Battle of the underdogs: a NLA final’s preview

The final is coming: starting on Saturday, the two best Swiss sides of the year will battle on ice, both longing to be crowned "national champions". Still, the teams who will have this incredible task won't be the most predictable ones, at least judging from their regular season's performance: indeed, Bern and Lugano can be rightfully called the Underdogs of the whole tournament, having finished the ranking phase placed 8th and 5th, respectively. 

Bern, in particular, had a really bad time, and clinched the last playoff spot at the last second, a place which could otherwise have been occupied by either Ambrì-Piotta or Lausanne. They were subsequently paired with regular season's winners ZSC Lions, and were thought to be swept in four or five games by almost anyone, when...

...When well, something happened. In four games Zürich was slaughtered, and forced to go home. The Bears then focused on their next victim, HC Davos, who despite a 7-1 win on home ice fell 4-1 in the series. The reigning champions were, thus, also forced to give up every hope of winning the title, being defeated by a side which, having been seeded at the last lace, went to the finals after just nine games (and eight wins). 

This war machine will now face Lugano, who will obviously have home ice advantage: the Bianconeri had a really bad time until the end of October, when Patrick Fischer was sacked in favor of Doug Shedden: under the latter's guidance, Lugano managed to go to the playoffs, swept EV Zug four games to none and then met Servette, their big rival from a couple of seasons' on: despite having been knocked out by them during the last two seasons'quarterfinals, the Ticinesi had their revenge, and battled hard to obtain a 4-2 win after many OT wins and away victories for both clubs. The final against Bern will also be heated, as the Bears and Lugano have a long history of playoffs' encounters in common.

What will happen now at the Resega? We'll see...

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