Play-off preview and predictions for the NLA

ZSC Lions - SC Bern (Regular season wins: 3:1)

In my opinion the series that will be over in less than 6 games. The Lions have been dominant throughout the regular season, piling up 98 points in 50 games. The roster is balanced on all 4 lines. Bern, the other heavy weight in Switzerland, hadn’t secured a play-off spot until 2 rounds before the end. The import players haven’t convinced managment or fans and the lay-off of Guy Boucher during the season surely did’t help. Prediction: Zurich win 4:1.

HC Davos - Kloten Flyers (4:2)

Arno del Curto’s team once again had a monster program in terms of games. Regular season, Swiss Cup, Champions Hockey League and Spengler Cup took it’s toll on the players. But Davos wouldn’t be the team it is if it wouldn’t have found a way to get around all the injuries by implementing young players who were able to reach the CHL semifinal and the Spengler Cup. Kloten on the other hand struggled all season long spent most of the season outside of a play-off spot but won 8 out of the last 10 games to secure the 7th spot. Although Davos won the overall regular season games series, Kloten scored more goals in total. The games regularly were high paced and fans can expect the same for this quarterfinal series. Prediction: Davos takes the series 4:2.

HC Servette-Genève - HC Fribourg-Gottéron (4:2)

Servette has become a regular guest in the top 4 of the standings in the past years. The additions of Matt D’Agostini, Juraj Simek, Tom Pyatt or Matthew Lombardi in the past are paying off and everyone in Geneva is expecting the first championship win in the history of the club. Everyone in Fribourg was happy to see how their team was performing in the starting months. 10 wins in a row put the dragons on the top of the league. But then  came december and at the beginning of January, 10 losses and 0 wins added up and washed Gottéron down the standings. It speaks for Gerd Zenhäusern that he was able to keep the ship from completely getting wrecked and climbed up to finish on 6th spot. Prediction: Geneva takes the series in 7 games.

EV Zug - HC Lugano (3:3)

Lugano was projected to end the regular season somewhere in the top 3 with the roster that Vicky Mantegazza, Lugano’s owner had stacked up. Damien Brunner, Linus Klasen, Fredrik Petterson, Tony Martensson were poised for greater things. But the season was an up and down due to mediocre netminding. Elvis Merzlikins was faboulous at times, but at times also careless. Zug on the other hand, played a solid season, Tobias Stephan was voted best goalie of the regular season and definitely was a reason why the bulls found themselves in the top 4. Pierre-Marc Bouchard who won his teams PostFincance top scorer title with 12 goals and 55 assists was another reason. Prediction: Zug advances with a 4:3 series win.

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