HC Davos made everything clear in the penultimate round of the regular season: thanks to an inspiring 4-2 win against the ZSC Lions and the simultaneous defeat in Lugano, HCD secured a place in the top 6, which means direct playoff qualification means secured.
A comeback win against the leader ZSC Lions – you have to achieve that first! HC Davos survived a 0-2 deficit after the first third on Saturday evening and ultimately won 4-2 in front of a sold-out crowd. After just under six minutes, Davos was 2-0 behind, the guests dominated the starting third and there was little going for the Graubünden team.
However, the HCD fought and showed the reaction they had hoped for in the middle third: A brace from Dennis Rasmussen brought the HCD back into the game – first with a power play goal, then with a deflected Fora shot. Shortly before the end of the third, the final momentum shift: After winning a face-off, the HCD switched quickly, Matej Stransky passed to Enzo Corvi, the Chur player passed to Dominik Egli, who sank a straightforward slapshot to make it 3-2.
In the final third, the Zurich team pushed for the equalizer again, but the Davos team defended cleverly and had secure support in the box with goalie Sandro Aeschlimann. At the end there was complete ecstasy in the Davos Ice Palace: Joakim Nordström made the home fans in the sold-out hall cheer with an empty net – the fourth win in the fourth game of the season against the Zurich team.
With the 4-2 win, HC Davos has separated its direct rivals Lugano by three points and can no longer be intercepted in the last game of the season – regardless of how the last Davos game ends on Tuesday in Ajoje. It is not yet clear whether the HCD will finish the regular season in fifth or sixth place; Lausanne or Zug are likely to be waiting for the HCD as quarter-final opponents.
New Spengler Cup participant announced
The German Ice Hockey League (DEL) is back at the Spengler Cup in Davos. As the Davos organizers announced on Friday, the Straubing Tigers will take part in the traditional tournament at the end of the year. The last time a DEL team played in the Spengler Cup was in 2018, the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. In addition to Straubing, Freiburg, Team Canada and the defending champion and host Davos are confirmed as participants.
(Image: HCD coach Josh Holden led his HCD directly into the playoffs in the first season/Sergio Brunetti/stockpix.it)
2024-03-02 22:11:47
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