The ZSC Lions are the second team to reach the playoff semi-finals. The defending champions sealed the deal with a 5-2 home win in their fifth quarter-final game against Kloten - and not without some effort.
21.03.2025, 22:28
21.03.2025, 22:33
SDA
On his 31st birthday, Sven Andrighetto saved the ZSC Lions from an unpleasant extra round next Sunday in Kloten. The international forward had scored early to make it 1:0 and equalized for the visitors at 2:2 after a double strike by Axel Simic just six minutes before the end. 25 seconds later, Juho Lammikko scored the winning goal to make it 3:2 - with his skate, but without a clear kicking motion. The Finn then also scored into the empty net to make it 4:2.
In the first 24 minutes, there had been little doubt that the ZSC Lions would advance to the semi-finals with their third home win against Kloten and that Wednesday's defeat at Schluefweg would remain a mere side note. Then Simic equalized out of the blue with a shot on which ZSC goalie Simon Hrubec, who had returned after a short break due to illness, did not look good - and everything changed in one fell swoop.
Kloten now fought back energetically and the Zurich team was no longer able to develop its offensive game as desired. In addition, Kloten goalie Ludovic Waeber clearly outshone his renowned counterpart and made several strong saves, especially against Denis Malgin. In the end, however, ZSC maintained its flawless playoff record in Zurich-Altstetten and celebrated its eleventh home win in a row.
They now have a few days' break until the semi-finals on March 29, with their opponents yet to be determined. Kloten, on the other hand, will go on vacation with their heads held high after an outstanding season.
Telegram:
ZSC Lions - Kloten 5:2 (1:0, 0:1, 4:1)
12'000 spectators. - Referees Tscherrig/Stolc (SVK), Schlegel/Francey. - Goals: 4th Andrighetto (Grant, Geering) 1:0. 25th Simic 1:1. 42nd Simic (Ramel, Wolf) 1:2. 55th (54:13) Andrighetto (Malgin, Grant/powerplay goal) 2:2. 55th (54:38) Lammikko (Rohrer) 3:2. 60th (59:16) Lammikko (Grant, Frödén) 4:2 (into the empty net). 60 (59:42) Malgin 5:2 (into the empty net). - Penalties: 2 times 2 plus 5 minutes (Blaser) plus playing time (Blaser) against ZSC Lions, 4 times 2 minutes against Kloten. - PostFinance top scorers: Frödén; Ojamäki.
ZSC Lions: Hrubec; Kukan, Geering; Weber, Lehtonen; Kinnunen, Blaser; Ustinkov; Andrighetto, Malgin, Grant; Frödén, Lammikko, Zehnder; Rohrer, Sigrist, Riedi; Baltisberger, Baechler, Henry; Segafredo.
Kloten: Waeber; Niku, Profico; Grégoire, Wolf; Sataric, Steve Kellenberger; Sidler; Ojamäki, Morley, Meyer; Aberg, Audette, Ramel; Simic, Schäppi, Schreiber; Derungs, Diem, Weibel; Smirnovs.
Remarks: ZSC Lions without Hollenstein, Trutmann (both injured), Marti (suspended), Olsson, Schwendeler (both ) and Balcers (supernumerary foreigner), Kloten without Meier, Steiner (both injured), Aebi, Cuesta Flores, Deussen , Keller (all ) and Hawryluk (supernumerary foreigner). Kloten without goalkeeper from 58:03.
