Strong box play and Stauffacher. Basel also wins at the GCK Lions
(Report: Reto Büchler)
After an early two-goal deficit, the Basel team turned the game in their favor. The better efficiency, the Basel fans, a very good outnumbered game and an outstanding goalie Stauffacher, especially at the end, made the difference.
Once the Basel fans arrive, things are underway
Things didn’t look good for EHC Basel. Six and a half minutes had only been played when the Young Lions were already leading 2-0. After Basel’s first power play, defender Blaser got to the goal in a good position and hit the crossbar via the edge of the goal. Only a short time later, Schwendeler was able to assert himself against the Basel defender and caught Stauffacher through the narrow gap between his pads. After around 10 minutes, the Basel fans, who had arrived a little later, spoke out loudly for the first time and the Basel game immediately got better. Stukel had his first opportunity when he ran into a GCK cross pass, but was unable to beat Ruppelt one-on-one. Supinski then wins the faceoff again and passes to Stukel, who hammers the puck onto the post. Then Supinski is there with the follow-up shot and finally Schaub, who is a shovel’s length faster than the GCK defender. At the end of the third it also works in the power play. Stukel drives into the attacking third and shoots the ball wonderfully to equalize.
Good defensive lines in the middle section
In the middle section, both defensive groups were strong and didn’t allow much. In the middle of the game, the hosts had the chance to have a double majority for the first time. The outnumbered game, which could be described as Basel’s weakness in the first third of the season, now worked almost perfectly. On the other hand, Supinski was hindered in his attempt to score. Now GCK also showed that they can play boxing. An ideal attack by Stukel on Kummer was the origin of Basel’s first lead. He saw Rouiller coming at speed. Basel’s defender doesn’t hesitate for long and scores to make it 3-2.
Stauffacher almost drives Lions to despair
The first few minutes of the final third were initially characterized by caution until Kummer was able to turn around unhindered in the attack zone and get the target ready. Ruppelt can only bounce his shot away. Barbei is ready and scores Basel’s fourth goal. Then Brügger is unlucky with his shot on goal and only hits the post. The Basel team can benefit from the opponent’s mistakes in this phase and have a lot of possession. After a frustrating foul by Graf and the subsequent five-minute penalty for checking the boards, this situation intensified. However, no profit could be made from the many deals. Shortly before the penalty expired, Stauffacher was there with a “big save” in which he brilliantly parried against two GCK strikers who were running towards him alone.
Curious final phase
This was the starting signal for a curious final phase. First Basel survived another penalty, then Brügger lost the duel against Ruppelt after a solo run. There were three minutes left to play when the referee called a penalty. Stauffacher was of the opinion that this was reported against Zurich and ran out of the gate. Luckily he was back between the posts in time. But not only Nater (cross-check) but also Kummer (hold) were ordered to the penalty box, which caused a lot of discussion between the referees and the Basel players and coach. However, it didn’t stay at three against five, but soon there were six Zurichers in front of Stauffacher. ready to score the next goal. The Basel goalkeeper drove the Lions to despair again and didn’t allow any more goals. After his last save – Basel again at full strength – the puck falls in front of Rexha, who hits the empty goal for the final result of 2:5.
After this great success there is not much time to recover. EHC Basel will face HC Sierre in its fourth away game in a row in Valais on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
GCK Lions – EHC Basel 2:5 (2:2, 0:1, 0:2)
Küsnacht artificial ice rink – 152 spectators
Referee: Loïc Ruprecht; Geoffrey Jordi; Pascal Nater, Sandro Baumgartner
Top scorer season: Stukel (Basel); Neuenschwander (GCK)
Best player game: Rouiller (Basel); Meier (GCK)
Penalties 5 times 2 minutes against Basel; 4 times 2 minutes and 1 time 5 minutes against GCK
Shots on goal: Basel 35 GCK 31 (7:10, 12:12, 12:13)
Goals: 5. Blaser (Pinana, Backman) 1:0. 7. Schwenderler 2:0. 11. Schaub (Stukel, Supinski) 2:1. 18. Stukel (Supinski, Brügger) 2:2. 40. Rouiller (sorrow) 2:3. 45. Barbei (Kummer, Sturny) 2:4. 60. Rexha 2:5
Remarks: 11. Post shot Stukel. 46. Brügger hits the post. 59. Timeout GCK.
EHC Basel: Stauffacher (ET: Keienburg); Zubler, Rouiller; Aeschbach, Nater; Bircher, Bachofner; Törmänen; Stukel, Supinski, Schaub; Sturny, Kummer, Barbei; Liniger, Brügger, Moser; Tschudi, Rexha, Diezi. HC Eric Himelfarb. AC: Michel Zeiter. Basel without: Henauer, Haller, Rhyn, Füllmann, Rossi, Küng, Huber, Näf.
GCK Lions: Ruppelt (ET: Metzger); Pinana, Blaser; Schwendler, Sejejs; Ustinkov, Murer; Voegeli, Buchli; Bukarts, Neuenschwander, Leone; Truog, Böhler, Spring; Greuter, Backman, Graf; Gruber, Meier, Segafredo. HC: Marco Bayer.
Other games: Thursday: Bellinzona – Chur 4:3. Friday: Olten – Winterthur 2:4. Visp – La Chaux-de-Fonds 1:3. Thurgau – Sierre 4:1
Table: 1. La Chaux-de-Fonds 13 games / 29 points. 2. Basel 13/29. 3. Thurgau 14/25. 4. Sierre 13/24. 5. Visp 13/21. 6. Winterthur 14/21. 7. GCK Lions 13/16. 8. Olten 13/15. 9. Chur 13/14. 10. Bellinzona 13/4.
