Two down one to go for EIHL team
Having clinched the Challenge Cup on Wednesday the Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) made it two trophys yesterday as they clinched the Elite league title. Read more»
With a 2:1 victory in Kloten, Lions take next step to Championship
4 minutes were played in the second game when Lions forward Ronald
Kenins (Roughing) and Flyers Patrick von Gunten (Obstruction) were
benched for 2 minutes. Both teams were up to a rather slow start. But
with only 10 seconds left with the 4 on 4 situation it was Tomi Santala
who scored Klotens first goal of the playoff final off a rebound from
goalie Flüeler. Assists were given to Dupont and Bieber. Seven minutes
played and the next Flyer was sent to the coolbox for Hooking, this time
it was Michael Liniger but the boxplay worked well and so the didn't
allow the Lions any chances. Seconds later it was Ronald Kenins with a
solo and a five-hole on Gerber to scored the equalising goal for the
Lions. With 14 minutes played it was Klotens turn for a powerplay as
Andri Stoffel was sent out for Hooking but here as well, no powerplay
goal and so the first period ended.
Even with no goals so far in the second period the game now had more
intensity and a reason for that on Klotens side surely was the return of
Peter Mueller who created chances, gave assists and made Lukas Flüeler
work harder. With 9 minutes into the game, Vandermeer was benched for
High Sticking but again no powerplay goal for the Lions. With halftime
approaching it was Lions Captain Mathias Seger who got a chance to visit
the bench for Hooking and yes, there was no goal added to the score of
1:1. Less than 2 minutes were left in the second period as Mick Dupont
was benched for roughing. The Lions had one or the other chance to score
the 2nd goal but some luck and Gerber kept the even score to the end of
the period 2.
With the last period in full swing, it was Lions Reto Schäppi to forward Ryan Keller who
scored the second goal after a defensive mistake by the Flyers. Now
Kloten was forced to do more for the game by bringing the puck into the
Lions zone. An unfriendly meeting between Bodenmann and Blindenbacher
(both for Roughing) led to a 4 on 4 situation but neither team succeeded
by scoring a goal. The last minutes approached and the Flyers now
definitely had the upper hand, playing a 5 on 5 powerplay, bringing the
puck in front of Flüeler. With a little less than 2 minutes remaining,
Klotens coach took a time out, hoping to get the last out of the players but in
the end it was not enough as the Lions won the second game of the serie
and now lead 2:0.
While both teams played a solid defense, the first period revealed that
when disturbed in front of the goal, the Lions were vulnerable,
especially with Mueller back in team Kloten. But it was an individual
mistake by the Flyers that cost them the victory but also the
incapability to set up a power formation in the dying seconds of the
game.
Both teams will return to the Hallenstadion this Saturday for game 3 which will be important for the Flyers to win.
Head Referees: Didier Massy, Stéphane Rochet
Linesmen: Gilles Mauron, Michael Tscherrig
Spectators @Kolping Arena: 7'624 (sold out)
1. Goal 6. Minute Santala (Dupont, Bieber), 2. Goal 10. Ronald Kenins, 3. Goal 48. Keller (Schäppi)
Kloten Flyers: Gerber; Dupont, von Gunten; Blum, Schelling;
Randegger, Vandermeer; Frick, Hoffmann; Bieber, Santala, Mueller;
Steinmann, Liniger (A), Bodenmann; Stancescu (C), Romano Lemm, Bühler;
Aurelio Lemm, Jenni (A), Herren.
Injured: Stoop, Dubois
ZSC Lions: Flüeler; Geering, Stoffel; McCarthy, Seger(C); Tabacek,
Blindenbacher (A); Schnyder, Künzle; Wick, Shannon (A), Keller;
Kenins, Cunti, Bärtschi; Bastl, Fritsche, Nilsson; Schäppi,
Senteler, Baltisberger.
Suspended: Morris Trachsler (3rd of 3 games), Injured: Marc-André Bergeron
SOG by period:
KF: 1. 12 / 2. 9 / 3. 13
ZSC: 1. 8 / 2. 12 / 3. 12
Czech Rep.: Tipsport extraliga | 1.liga | 2.liga
Slovakia: Tipsport Extraliga | 1.liga
Sweden: SHL | HockeyAllsvenskan
Other: EBEL | Belarus | Croatia | Denmark | Estonia | France | Great Britain | Iceland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | MOL-liga | Norway | Poland | Romania | Serbia | Slovenia | Spain | NHL | AHL |
Having clinched the Challenge Cup on Wednesday the Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) made it two trophys yesterday as they clinched the Elite league title. Read more»
Less than a year after winning their first domestic title in their 118-year history, Genève-Servette are now champions of Europe following a nail-biting 3-2 home-ice victory over Swedish club Skellefteå AIK. ... Read more»