Flyers, SC Bern take next step towards playoffs

Tonight was Luca Boltshausers first game as starting netminder and he got a few chances to prove he was worthy of replacing injured Martin Gerber in the starting minutes. The Flyers had the better start when Matthias Bieber took a wide pass from Lukas Stoop and beat Elvis Merzlikins above his leg pad a first time in the 3rd minute. Lugano's Walker took place on the bench for tripping just moments later and for once, the home team displayed an unusual coolness and scored the second goal by Peter Guggisberg just 20 seconds into the power play.

Lugano had to take a deep breath before getting into the game but they were rewarded with 2 powerplays in a row but weren't able to get on the board yet. Kloten definitely put more effort in their game in the starting minutes compared to their opponent. The puck was passed fast and precise, something that had haunted the Flyers and cost them many points during the regular season.

The break didn't stop the Flyers from coming on to Lugano further as Denis Hollenstein scored his 12th goal of the season with 4 minutes played in period two. This didn't mean that Boltshauser was out of work. Time after time the young netminder who signed in Kloten and had come from the Lions organisation at the beginning of this season deflected pucks out of nowhere but in the 25th minute he was beaten a first time by Raffaele Sannitz. By halftime, it seemed that the host had become a little sloppy and again it was Sannitz with his second goal of the evening in the 29th minute. Normally what would have happened in any given game that Kloten played this season, the Flyers would have become nervous and given away the lead but instead they remained calm. Corsin Casutt with a with a nice solo, outplayed goalie Merzlikins and gave his team the 2 goal lead back just seconds after Lugano's second goal. Sannitz wouldn't remain the only player with 2 goals tonight because 2 minutes later Casutt doubled down with the Flyers 5th goal of the game.

The final period began just like the previous two, with a quick goal. Only this time it was Lugano's Lorenz Kienzle with the 3rd goal just 2 minutes into the period. As the minutes played down, it seemed that both teams slowed down, chances were there but none of them challenged either Boltshauser or Merzlikins. But with 4 minutes left, Maxime Lapierre scored the 4th goal for Lugano and things got heated up as the bianconeri removed Merzlikins with a little more than a minute left but Kloten was able to get control of the puck and picked up the 3 points.

The Flyers took another step to secure a spot in the play offs tonight. They will play the SC Langnau Tigers twice before the regular season ends on Saturday. Bern also took 3 points against Servette-Genève which makes the whole situation around the 8th and final spot even tighter. Now 9th placed Lausanne will face Bern on Friday, this definitely will be a tough, yet exciting finish.

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