The ZSC Lions reach the final of the Champions Hockey League. After a 6-1 win in the first leg, a 3-3 draw at home in the second semi-final against defending champions Genève-Servette was enough for the Swiss champions.
21.01.2025, 22:38
21.01.2025, 22:47
SDA
This means that 16 years after triumphing in the previous competition, the Zurich team will play a final on an international stage for the first time again. On February 18, they will face the Swedish club Färjestad, who eliminated Sparta Prague in the other semi-final with a total score of 10:4. ZSC has home ice in the final because it has more wins/points over the entire campaign than the team from Karlstad.
However, the Lions had to get at least a draw in the semi-final second leg - five-goal lead or not. And so, in front of a crowd of at least 6,400, a game developed in which the home team actually had nothing to lose and yet something to lose.
The trembling lasted until the end. ZSC took a 2-0 lead in the middle third through Vinzenz Roher (22nd) and Sven Andrighetto (36th). But Geneva, who had to do without six regular players due to illness, did not give up. First Vincent Praplan (37') and Alessio Bertaggia (45') reduced the deficit to 1-2 and 2-3, before Josh Jooris definitely brought the tension back with a 3-3 equalizer with just under six minutes remaining.
In the end, however, a strong Robin Zumbühl in the ZSC goal prevented worse. The actual substitute goalie stood in for the ailing Simon Hrubec excellently throughout the game and ultimately made the hoped-for point win perfect with his saves.
Results:
Champions Hockey League. Semi-finals. Second legs: ZSC Lions - Genève-Servette 3:3 (0:0, 2:1, 1:2); first leg 6:1. - Färjestad - Sparta Prague 4:2 (1:1, 2:1, 1:0); first leg 6:2.
Final on February 18 in Zurich: ZSC Lions - Färjestad.
Telegram:
ZSC Lions - Genève-Servette 3:3 (0:0, 2:1, 1:2)
6400 spectators. - SR Björk/Holm (SWE), Cattaneo/Altmann (SUI). - Goals: 22. Rohrer 1:0. 37. Andrighetto (Kukan, Malgin/Exclusion Berni, Manninen) 2:0. 40. (Exclusion Olsson) 2:1. 44. Kinnunen (Segafredo, Baltisberger) 3:1. 45. Bertaggia (Berni, Richard) 3:2. 54. Jooris (Manninen, Timashov/Powerplay goal) 3:3. - Penalties: 2 times 2 minutes against the ZSC Lions, 3 times 2 minutes against Genève-Servette.
ZSC Lions: Hrubec; Weber, Marti; Kukan, Geering; Kinnunen, Lehtonen; Trutmann; Baechler, Lammikko, Segafredo; Rohrer, Grant, Balcers; Zehnder, Malgin, Andrighetto; Riedi, Kärki, Baltisberger; Olsson.
Genève-Servette: Mayer; Berni, Schneller; Völlmin, Karrer; Le Coultre, Jacquemet; Vouardoux, Jukna; Granlund, Manninen, Ignatavicius; Timasaschow, Richard, Praplan; Miranda, Jooris, Bertaggia; Loosli, Cavalleri, Imesch.
Remarks: ZSC Lions without Hrubec, Frödén, Sigrist (all sick) and Hollenstein (injured); Genève-Servette without Descloux, Hischier (both injured), Raanta, Chanton, Hartikainen, Lennström, Pouliot and Vatanen (all sick). Goal by Baltisberger disallowed after Coach's Challenge (35./goalkeeper obstruction).
