Team Canada wins Spengler Cup 2015

After a hard fought win over Davos, Team Canada was prepared to face HC Lugano who beat the KHL representative Automobilist Yekaterinburg in a 3-0 win. In the 9th minute the Luganesi scored the first goal of the final by Gregory Hofmann, assisted by Alessio Bertaggia and Ilari Filppula. But the Canadians didn't let that goal distract their game. Keaton Ellerby in the 16th minute equalized the score and kept up the pressure throughout the period. 

At the beginning of the second period, Lugano got a chance with a one-man advantage but weren't able to capitalize on Jeff Glass. Instead, Derek Roy scored the second goal for Canada, assisted by SC Bern's Cory Conacher. The Maple Leafs were an example of how efficiency can work. The clock showed that 5 minutes were over in the second when Tom Pyatts goal made it 3-1. 2 goals out of 6 shots wasn't too bad and Lugano wasn't able to react straight away. On the other hand, Canada gave their opponent too many power play opportunities. Derek Roy's hooking penalty led to a chance for Alessandro Chiesa who was handed a pass by Damien Brunner and scored the second goal and trailed the Canadians 3-2 after 33 minutes. 

6 minutes were played in the third period when Canada's defense handled he puck a little too lightly and Bertaggia was able to steal the puck away and fire a shot towards Merzlikins but it was his team mate Hofmann who deflected the shot and put Lugano back into the game. The back and forth on the scoring continued. 3 minutes later Aaron Johnson skated behind the opposing goal, passed the puck into the offensive zone in front of the goal where the puck deflected off Matthew Lombardi's skate and Matt D'Agostini took a chance with a slapshot from behind the face-off circle and beat Merzlikins a fourth time. Canada now with better chances and more pressure on Lugano's goal. Merzlikins kept his team in the game with a number of saves in the minutes following the 4th goal. With a minute left in regulation, coach Doug Shedden took his goalie off the ice for a sixth attacker but Lugano had problems even getting through the neutral zone. Guy Boucher was absolutely happy "I'm lucky to have had such a great team" he told the Swiss Television with a rough voice and he might have caught the attention of one or the other NHL team which Boucher has said was his goal in the near future. 

On a side note, Fredi Pargätzi, the president of the tournament stepped down after 25 years and handed over the responsibilities to Marc Gianola, an ex Davos-Player who's sweater is hanging in the rafters of the stadium. Team Canada will definitely be part of the 2016 edition but what lies ahead of next year is unclear, the contract negotiations will surely start soon and the organizers will do everything they can to keep the fan favorite team which also generates a lot of interest overseas. 

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