12 playoff victories en suite – can the “Zuger Express” still be stopped by the Lions? – Sports
contents
Zug is unbeaten in 12 playoff games across all seasons. A “sweep” against the ZSC is still unlikely.
The playoff final in the National League between EV Zug and the ZSC Lions promises attractive and competitive games. While the Lions only really got going in the semi-finals and defeated Freiburg 4-0 in the series, Zug’s engine ran hot from the start.
Zug’s forgotten feeling
Both against Lugano in the quarter-finals and against Davos in the round of 4, the reigning champions marched through with a “sweep”. Across the seasons, EVZ is unbeaten in 12 playoff games, most recently Dan Tangnes’ team lost a post-season game on April 29, 2021 – in the semi-final series against Rapperswil-Jona. Then they won in the final against Geneva-Servette 3-0.
EVZ like Lugano 35 years ago?
Since the introduction of the playoffs in 1986, only one team has become undefeated champions: HC Lugano. The Ticino remained in 1986 and 1987 without a playoff defeat. However, the way was much easier: There were only semi-finals and finals, the series were shorter.
In the first year, the “Grande Lugano” is enough for four wins (2 each against Ambri and HCD). In 1987 it was a best-of-5 series, the HCL again prevailed undefeated against Ambri and Kloten.
Still no walkthrough at Best-of-7
Since the introduction of the best-of-7 series in 1997/98, however, no team has gone unbeaten to the championship title. Davos came closest to a “triple sweep” in spring 2011, when the Grisons won the quarter-finals (against Gottéron) and semi-finals (Zug) 4-0 and led 3-0 in the final against Kloten. However, the Zurich team reduced the lead to 2:3 before the Del Curto team closed the sack in game 6.
In 2010 and 2012, the eventual champion also made it into the final with two 4-0 victories. However, SCB (2010) suffered their first defeat in the second final game against Geneva, and the ZSC Lions (2012) against SCB even in game 1.
