The ZSC Lions inflict the first defeat in these playoffs on HC Davos. The Zurich team wins the first semi-final game against the record champions 6-1 at home.
29.03.2025, 22:38
29.03.2025, 22:42
SDA
The fact remains: Zurich SC is a home power in the playoffs. Since moving to the new arena in Zurich-Altstetten, the Lions have only had to concede defeat to EHC Biel in the decisive phase of the championship (twice in a 4-0 loss in the 2023 semi-final). The record: 17 wins, 2 defeats.
The HCD had recently managed to win four times in a row at the Zurich Hockey Temple. On Saturday, however, the Grisons did not give the impression that they were ZSC's opponents to fear. The Lions made the difference early on with three goals between the 15th and 17th minutes.
ZSC: 3 power plays, 2 goals
The home team impressed with efficiency and a strong power play. Dean Kukan scored on the first Davos penalty with a powerful long-range shot to make it 1:0, while Derek Grant deflected a shot from Mikko Lehtonen to make it 3:0 on Zurich's second power play. In between, Sven Andrighetto had caught HCD goalie Sandro Aeschlimann from an acute angle.
Zurich's goal festival towards the end of the opening period followed a lively start with top chances on both sides. ZSC goalie Simon Hrubec had to intervene several times in dire straits and did so brilliantly, as he did in the quarter-final series against Kloten.
His counterpart Sandro Aeschlimann was in no way inferior to the Czech in the attractive opening phase, but was unable to maintain the high level. After Willy Riedi made it 4-0 in the 34th minute, Aeschlimann had already conceded as many goals in Game 1 as he had previously in the quarter-final series against EV Zug, which he won with a commanding 4-0 victory. Aeschlimann's save percentage in Game 1 was only 88 percent.
Davos foreign fraction not a factor
The highly praised Davos foreign fraction, which had played great against the EVZ and scored 12 of 16 goals, also failed to do much on Saturday. The Czech Filip Zadina at least managed to score a consolation goal five minutes before the end to make it 1:5. Six-time playoff goalscorer Adam Tambellini, who has been absent recently due to neck pain, was unable to make a decisive impact on his return.
Telegram:
ZSC Lions - Davos 6:1 (3:0, 2:0, 1:1)
12000 spectators. - SR Kaukokari (FIN)/Piechaczek (GER), Fuchs/Stalder. - Goals: 15th (14:05) Kukan (Lammikko/powerplay goal) 1:0. 16th (15:55) Andrighetto (Rohrer) 2:0. 17th (16:51) Grant (Lehtonen, Andrighetto/powerplay goal) 3:0. 34th Riedi (Sigrist) 4:0. 40. (39:30) Baltisberger (Zehnder, Kukan) 5:0. 55. Zadina (Knak) 5:1. 57. Baechler (Marti, Henry) 6:1. - Penalties: 2 times 2 minutes against ZSC Lions, 3 times 2 minutes against Davos. - PostFinance top scorers: Frödén; Tambellini.
ZSC Lions: Hrubec; Kukan, Geering; Weber, Marti; Kinnunen, Lehtonen; Ustinkov; Rohrer, Malgin, Andrighetto; Frödén, Lammikko, Zehnder; Sigrist, Grant, Riedi; Baltisberger, Baechler, Henry; Segafredo.
Davos: Aeschlimann; Andersson, Jung; Fora, Dahlbeck; Honka, Gross; Guebey, Van der Kaaij; Stransky, Ryfors, Tambellini; Knak, Nussbaumer, Zadina; Wieser, Egli, Ambühl; Waidacher, Gredig, Parrée.
Remarks: ZSC Lions without Denis Hollenstein, Trutmann (both injured), Yannick Blaser (suspended) and Balcers (supernumerary foreigner), Davos without Barandun, Corvi, Frehner, Kessler, Nordström (all injured), Lemieux and McShane (both supernumerary foreigners).
