The ZSC Lions wait a long time for a goal, but win the top-of-the-table clash against the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers 4:3 on penalties. The team from St. Gallen also earns at least one point in its seventh game.
The champions had been without a goal of their own for more than 120 minutes and since the 1-0 win against the SCL Tigers, but then the ZSC Lions scored two goals in the space of just over four minutes. Young Nicolas Baechler (34) and Canadian Derek Grant (39) turned the game against Rapperswil-Jona around from 0:1 to 2:1, but in the end it was only enough for two points.
In overtime, Sven Andrighetto missed the decision with a shot off the post 30 seconds before the end; in the penalty shootout, he scored twice and Denis Malgin once. Both returned after a short injury break.
The two teams only found their offensive power in the final period. However, the ZSC Lions were unable to hold on to a 3:1 lead, with Yannick-Lennart Albrecht equalizing with a deflection three and a half minutes before the end.
Nevertheless, the championship favorites still managed the desired reaction to their first defeat of the season on Saturday (0:2 in Freiburg). The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, who got off to a surprisingly good start to the season, lost in overtime for the third time in a row.