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Bienne was not unworthy but ended up losing to a Genoni of the great days (3-2 after penalties). The Bernese can have regrets.
Toni Rajala’s teammates believed in it until the end.
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Dominating for a good part of the match, the Seelanders broke their teeth on Leonardo Genoni. Picked cold twice during the last third by Zugois just out of their box, Antti Törmänen’s men managed to pick up the score after a breathless end to the match. Missing the boat four times in extra time, the Bernese left the Bossard Arena with a defeat in their luggage and regrets.
40 minutes on the wheel hats
The first third was marked by the daunting rhythm printed by the two teams. Without a doubt, it was good hockey that was offered to the spectators of the Zug den during the 20 initial minutes. Biel managed to settle in the opposing camp, to submit the defending champion, but his number of shots was nothing prolific: 8 shots on target only. The best of them, a sending from Lööv diverted by a Genoni who thus won his one-on-one against the Swedish striker of HC Bienne.
In the second half, Biel returned to the ice with the same noble intentions. Speed again, speed always. The Zugois were even turned around by a visiting team giving the feeling of playing power play permanently. Seeing his players overwhelmed, Dan Tangnes was forced to ask for a time death to prevent hemorrhage. But ultimately, more than the coaching, the decisive element turned out to be Genoni. Lit three times by Rajala at the end of the period, the six-time Swiss champion got away with it each time.
Crazy end game
Failing to materialize its opportunities, Biel left EV Zug alive. And to be nice to the second best collective in the country, it has a cost. At the 48th minute, Gregory Hofmann put on a terrible throttle and went around van Pottelbherge as quietly as possible. A great way to celebrate your 100th match in the jersey of the Central Swiss club. In the aftermath, the home team drove the point home through Simion, who deflected a shot from Hansson at the blue.
Not admitting defeat, Biel reduced the gap in the 57th by Brunner. This goal ended more than 220 minutes of Zug invincibility. And the people of Biel did not stop there. A six-on-five strike from Brunner tied the two teams with just 50 remaining seconds to play. Another crazy scenario experienced by HC Biel this season!
End of series
An extension, three big saves from Genoni and a post from Rajala later gave way to a penalty shootout, won by the Zugois. With this defeat, the Seeland hockey players see their unbeaten streak come to an end. This began on the 11 last December.
Bossard Arena, 6360 spectators.
Referees: MM. Heibesen, Borga; Cattaneo, Duc.
Buts : 48e Hofmann (Kovar) 1-0, 53e Simion (Hansson, Hoffmann) 2-0, 57e Brunner (Lööv) 2-1, 59e Brunner (Rajala, Yakovenko/6c5) 2-2.
Tab : Hügeli 0-0, Martschini 0-0, Brunner 1-0, Senteler 1-1, Rajala 1-1, Kovar 2-1, Kofer 2-2, Lander 3-2, Künzle 3-2.
Zoug: Genoni; Sidler, Djoos, Wuthrich; Schlumpf, Cadonau, Hansson; Kovar, Senteler, Lander, Leuenberger; Hofmann, Zehnder, Herzog, De Nisco; Simion, Allenspach, Martschini, Suri. Coach: Dan Tangnes.
Biel: van Pottelbherge; Lööv, Grossmann, Forster, Stampfli, Yakovenko, Schneeberger, Délémont; Haas, Cunti, Sallinen, Froideveaux; Rajala, Künzle, Hofer, Schläpfer, Tanner; Hischier, Brunner, Hügli, Kessler. Entraîneur: Antti Törmänen.
Penalties: 4×2′ against Zug; 2×2′ against Biel.