Lions spoil Flyers home game with victory

4 minutes were played in the second game when Lions forward Ronald Kenins (Roughing) and Flyers Patrick von Gunten (Obstruction) were benched for 2 minutes. Both teams were up to a rather slow start. But with only 10 seconds left with the 4 on 4 situation it was Tomi Santala who scored Klotens first goal of the playoff final off a rebound from goalie Flüeler. Assists were given to Dupont and Bieber. Seven minutes played and the next Flyer was sent to the coolbox for Hooking, this time it was Michael Liniger but the boxplay worked well and so the didn't allow the Lions any chances. Seconds later it was Ronald Kenins with a solo and a five-hole on Gerber to scored the equalising goal for the Lions. With 14 minutes played it was Klotens turn for a powerplay as Andri Stoffel was sent out for Hooking but here as well, no powerplay goal and so the first period ended.

Even with no goals so far in the second period the game now had more intensity and a reason for that on Klotens side surely was the return of Peter Mueller who created chances, gave assists and made Lukas Flüeler work harder. With 9 minutes into the game, Vandermeer was benched for High Sticking but again no powerplay goal for the Lions. With halftime approaching it was Lions Captain Mathias Seger who got a chance to visit the bench for Hooking and yes, there was no goal added to the score of 1:1. Less than 2 minutes were left in the second period as Mick Dupont was benched for roughing. The Lions had one or the other chance to score the 2nd goal but some luck and Gerber kept the even score to the end of the period 2.

With the last period in full swing, it was Lions Reto Schäppi to forward Ryan Keller who scored the second goal after a defensive mistake by the Flyers. Now Kloten was forced to do more for the game by bringing the puck into the Lions zone. An unfriendly meeting between Bodenmann and Blindenbacher (both for Roughing) led to a 4 on 4 situation but neither team succeeded by scoring a goal. The last minutes approached and the Flyers now definitely had the upper hand, playing a 5 on 5 powerplay, bringing the puck in front of Flüeler. With a little less than 2 minutes remaining, Klotens coach took a time out, hoping to get the last out of the players but in the end it was not enough as the Lions won the second game of the serie and now lead 2:0.

While both teams played a solid defense, the first period revealed that when disturbed in front of the goal, the Lions were vulnerable, especially with Mueller back in team Kloten. But it was an individual mistake by the Flyers that cost them the victory but also the incapability to set up a power formation in the dying seconds of the game.

Both teams will return to the Hallenstadion this Saturday for game 3 which will be important for the Flyers to win.

Head Referees: Didier Massy, Stéphane Rochet
Linesmen: Gilles Mauron, Michael Tscherrig

Spectators @Kolping Arena: 7'624 (sold out)

1. Goal 6. Minute Santala (Dupont, Bieber), 2. Goal 10. Ronald Kenins, 3. Goal 48. Keller (Schäppi)

Kloten Flyers: Gerber; Dupont, von Gunten; Blum, Schelling; Randegger, Vandermeer; Frick, Hoffmann; Bieber, Santala, Mueller; Steinmann, Liniger (A), Bodenmann; Stancescu (C), Romano Lemm, Bühler; Aurelio Lemm, Jenni (A), Herren.
Injured: Stoop, Dubois

ZSC Lions: Flüeler; Geering, Stoffel; McCarthy, Seger(C); Tabacek, Blindenbacher (A); Schnyder, Künzle; Wick, Shannon (A), Keller; Kenins, Cunti, Bärtschi; Bastl, Fritsche, Nilsson; Schäppi, Senteler, Baltisberger.
Suspended: Morris Trachsler (3rd of 3 games), Injured: Marc-André Bergeron

SOG by period:
KF:  1. 12 / 2. 9 / 3. 13
ZSC:   1. 8 / 2.  12 / 3. 12

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