ZSC coach Marc Crawford should be particularly hurt by this defeat. The key scene in the game was a carelessness in Zurich: due to too many players on the ice, Crawford’s charges suddenly had to defend themselves in the 36th minute when they were outnumbered twice. The previously offensively unimaginative move only needed 19 seconds to capitalize on it. The 1:2 goal was a Czech-Slovakian co-production: Peter Cehlarik converted a flip pass from Jan Kovar.
Kovar and Hofmann make the turn perfect
It was the spark that Zug apparently needed. In the 3rd third, the will to force the game completely to his side was really noticeable in the home team. After a shot concealed by Samuel Kreis, Kovar was spot on and scored the 2-2 equalizer in the 45th minute.
And just three minutes later, the puck was behind Simon Hrubec in the goal again: Grégory Hofmann scored the game-winning goal to make it 3-2 with the second Zug goal.
ZSC initially two lengths ahead
Zurich got off to a dream start in the game. The 4th line provided Chris Baltisberger with a 1:0 lead as early as the 3rd minute thanks to stubborn repositioning. In the middle section, too, the lions initially dominated the game.
Denis Hollenstein used a penalty against Hofmann with a rebound to make it 2-0. The forward scored in the 4th game in a row. The Finn Jarno Kärki, who was taken to Zug by coach Marc Crawford after a recent strong performance with the GCK Lions, shot at the origin of the goal.
Zug fuels self-confidence
While Zurich dived for the third time in a row after the sensitive defeats against Ajoie and the Lakers, Zug can regain confidence in the days that are important for the club. On Saturday there is a guest game at second-placed Biel, before next Tuesday against Tappara Tampere the final in the Champions Hockey League is to be determined. Dan Tangnes’ team now knows how to reverse a 0:2 mortgage.