Zug’s Fabrice Herzog has already scored in six games: he turns the slot into a danger zone

“It’s nice when I am rewarded for my work,” he says. «Scoring goals is my goal. If it works the way it does now, I’m proud of that too. The moment I and we are on a roll, they fall in.” This comes after both he and the team fell behind offensively at the start of the season.

Herzog’s strong shooting efficiency

What is particularly striking is Herzog’s shooting efficiency: it amounted to 25 percent in the last two games, which is already a strong value. Previously, this was 50 percent three times and 100 percent once. “That’s one of my goals in the game,” he explains. “I want to get three to four shots per game from good positions.” The attacking player is not primarily a distance shooter, which is also due to his body mass.

Coaches reflexively place a 1.90 m giant in front of the opponent’s box because they can hold their own there. But Herzog expects more from himself than hitting targets using deflectors. He wants to create a goal threat himself in the slot. “I’m working on my shot around the goal.” This should become an even more consistent force. “I also regularly watch NHL videos and see how the best scorers are doing.”

The stick shortened

To be able to create chances in the slot when in possession of the puck, mobility is the most important thing, which means body size becomes an issue again. Things are quickly getting tight for a major player. “That is why it is important to optimize the skating technique of the small arcs to be more agile,” says Herzog, who also shortened his stick by about an inch this season.

Will his scoring streak break a record soon? Herzog can’t imagine it. In that regard, he gives teammate Grégory Hofmann (30) a tip. “He has already scored thirty goals in a season, so the chance is greater.” That was in 2018/19 at Lugano, a year later at EVZ Hofmann scored 24 goals. His longest goal streak in both seasons: four games. But: In October 2019, Hofmann scored seven goals in four games.