
Lakers start with a convincing victory
The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers get off to a perfect start in the playoffs. The Lakers beat HC Davos 4:3 in the sold-out Lido. The Lakers proved to be clearly superior in Game 1 for a long time. They dominated the first 40 minutes with 26:11 shots on goal. It was only in the final section, when Davos had to take more risks, that the game evened out – and things got dramatic once more.
First without a goalie, later with a goalie once more, but twice in the majority, Mathias Bromé and Dominik Egli reduced Davos from 1:4 to 3:4 within 87 seconds. Davos had four minutes left. In these, Davyd Barandun hit the crossbar for HCD. In the end, the gripping finish flattered HC Davos, because the defeat was deserved.
Friborg submits once morest Lausanne
HC Fribourg-Gottéron, who ended qualifying with six defeats, are recovering at the start of the playoffs. Freiburg beat Lausanne 2-0. Killian Mottet 24 seconds before the first break in the power play and Andrej Bykow in the 33rd minute outnumbered (!) scored the goals for Gottéron. Two defenders from Lausanne got in the way of the shorthander, which enabled Bykow to counterattack. Freiburg goalkeeper Reto Berra came to the shutout with 35 saves.
After four playoff games, the Lausanne Hockey Club has to realize that there is a lack of offense. The four goals in the third period last Tuesday once morest Ambri (from 1-1 to 5-1) proved to be flashes in the pan three days later. Lausanne dominated the game with 35:22 shots on target, but mightn’t find a way past Freiburg’s defence. Even the mixing and mixing of all attacking lines did not (yet) bring Lausanne the desired success.
There was no getting through for Lausanne in front of the Gottéron goal
Andrej Bykow ensured Friborg’s victory with the 2:0
Gottéron wins game 1 once morest Lausanne – Gallery
There was no getting through for Lausanne in front of the Gottéron goal
Andrej Bykow ensured Friborg’s victory with the 2:0
