At the end of the 51st round in the National League, one thing is clear: EVZ can no longer be caught by ninth-placed SC Bern, but can no longer catch seventh-placed Rappi either – so Zug finish the regular season in eighth place. And because the SCRJ Lakers are also safely in seventh place with one round to go, all decisions have been made regarding Play-In Round 1 and EVZ.

– EVZ will face the SCRJ Lakers in Play-In Round 1 – as they will this Saturday evening.

– Whoever has the better aggregate score after two games is through to the play-offs. If the score is tied after 120 minutes, an endless overtime follows at 5-on-5 – until a goal is scored.

– Zug will play at home in the OYM hall on Thursday, 12 March at 8 pm. The away game is on Saturday, 14 March at 8 p.m. in the St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena.

If the EVZ fails at the first play-in hurdle of Rapperswil, it will get a second chance. They would then face the winner of the play-in round 1 between SC Bern and EHC Biel on 16 and 18 March in the same format. The Zug team would play the second leg at home in the OYM hall on 18 March at 8 pm.

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

The opponent would be HC Davos or Fribourg-Gottéron. If the EVZ and the SCRJ Lakers make the playoffs, coach Benoît Groulx’s team will face HC Davos. If a team in 9th or 10th place qualifies for the playoffs alongside the EVZ, we will face Fribourg. In any case, the playoff quarter-finals would start on Friday, 20 March with an away game. The first home game would be on Sunday, 22 March in the OYM hall.