EVZ is alive!

After two unlucky losses to start the series and a difficult Tuesday night in Game 3 in Davos, Zug struck back on Thursday, securing Game 4 with a convincing 5-2 victory.

Just 33 seconds in, it was clear that this game would be very different from the one two days earlier in Davos. Andreas Wingerli scored in the very first minute, and the sold-out OYM Hall erupted in cheers. Spurred on by the atmosphere, EVZ knew only one direction in the opening minutes, extending their lead to 3-0 thanks to goals from Tomas Tatar and Gregory Hofmann before the end of the first period. It was Zug’s best period in these playoff quarterfinals.

But the victory was far from over. Against the run of play, Davos pulled one back to make it 1-3 thanks to Stransky, and shortly afterward, they scored on the power play to make it 2-3 Zug trembled, but didn’t give up. The defense wobbled a bit at times, but today the pucks were going in: Sven Senteler scored the decisive 4-2 goal in the 47th minute, and shortly afterward, the game’s best player, Andreas Wingerli, made it 5-2. The game was effectively over, and the Zug crowd rose to their feet for a standing ovation in the final minute.

Thus, the early end to the season has been averted, at least for now. Game 5 takes place on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Davos. Onward!

Playoff Quarterfinal Overview

HCD (1.) – EVZ (8.) 3:1*

HCD – EVZ 4:3
EVZ – HCD 0:2
HCD – EVZ 7:3
EVZ – HCD 5:2
Game 5: Saturday, 28 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
possibly Game 6: Monday, 30 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 7: Wednesday, 1 April 8 pm: HCD – EVZ

Last year, after finishing fourth in the regular season, EVZ was swept by fifth-place HC Davos in the playoff quarterfinals – a 0-4 series loss. A year later, after three games, they are once again trailing 3-0. Again against Davos. But the circumstances are different. After a difficult season and qualifying for the playoffs via the play-ins, they were able to more than challenge the dominant regular-season champions in the first two games. Moreover, thanks to two solid team performances, victory was within reach in both games, but in the end, Davos’s more clinical finishing proved decisive against EVZ. Game 3 then got off to a disastrous start: After frustrating penalties and three early goals against, the game was effectively over in the zondacrypto Arena. Tonight, coach Benoît Groulx’s men have the chance to extend the series. One thing is clear: A win in front of their home crowd is absolutely essential. Otherwise, the season is over. A 0-3 deficit isn’t often overcome in the National League playoffs. But Zug usually knows how it’s done. So, let the curtain rise on Game 4. It starts at 8 p.m. in the OYM hall.

Playoff Quarterfinal Overview

HCD (1.) – EVZ (8.) 3:0*

HCD – EVZ 4:3
EVZ – HCD 0:2
HCD – EVZ 7:3
Game 4: Thursday, 26. March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 5: Saturday, 28 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
possibly Game 6: Monday, 30 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 7: Wednesday, 1 April 8 pm: HCD – EVZ

After two strong performances, EVZ got off to a disastrous start in Game 3 in Davos. Zug conceded three quick penalties. HCD was wide awake and capitalized on all three power play opportunities to take a 3-0 lead in less than ten minutes. Benoît Groulx called a timeout, but shortly afterward, Davos scored again, making it 4-0. The score became 5-0 in the second period. Then EVZ showed signs of life. First, Lindemann scored to make it 1-5, and then Riva added another to make it 2-5. HCD coach Holden called a coach’s challenge – and was wrong. Power play for EVZ! Would they make it 3-5 immediately? Not at all. Zug conceded a sixth goal just seconds into the powerplay, making it 2-6. It was symptomatic of the evening.

The game was over, and the final score was 3-7. Thus, EVZ trails 0-3 in the playoff quarterfinal series after three games. Game 4 will take place on Thursday in the OYM hall.

Playoff Quarterfinal Overview

HCD (1.) – EVZ (8.) 3:0*

HCD – EVZ 4:3
EVZ – HCD 0:2
HCD – EVZ 7:3
Game 4: Thursday, 26. March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 5: Saturday, 28 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
possibly Game 6: Monday, 30 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 7: Wednesday, 1 April 8 pm: HCD – EVZ

Two strong performances, two losses, trailing 0-2. That’s the EVZ’s takeaway after two of what will hopefully be many more games in this quarterfinal series. 

The only thing one could hold against the EVZ on Sunday was their finishing. The Zug team was the better side for over 60 minutes, but the Graubünden team, backed by the confidence of being the superior qualifying winner, was more clinical and thus celebrated their second victory in the series.

In Game 3, the team now needs to turn things around in terms of results as well. The EVZ are eagerly awaiting Coach Benoît Groulx’s lineup. On Sunday, Postfinance left top scorer Dominik Kubalík on the tribune. Daniel Vozenilek took his place. What will he decide today? Will Zug find their footing in this series?

We’ll find out tonight starting at 8 p.m. 

Another good performance, yet once again the hockey gods are not smiling on EVZ – once again Zug leaves the ice as losers and now trails 0-2 in the quarterfinal series.

On Sunday evening, EVZ could probably have played for hours and not a single Zug goal would have been scored. It’s possible that coach Benoît Groulx’s team would have gotten close, as the puck simply wouldn’t cross the line. Zug is the dominant team and should be leading after the first period. In the second period, the Zug team is neck and neck with the regular season champions, with Simon Knak scoring Davos’s opening goal shortly after the halfway mark. EVZ continues relentlessly, But the puck won’t cross the line.

Game 3 is already on Tuesday in Davos. 

EVZ almost shocked the dominant regular season champions. They came agonizingly close – but even in ice hockey, “what ifs” don’t exist.

So, it’s time to dust themselves off and move on. Fans saw a much-improved EVZ, especially in the second period. While Zug will have to swallow a bitter pill on Friday, they now know they can compete with this HCD. Or, as forward Mike Künzle put it to mysports immediately after the game: “We can get on the bus with our heads held high. That was one of our best performances this season, and I’m confident for the rest of the series.”

The action continues this Sunday. The first EVZ home game of this year’s playoffs kicks off at 8 p.m. A few tickets are still available. We’re looking forward to a fantastic atmosphere and aiming to even the series!

Playoff Quarterfinal Overview

HCD (1.) – EVZ (8.)

HCD – EVZ 4:3
Game 2: Sunday, 22 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
Game 3: Tuesday, 24 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
Game 4: Thursday, 26. March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 5: Saturday, 28 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
possibly Game 6: Monday, 30 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 7: Wednesday, 1 April 8 pm: HCD – EVZ

The EVZ—eighth in the regular season—held their own against the conference champion for 60 minutes. In the 52nd minute, Fabrice Herzog put Zug ahead 3–1. Was that the deciding goal? No. As so often this season, the HCD fought back, turned the game around before overtime began, won 4-3, and took a 1-0 lead in the series. 

The series continues on Sunday, March 22, at 8 p.m. Game 2 at the OYM Hall

HCD versus EVZ is a series that has many stories to tell even before the first puck drop. The two teams already met in the quarter-finals last season. Back then as qualifying fourth vs. qualifying fifth. What was supposed to be a close series ended in a slap in the face for the Zug team: HCD won the series 4-0. So EVZ still has a score to settle.

However, the omens are somewhat different a year later. Davos finished the qualifiers in a commanding first place with 117 points and go into the quarter-final series as clear favourites. Zug, on the other hand, can look back on a difficult regular season in which they even had to take a diversion via the play-in series.

A look at the four head-to-head meetings so far this season: EVZ lost both of their away games in the Landwasser Valley by a clear margin (1:5 and 1:4). It was a different story in the home games. Both times, the EVZ-HCD affair in the OYM hall went to penalties. Once the Zug team prevailed, once the Davos team.

The best thing about the most beautiful season in ice hockey: in the playoffs, everything starts from scratch again. Curtain up for Game 1 in the zondacrypto-Arena in Davos. It starts at 8 pm. With our live ticker, you’ll be right up close from the first face-off.

GAME PLAN

Game 1: Friday, 20 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
Game 2: Sunday, 22 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
Game 3: Tuesday, 24 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
Game 4: Thursday, 26. March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 5: Saturday, 28 March 8 pm: HCD – EVZ
possibly Game 6: Monday, 30 March 8 pm: EVZ – HCD
possibly Game 7: Wednesday, 1 April 8 pm: HCD – EVZ

Tickets for the two home games on Sunday, 22 March and Thursday, 26 March are on sale to the general public. Season tickets remain valid for the playoff quarter-finals.