HCD cracks Zurich's playoff fortress

The ZSC Lions had won 19 times in a row in their home arena in the playoffs since the quarter-final exit three years ago against Biel, but then a stable Davos broke the spell. The Zurich team got off to a furious start and created chances by the minute in the first twelve minutes. The 1:0 by defender Dean Kukan, who caught HCD goalie Sandro Aeschlimann with a backhand shot over the catching hand, was a meagre reward - and the Lions had almost cried out.

Davos took control of the game in the second half of the opening period and when Tino Kessler equalized in the 24th minute, it was deserved, albeit somewhat fortunate. After he had first knocked over the puck, it fell right in front of the Grisons player's stick again. The 2:1 lead was also the result of presence in front of the opposing goal. In the battle for the puck, HCD forward Brendan Lemieux and ZSC goalie Simon Hrubec practically wiped the puck over the line together.

There was no energetic response from Zurich, and even with four minutes of overtime there was hardly any danger apart from a deflection from Vinzenz Rohrer that hit the crossbar. The visitors did better. Nine minutes before the end, Calle Andersson converted an exemplary counter-attack via Kessler to make it 3:1. Davos' reaction was impressive when Juho Lammikko brought the tension back with 2:3 five minutes before the end. Rasmus Asplund restored the two-goal lead 45 seconds later.

The qualification winners from Davos have thus seamlessly continued their outstanding season so far in the playoffs. On Sunday, the Grisons now have the chance to qualify for the final at home for the first time since their 31st and last championship title in 2015.

Telegram:

ZSC Lions - Davos 2:5 (1:0, 0:2, 1:3)

12'000 spectators (sold out). - SR Ruprecht/Tscherrig, Bachelut/Schlegel. - Goals: 7. Kukan (Lammikko, Frödén) 1:0. 24. Kessler (Knak) 1:1. 32. Lemieux (Dahlbeck) 1:2. 51. Andersson (Kessler, Frehner) 1:3. 55. (54:49) Lammikko (Geering) 2:3. 56. (55:34) Asplund (Dahlbeck) 2:4. 59. Kessler (Barandun) 2:5 (into the empty net). - Penalties: 3 times 2 minutes against Davos. - PostFinance top scorers: Malgin; Stransky.

ZSC Lions: Hrubec; Kukan, Lehtonen; Weber, Marti; Trutmann, Geering; Schwendeler; Balcers, Malgin, Sigrist; Frödén, Lammikko, Denis Hollenstein; Rohrer, Grant, Riedi; Baltisberger, Baechler, Schreiber; Gruber.

Davos: Aeschlimann; Frick, Dahlbeck; Andersson, Jung; Fora, Barandun; Guebey, Gross; Stransky, Ryfors, Lemieux; Aebli, Asplund, Zadina; Frehner, Waidacher, Kessler; Knak, Egli, Parrée.

Remarks: ZSC Lions without Andrighetto, Bader (both injured) and Sundström (extra foreigner), Davos without Corvi, Gredig, Luca Hollenstein, Nussbaumer (all injured), Claesson, Tambellini and Taponen (all extra foreigners). ZSC Lions without goalkeeper from 56:03 to 58:15.