EV Zug is an old nemesis of the ZSC Lions – the shameful defeat after a 3-0 lead in the 2022 play-off final still resonates today. But at the start of the semi-final series, the people of Zurich confidently shook off their opponents like an annoying fly.
Zurich lightness personified: top scorer Derek Grant is celebrated by the ZSC fans for his recent hat trick.
Michael Buholzer / KEYSTONE
There is a prevailing question in Swiss ice hockey that has been going on for months. It is: Who should stop these ZSC Lions? Even in the seventh month of the championship, no meaningful answer can be found, on the contrary: At the start of the play-off semi-final series against EV Zug, the ZSC followed up with the next demonstration of power.
The Zurich team outclassed their opponents 5-2. They didn’t let themselves be deterred by an early deficit and turned the game around in the middle third with four goals within just under six minutes. After the 4:1 in the 38th minute, Zug’s goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni was substituted.
The ZSC power play has shone so far in the play-offs with absolutely fabulous values
Genoni had to be overcome three times in the power play after Zug’s defense chief Niklas Hansson was given a five-minute plus game-time disciplinary penalty for a stick strike. “The penalty made the difference,” summed up ZSC coach Marc Crawford. His team has so far exploited outnumbering opportunities with breathtaking efficiency: ZSC has scored seven power play goals in five games, with a success rate of 43.75 percent that is both phenomenal and unsustainable in the long term.
The ZSC has not lost a game in this play-off and presents itself as a collective without any weaknesses. And can afford to have surplus players sitting in the stands who would represent a clear upgrade in rival Zug’s lineup: the young gems Nicolas Baechler and Joel Henry. The former national striker Simon Bodenmann.
Sometimes it’s worth bringing in observers from half a distance to understand a team’s strengths. As coach of HC Lugano and Geneva/Servette, Chris McSorley fought many battles with ZSC. His attention is now focused on realizing an ambitious hall project in Sierre. And about managing the fortunes of the local Swiss League team. But McSorley has remained a keen observer of the National League, saying: “The ZSC is like the Chinese army. Thanks to the GCK Lions farm team, it has a practically inexhaustible pool of players. ZSC was the logical qualification winner. And he would be a logical master, the depth and quality of the squad are unmatched.
Top scorer Derek Grant scores his second hat trick in a row
The ZSC has so far lived up to this claim impressively in this play-off. Zug is responsible for probably the most painful play-off disgrace in ZSC history, the 2022 final, which was lost despite a 3-0 lead under coach Rikard Grönborg, who was soon sacked. It would have been conceivable that Zug’s early lead on Monday evening awakens the ghosts of the past. But as in the quarter-finals against Biel, the people of Zurich were not deterred. The match winner was once again the Canadian Derek Grant, who scored his second hat trick in a row. And he summed up the ZSC’s current self-image with one sentence: “If we play our game, it will be difficult for every opponent.” And then he said that he had used the days off until the start of the semi-final series for a tourist trip to Lucerne. There is no better way to illustrate the current looseness surrounding the ZSC.
Grant, 33, was not hired in the summer because of his offensive qualities, but because he was supposed to help the ZSC with water displacement and leadership qualities after many years in the NHL. Grant exceeded all expectations, and not just because of his seven play-off goals. His contract was extended early to 2025 in February.
Thanks to the top scorer Grant, the people of Zurich hold all the trump cards against EVZ. Their squad is better equipped, they are healthy and rested. After the 4-0 win in the quarterfinals against Biel, they had a nine-day break, while Zug had to struggle against SC Bern for seven games until Saturday. The EVZ is also hurt by the absence of top scorer Grégory Hofmann, whose season ended in February due to a foot injury. In contrast to the ZSC, the EVZ is not the “Chinese army”; It wouldn’t be surprising if, as the outsider’s powers wane, the resistance also fades at some point during this series.