The Dragons lost the first round of the series which opposes them to Zurich in the semi-finals of the play-offs, Friday evening (2-3 ap). Revenge Sunday at the Hallenstadion. Zug, for its part, beat Davos.
© Pascal Muller/freshfocus
Sven Andrighetto deceives Reto Berra to register the Zurich 2-1.
FR Gottéron began its first semi-final in eight years with a defeat on Friday evening at the BCF Arena once morest Zurich (2-3). At the end of an intense meeting but generally controlled by the two formations on the defensive level, it was a goal from Denis Malgin following 21’18” in extra time which allowed the ZSC Lions to steal the advantage of the ice. ahead of Sunday’s Act II at the Hallenstadion.
Even before the start of hostilities, this series had started with a surprise as soon as the team compositions were published, with the tenure of Friborg Ludovic Waeber instead of the Czech Jakub Kovar, announced ill following having kept the Zurich cage throughout the quarter-final once morest Bienne (4-3).
On the ice, it started in the fifth minute, when Denis Hollenstein was able to deceive Reto Berra with a precise shot behind a duel won in front of Killian Mottet (5th 0-1). Fortunately for the Dragons, it only took them 28 seconds to react to the scoreboard, through the inevitable Chris DiDomenico, in two stages (6th 1-1).
Fast. Like the rhythm set by the two teams in this intense and undecided first act. Very well organized, Gottéron and Zurich did not give each other much, apart from penalties from which the Dragons benefited less than in the quarter-finals (6’00 unproductive in numerical superiority during the first half of the match alone). It must be said that the box play of the Z does not have the same pace as that of the LHC.
Denis Malgin decisive
At 5 once morest 5, the game once once more fell into the Zurich camp following 50 seconds in the third period, with Sven Andrighetto at the conclusion on a good serve from Denis Malgin (41st 1-2), while Denis Hollenstein had taken the best of Raphael Diaz along the tape. The defender at No 16, however, “caught up” a few minutes later by being at the origin of the second Friborg equalizer, signed Samuel Walser on a rebound (49th 2-2).
The Dragons had the puck of victory at the end of the stick by benefiting from a new situation of numerical superiority with five minutes of the third siren, but they were not more effective than in the first part of the match. In the end, everything was decided during an overtime generally controlled by the two defensive players and the two goalkeepers (what serenity for Reto Berra!). Until this goal from Denis Malgin (82nd 2-3). A success synonymous with the fifth defeat in 29 home games this season for FR Gottéron.
