The biggest damage has been averted. After the six-point weekend (3:2 in Biel, 4:1 against Ambri), it is clear that the EVZ is at least in the play-in games despite a difficult season. This is because EHC Biel and the SCL Tigers, who are both nine points behind the EVZ with three rounds to go, still have a direct duel to play and therefore cannot score full points.

EVZ, on the other hand, still has a small chance of qualifying directly for the play-offs. To do so, however, it would have to win all of its remaining games against SC Bern (5 March), the SCRJ Lakers (7 March) and Lugano (9 March), while Lausanne would have to lose all three games in rounds 50-52.

However, a win against SCB would have another positive (side) effect. If they beat the Mutzen, the Zug team would be sure of 8th place. In the event of a play-in, this means that even if they fail to reach play-in round 1, they would still be guaranteed a place in the second play-in round.

But the EVZ camp doesn’t like to do the maths. Instead, they want an away win in Bern and can then consult the table again. In the three season duels with the Mutzen so far, the home team has always come out on top. However, the last meeting was more than three months ago. After taking an early 3:0 lead, EVZ won 4:2 thanks to goals from Hofmann, Kubalik, Wingerli and Vozenilek.