Ice hockey: ZSC and Friborg are in the cup semifinals

When SC Langenthal knocked EVZ out of the cup (2: 1) five weeks ago, sporting director Kevin Schläpfer was so enthusiastic that he spontaneously donated pizza to the entire team. “Usually the underdog chance is that he can play at home and let the fans carry him. But we didn’t have that. And that’s why I can’t rate our performance high enough, ”the 51-year-old said.

Although spectators are not allowed against the leader of the National League ZSC, the Oberaargau are full of confidence before the game. “Despite the lack of atmosphere and läär sounded, the SCL will fight and win as usual,” reads a banner above the player bench. And Schläpfer himself says: “We hit the train. Then we can also beat the blade. But then the SCL is already behind after 162 seconds.

Chris Baltisberger is played from behind the goal by Garrett Roe. And he catches SCL goalkeeper Andri Henauer, who plays in injured starting goalkeeper Pascal Caminada.

At ten minutes, the home team made a power play after Fredrik Pettersson fouled Serge Weber, but let it go unused. Bitter: 29 seconds after the Lions are back full, Denis Hollenstein scores 2-0. And last but not least, Luca Capaul, who plays for the first time this season after breaking his collarbone, makes it 3-0 before the first break.

Rikard Grönborg’s team leaves nothing to be desired. Langenthal has a chance to cut the game down to 1: 3. Captain Stefan Tschannen and Vincenzo Küng run alone towards ZSC goalkeeper Ludovic Waeber, but miss.

The low point? After 35 minutes, goalkeeper Henauer collides with ZSC defender Phil Baltisberger and is hit on the head by his skid.

SCB defender Mika Henauer’s 18-year-old brother does not return to the ice in the final third. Suspected concussion! Now the Oberaargau, losing for the first time after nine (!) Wins in a row, also have a problem with the goalkeeper. Number 3 Nick Imhof conceded five more goals. Schläpfer sits in dismay in the stands.

The best – C. Baltisberger (ZSC): Keep collecting points. This time 3.

The plum – Vincenzo Küng (SCL): Missed 1: 3 in the middle of the game.

The objectives: 3. C. Baltisberger (Roe) 0: 1. 13. Hollenstein (C. Baltisberger, Suter) 0: 2. 19. (18:00) Capaul (Pettersson) 0: 3. 44. Roe (Andrighetto) 0: 4 48. Schäppi (Prassl, P. Baltisberger) 0: 5. 49. Andrighetto (Roe, C. Baltisberger) 0: 6. 58. Berni (Suter / SH!) 0: 7. 59. Geering (Hollenstein, P. Baltisberger) 0: 8.

The claim is not blatant: Ambri only has a chance to crown the last season in the incomparable Valascia with a Cup title. To do this, the Freiburg hurdle must first be cleared in these quarter-finals.

Neither team has made it past the quarter-finals since the 2014/15 Cup was resumed. In this season of farewell to this knockout competition, at least one of the teams can polish up these stats a bit. After all: Ambri can already look back on a title in club history (1962).

The Biancoblù starts better. Zwerger has the first dangerous opportunity of the game (minute 5), Dal Pian hits the post from the slot (12). Grief is not particularly physical. Above all, the people of Freiburg contain themselves gracefully. There could be a plan behind this, knowing that Ambris goalkeeper Julius Nättinen has scored seven of his twelve goals in the championship on power play.

The Leventines get their first power play opportunity shortly before the second break, but they remain unsuccessful. They are already 0-2 behind. After both strokes, the referees dedicate themselves to the video studies. When Desharnais 1-0, they check to see if it was preceded by a high stick. In DiDomenico’s 2-0, a hand pass from Mottet was suspected behind the goal. TV pictures don’t break this down.

Coach Luca Cereda’s enthusiasm about it is the strongest emotion Ambri has ever seen. The Biancoblù are almost never dangerous to the people of Freiburg. Their offensive actions are rarely convincing and pile up in the corners, which is unusual for the otherwise down-to-earth and passionate Leventines. The connection hit comes too late.

The best – David Desharnais (Freiburg). Thinker and host of the game, he has a lot of ice age.

The plum – Julius Nättinen (Ambri). For once, the goalkeeper goes pale, sometimes hardly any action is seen from him.

The objectives: 16. Desharnais (PP / Sprunger, DiDomenico) 0: 1. 31. DiDomenico 0: 2. 60. Zwerger (Nättinen, Fora) 1: 2.