ZSC Lions earn game 7

ZSC Lions - SC Bern 6:3

In a sold out Hallenstadion the first period stayed goalless despite high speed and good pressure of both teams. All the chances that were let out in period number one were soon forgotten as the middle period started with a firework by the home side. First Thibaut Monnet opened the score for Zürich in the 25th minute. After receiving a pass from Domenico Pittis at the blue line he fired the puck into the right corner of Bern's goal. Just half a minute later Andreas Ambühl extended the lead with a well-placed shot from a short distance. But it became even worse. Bern had to take a penalty and the following power play was used by Mathias Seger who received the puck after a face off won by his team and found the whole in Bern's defense in the 27th. Now Bern's head coach Antti Törmänen took a time out and this became a good decision. In the 35th a shot by David Jobin was deflected by Ryan Gardner and only a bit more than a minute later Gardner was again in the right position by getting a rebound to cut the ZSC lead to just one goal. Now Zürich head coach Bob Hartley tried it also with a time out and again this decision was rewarded as Domenico Pittis made it 4-2 in the 39th when his team was in power play. Early in the third period Martin Plüss cut the lead again with a high shot during a Bern power play. Five minutes later no one attacked Patrick Bärtschi and the ZSC player jammed the puck into the right corner. After the fifth goal by the hosts Antti Törmänen changed his goalies and Marco Bührer had to leave for Olivier Gigon. When the guests risked everything by pulling out their goalie for an additional attacker it was Jeff Tambellini who made the final score of 6-3 perfect.

During the last 32 seconds ZSC head coach Hartley allowed 43 year old club legend Ari Sulander, who ends his career after this season and returns to Finland, an emotional farewell from his home fans by letting him play in goal until the end of the game.

Game 7 of the NLA finals will be played on Tuesday in Bern.

Series tied 3-3

 

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