Since the conclusion of the 50th round of the National League on Thursday evening, one thing is clear: EVZ will finish the regular season in 7th or 8th place and will therefore have to fight with three other teams for one of the two remaining playoff tickets in the play-in games.

How does the mode work in the play-ins?

The play-ins consist of two rounds.

As seventh or eighth in the regular season, EVZ will face the eighth or seventh team from the regular season in round 1. If EVZ wins the first and second leg, it is guaranteed a place in the play-offs.

If EVZ loses play-in round 1, it has a second chance to qualify for the playoffs in play-in round 2. There they would face the winner of play-in round 1 between the ninth and tenth-placed teams in the regular season. As in Play-In Round 1, the winner would prevail after a first-round tie. In this case, the EVZ would play the second leg at home – on Wednesday, 18 March.

 

What happens if a play-in duel ends in a draw?

The aggregate score after 120 minutes counts. This means that there is no extra time in the first leg, even if the match ends in a draw.

If the aggregate score is a draw after 120 minutes, an endless overtime follows. The game is played 5-on-5 until one team scores a goal.

 

When is EVZ’s home and away game?

That is not yet known on Friday, 6 March and depends on the final rank in the regular season. If EVZ finishes 7th, it will have its home game in Play-In Round 1 on Saturday, 14 March. If it finishes the regular season in 8th place, it will play at home in Play-In Round 1 on Thursday, 12 March.

If the EVZ has to play in Play-In Round 2, it would in any case have a home game on Wednesday, 18 March and play away on Monday, 16 March.

Puck drop for all play-in games is at 8 pm.

 

Are our play-in opponents already known?

But there are tendencies. In play-in round 1, the opponent is Lausanne or SCRJ Lakers.

In play-in round two, the EVZ would face Bern, the Tigers, Biel or Kloten.

 

And what is the name of our potential play-off opponent?

If the EVZ makes the play-offs via the play-in round, it is already clear that it will face the first or second-placed team from the regular season in the play-off quarter-finals. That means HC Davos or Fribourg-Gottéron.

If the EVZ finishes the regular season in 7th place, it is clear that it would face Fribourg-Gottéron if the play-in is successful.

If the EVZ finishes the regular season in 8th place, their play-off opponent – if they successfully complete the play-ins – will depend on the play-in performance of the team in 7th place.

In any case, a possible quarter-final series would start on Friday, 20 March. EVZ would first play away in Davos or Fribourg. The first home game would take place on Sunday, 22 March in the OYM hall.