EVZ welcomes HC Lugano to the BOSSARD Arena today.

Hard to believe, but true: In the BOSSARD Arena, where it has already won seven times in a row this season, the EVZ has not left the ice as a winner after 60 minutes once in the last six games – Dan Tanges’ team has only picked up 5 out of 18 possible points in this time!

ZUG FACES CHALLENGES: LUGANO AND BERNE AS THE NEXT HURDLES

The next opportunities to end the black run of results in front of their own fans come today against Lugano and next Friday against Bern – two teams that, unlike Zug, are dependent on points for direct playoff qualification. They are also two teams that the Central Swiss have beaten convincingly away from home in their last encounters (6:2 in Bern, 4:1 in Lugano). Meanwhile, bad luck with injuries is forcing the coaches to make changes to the team line-up practically every match day. On Thursday, the bad news was announced that Grégory Hofmann will have to undergo foot surgery and will be out for the rest of the season. In the first period against Fribourg, defenseman Niklas Hansson joined the long-term absentees Brian O’Neill, Tobias Geisser and Riley Sheen with an upper-body injury. Only Attilio Biasca is expected back in the team against Bern.

You can find all information on the current staffing situation in the Medical Report.

EVZ vs HC LUGANO IN TEAM COMPARISON

Against Lugano, the EVZ even leads the direct season comparison 3:0 in wins and 9:0 in points. The match-winners in the last game against Lugano were goalkeeper Luca Hollenstein at the back and Lino Martschini at the front with three goals. The EVZ top scorer (39 points) scored his 22nd goal of the season against Fribourg.

RETURNERS AND NEW ENTRIES AT HC LUGANO

Ex-Zug player Calvin Thürkauf already has 53 scoring points to his name. His line partner Daniel Carr is expected back in the team against the EVZ. The Canadian forward has been missing since December 6 due to a training injury, has only played 34 of 46 games and still has as many scoring points as Lino Martschini. American defenseman Matt Tennyson (33), who was signed this week, could get his first chance to play in Zug. In contrast to Giovanni Morini, for whom the season is over after breaking his femur on January 23rd, as it was for Markus Granlund.