Congrats to Red Ice from Winterthur. Good Luck in the NLB.
It was a good and a very even game.Red Ice was a bit luckier(1:0 was never a fair goal ) and scored 3 times more then Winterthur. I wouldn't say that Red Ice doesn't earn that title. They played good, but Winterthur wasn't as bad as the result was (3:0).
Nice to have one more team in the National League, though I'm still a bit worried about Martigny's capacity to sustain an NLB team.
It would be nice to have a 12 teams league at some point in the future, but I'm not sure any amateur team is interested in joining. Maybe a Chur or Herisau will want to be back in the NLB at some point, or maybe a team from the Zurich area? Having Arosa back at some point would be nice, but I have no idea if they could afford it.
I read Herisau has a financiel problems, so I don't think they will go back in nlb anytime soon.
The teams from Zurich area:
I could only say for sure, that Winterthur won't play in NLB anytime soon.(Better a Championchip contender in 1. Liga every year,then one of the worst NLB teams)
Bülach: I don't know what they plan, but they had a strong team this year and they sing some good players for next year, if they only want be a top 1. Liga team or if they want in nlb I can't say.
Dübendorf has a strong roster every year, but they don't seem to be interested in NLB.
The only Team in our east group, from which I know that they plan with NLB is Chiasso. But if Ambri lose in the NLA/NLB barrage, ambri don't need a nlb partnership team anymore.
Zurich could have come back in the 3rd, yet they didn't and what a move behind by Vermin again.
I liked the solo move by Cunti (again!) that lead to the powerplay which could have allowed the Lions to come back.
Already in the first game Cunti made a same solo ... before the end ... when frustration must have been at its height ! This guy has a hell of talent. I really whish him to be in the Nati !
While i like violent hockey, while i like Bern, My team, i don't like what Morrant did, what a moron, what a poor showing up. Type of guy you don't miss the next game.
I very much like the fact that Bern is not winning because they have the best imports. They are winning because they have the most balanced roster with many swiss players who can contribute. And they have the best goalie of this playoffs.
I think Bern will win this on Thursday, on home ice.
They definitely have the best global roster ... Pluss and Rutheman haven't lost the cutting edge i tought ! and the young guys are dynamite.
I particularly love their positioning. It is impressive how, most of the time, they seem to be in advance on the ZSC players. They also seem to be playing simply faster.
Buhrer is still playing well ... and helped by luck (part of a good goalie) ... in big games.
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I am still impressed and pleased by some Swiss players in the ZSC roster.
Particularly Cunti. (i wrote on the national team thread what i thought about him).
If you talk about Cunti and how good he plays you also have to mention Vermin. What a smart player, very skilled probably a little bit too small for an NHL-career, but he could dominate the Swiss league.
If you talk about Cunti and how good he plays you also have to mention Vermin. What a smart player, very skilled probably a little bit too small for an NHL-career, but he could dominate the Swiss league.
I sure am pleased with Vermin, Froideveaux, Scherwey and Furrer, Berger, ... even the "old" Rutheman. By many on the Bern side. Yet since they won and i am all for them, i just wanted to give credit to ZSC players. More of a respect and fairplay affair and not to be to "heavy".
well, however this finals will end up. We knew already after the CL-win of the Lions, that they can play a tactical gameplan close to perfection.... and they showed it again in this final (and before in the POs). But the SCB does look to be on the same level tactically. Impressive how well they move as a unit on D, aggressive and compact as well. It seems like they are always close to the opponent, plus they cover the passing lines very good. (In that way it reminds me a bit of the D-system of FC Barcelona)
Impressive, how well Scherwey covered Cunti yesterday. and it's a pleasure to watch Jobin, how agile and smart this guy still plays on D. (the scene where Ambühl tried to get rid of him with 3 or 4 sharp turns at the boards... I mean there aren't many guys who could handle those moves but Jobin came closer and closer till Ambühl lost the control of the puck).
14 games against Morant. While I think such ape-like behavior doesn't belong in hockey and deserves a harsh punishment, how can you justify it when you have the Heins and Forsters of the league getting away with less than 10 games for possible career ending assaults?
I guess a part of this 14 games is also explained by the fact that he doesn't play and his only seconds on the ice are used for that.
I wouldn't be surprised it was mandated by the coach.
Would i be a ZSC player, i wouldn't mis him the following game.
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To me the SCB is well superior tactically ... i am impressed by the fact that their is always a SCB player close to the puck. They simply, by virtue of proximity, consequence of great positioning.