Biel’s Damien Brunner Sauer. “If you don’t beat this Zurich, then I don’t know either.”
After the elimination of EHC Biel in the quarterfinals against the ZSC Lions, Damien Brunner is clear that they must never lose this series. Now the star striker speaks plain language.
On paper, the people of Biel are now bringing a lot with them to become champions for the fourth time, for the first time since 1983. The disappointment remained once again, but the Seeländer lost for the 13th time in their 16th playoff series in the National League, for the fourth time in a decisive seventh game (1:3) – from 1995 to 2008 they played in the second highest league.
Quarterfinals: The Standings in the Series (Best-of 7)
- EV ZUG vs. HC Lugano 4:0 (2:1, 6:2, 6:3, 5:3)
- HC FRIBORG-GOTTÉRON vs. Lausanne HC 4:1 (2:0, 4:5, 3:2, 4:1, 5:4)
- SC Rapperswil Jona Lakers versus HC Davos 3:3 (4:3, 4:1, 4:0, 0:2, 2:3, 3:7)
- ZSC LIONS vs EHC Biel 4:3 (4:5, 3:4, 1:0, 1:0, 1:3, 3:1, 3:1)
Despite the renewed failure, there is no reason for die Bieler to question everything. They showed what they are capable of against the top-seeded Löwen in the quarter-finals. However, something crucial is missing: coolness. Coach Antti Törmänen’s team came out of the slot with more deals (89:60). As such, it would make sense to upgrade the team with a designated clipper.
“We drove them to the wall”
Because from the point of view of the people of Biel, there shouldn’t have been a showdown at all. They were 2:0 and 3:2 ahead after victories, in the first match puck last Saturday they were 1:0 up to the 54th minute and were therefore still poorly served due to the shares in the game. In addition, the 1-1 should never have happened, the Bieler is amateurish in this goal.
“If you look at the chances we missed in this match, we have to take a good look at ourselves,” says Brunner and continues: “It has nothing to do with the fact that the goalie (Jakub Kovar) was good, it was simply my fault and shouldn’t be.”
Brunner even goes one better: “This series shouldn’t even have lasted six games. We drove them to the wall, we can’t lose game 3 or game 4. I don’t know what we’re doing. We had everything under control. If you don’t beat this Zurich, I don’t know what will either. Something has to happen, we have to go through the books.”
“Our power play was an absolute cheek”
The biggest construction site for Biel in the quarter-finals was the power play. The Seelanders were allowed to play in the majority no fewer than 27 times, but they only managed two goals, resulting in an underground success rate of 7.41 percent. On the other hand there are two shorthanders from the Lions, the second war the decisive 2-0 by Denis Malgin on Monday evening. Brunner also spoke plainly about the power play: “This was an absolute cheek. We acted without ideas, it was a huge grunt and it didn’t get better, we didn’t make good decisions.” In game 6, the Bielers did not achieve anything countable with one man for ten minutes.
“If the special teams had only worked halfway, we’d win in five games,” says Brunner. “We can’t play better at five against five, we give them practically nothing.” The Lions scored eight goals in a numerical tie, four on the power play, and two on empty netter. Was it a mental issue, Damien Brunner? “No not at all. We play with energy.”
“There is a lack of mental readiness”
Whatever the case, the people of Biel experienced a déjà vu. Three years ago in the semifinals against Bern they had already led 3:2 in the series and lost the sixth game in front of their home crowd despite a clear dominance (38:19 shots on goal), then 0:1. As a result, they lost 1: 5 in the “Belle”. A year ago there was a lack of efficiency in the round of 16 against the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (0:2).
How do you manage to take the missing step? Brunner: “I don’t know either. Losing Joren (van Pottelberghe, the number 1 goaltender) just before the playoffs certainly didn’t help. We just have to score goals. It lacks the killer instinct, the mental readiness. We can’t go over the puck when the goal is empty. However, if we don’t manage to end the series, then Zurich has once again deservedly won.”
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