Lugano – ZUG 3: 5 (Series 0: 4)
The 3-0 lead for the champions and contenders for the title defense came as no surprise ahead of Thursday’s game – at least on paper. The series hasn’t been that clear so far, Lugano was able to keep up over long stretches and challenge EVZ. Once the Zug made the difference in extra time, twice in the last third. For Lugano it was said on Thursday evening: Losing is forbidden. Otherwise, the holidays are just around the corner. But the Luganesi were lucky after 17 seconds that Simion didn’t convert his shot.
Kovar did better in the 5th minute on the power play: He converted a rebound from Schlegel, who had previously blocked Simion again. Also outnumbered, Hansson made it 2-0 (17th). And only 22 seconds later it was Müller who made it 3-0 – the preliminary decision? Lugano changed the keeper from Schlegel to Fatton. But he too soon had to admit defeat, Senteler overcame him in the 27th minute.
At Lugano signs of dissolution were noticeable, Herzog marked the 5-0 shortly after halftime. The Luganesi scored three more goals through Wolf (49′), Fazzini (51′) and Alatalo (53′), and things got exciting again for a moment. But in the end it was enough for Zug to win. The EVZ is thus in the semifinals.
Davos – Lakers 2:0 (Serie 1:3)
Very few had expected such a clear series. And the first three games weren’t that clear either. Because the Grisons had their chances. Only Rappi was simply more efficient and cold-blooded. Could HCD get the momentum back on their side again? The beginning was promising, but the lead only came in the 12th minute: Stransky tried twice to hit Lakers goalie Nyffeler, but the Davoser only poked the puck in the third time.
But at the beginning of the middle third, HCD weakened itself: Nygren checked Forrer against the head, the Davoser received a 5-minute match misconduct penalty. So the Swede didn’t return and the Lakers were allowed to play 5 minutes on the power play. But the Lakers couldn’t take the chance. The puck didn’t want to go in afterwards either, despite several overtime opportunities, after 40 minutes Rappi was still behind. In the 53rd minute, Zgraggen lost the disc in his own third, but the Lakers didn’t hit the goal, defender Zgraggen went forward and scored there to make it 2-0. For Zgraggen it was the first goal of the season, he had never scored in the regular season. This result stayed the same, Davos does not have to go on vacation yet.
ZSC Lions – Biel 1:3 (Serie 2:3)
The people of Biel had already led 2-0 in the series, and the people of Zurich seemed shocked. But the Lions remembered their virtues and were much more compact defensively in the last two games. And because goalie Kovar hexed twice, he celebrated two shutouts and ZSC equalized the series again. Now the series in the Hallenstadion started again, both breaks have been eliminated.
As in the two previous games, both of which ZSC won 1-0, it took a long time before the first goal was scored. But he still fell in the first third: Roe put the home side in front (19th). Biel had not scored in two games before, but Kessler made it 1-1 in the 23rd minute. And it got even better, after a bad pass from Zurich, Rajala benefited and turned the game around for the Seeländer with his goal (29th). The Lions ran, took out the goalie shortly before the end, but didn’t want to equalize. On the contrary, Hofer made everything clear with an Empty Netter. Now the people of Zurich have their backs to the wall.
Lausanne – Friborg 1:4 (Serie 1:3)
In the 105th (!) minute, in the third overtime, just before half past twelve in the morning, only then was the third game decided. Philippe Furrer, who will retire after this season, scored the winning goal. Friborg at the top, Lausanne at the bottom – what did Game 4 look like?
No goal was scored in the first 20 minutes, so the goal drought continued. Friborg Captain Sprunger broke the spell on a power play in the 22nd minute. Only four minutes later, Schmid increased. As soon as Gottéron was two lengths ahead, Lausanne shortened it: Bertschy scored against his future club. After that, the LHC got the chance to equalize on the power play, but Bykov had something against it and made it 3:1 with a shorthander (34th). Jörg was able to increase to 4:1 just three minutes later. It stayed that way until the end. (hua)