A look at the NLA after 20 rounds

Let's start with the disappointing ones. Like SC Bern or EV Zug who find themselves 9th and 10th and will have to do something about their scoring departments.  A minus 8 for Bern and an even worse minus 16 for Zug in goald differential just aren't good enough for two clubs who's aspiration is to win the Championship, nothing less.

On the bright side, what the hell is going on with HC Ambri-Piotta? The little village club that normally finds itself in the lower ranks is riding the wave of success with a whopping plus 14 goal differential, ranked second just one point behind HC Davos.

Which brings us to the usual suspects. HC Davos, the ZSC Lions and last years finalist, HC Fribourg find themselves on first, third and fith in the ranks. Squeezing in fourth are the Kloten Flyers who many expected to be grounded in the lower stands after the turbulences of the past season but they've proven their critics wrong so far.

Oh wait, we also have the usual teams that make their fans cry and causing the beer to be tossed into the stands instead to be drank as result of non-existent wins. These are EHC Biel with a -19 and a point per game average but there's one team trying even harder to win the inglorious last spot: The Rapperwil-Jona Lakers with a -30!! goal differential and disappointing 14 points out of 20 games. Both teams will have to massively step up or the Play Outs will be a reality a lot faster than they think.

So for some teams, the one week national team break may just have come at the right time to re-evaluate and charge some much needed energy.

Tweets by @eurohockey