In their last two games against Lausanne HC (6-2 win) and SC Bern (3-2 loss after overtime), Zug have shown an upward trend in terms of play. The next three points should come against the SCRJ Lakers on Thursday. After a series of defeats, they have managed to turn things around and have won twice recently. Thanks to their 3-0 win against HC Lugano on Sunday, they have moved closer to the EVZ in the standings: In eighth place, Rapperswil-Jona are two points behind Zug (6th). The St. Gallen team won the first meeting of the season 4:3.

The top scorer in a Lakers jersey is Malte Strömwall with 20 points (10 goals and 10 assists). The 30-year-old Swede, who has taken over from long-time leading player Roman Cervenka, is the team’s only player in the National League’s top 20. The Zug team has two, Daniel Vozenilek (number 1) and Jan Kovar (number 8). In addition, Grégory Hofmann, who has been out injured for some time, is preparing to make up ground: In the last two encounters, he collected 4 of his total of 10 scorer points – and has thus surpassed the 200-point mark in an EVZ jersey.

Both teams have a long list of absentees. For the SCRJ Lakers, ex-Zug player Yannick-Lennart Albrecht and Emil Djuse are newcomers after last weekend.