Biel defeats defending champions: All Swiss teams reach CHL round 16

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The Swiss champion Geneva-Servette had already secured his ticket for the eighth finals earlier than planned. The Genevans can afford a 2-3 defeat in Finland against Lukko Rauma at the end of qualifying. The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers secured the missing point after a 2-0 lead with a 2-3 defeat after extra time in Sweden at the Växjö Lakers.

Biel is exciting. The Zeelanders not only faltered in the Swiss championship (until last Friday they suffered seven defeats), but recently also in the European Cup. After two confident victories at the start, Biel lost in a row to Färjestads, Växjö and Vitkovice. The team from Biel achieved a fantastic performance with the 6:3 home victory over title holder Tappara Tampere. Biel first turns a 0:2 into a 3:2 in the second part and then a 3:3 into a 6:3 in the finish.

Thanks to special rules

Toni Rajala and Gaëtan Haas scored the game-changing goals within 48 seconds of 51 minutes to make it 4:3 and 5:3. Previously, Finnish champions and Champions League defending champions Tappara Tampere really limited Biel’s team. Rajala later secured Biel’s victory with a score of 6:3.

The EHC Biel makes perfect use of the special rules that only apply in the European Cup. The Biel team scored 1:2 thanks to Mike Künzle while they were outnumbered, causing the Finns to lose the chance to be in the majority for another 99 seconds. Jesper Olofsson and Yannick Rathgeb’s goals from 1:2 to 3:2 within 76 seconds both came during a two-minute penalty against American Nick Halloran. In the Champions League, unlike in all other competitions, penalties are not canceled out by goals conceded.

Defending champions are worried

Before Biel’s latest furor, the Bielers were ranked 16th and 17th on the live table. If they had lost, they would have missed the playoffs. Now the Finnish champions and defending champions are threatened with elimination. Tappara Tampere – with ex-ZSC coach Rikard Grönborg – occupies the last play-off place for the last matches on Wednesday, but will probably be overtaken by the Czech champion Ocelari Trinec, who still plays against the so far winless Danes from Aalborg, at the end of qualifying.

EHC Biel, quarter-finalist three seasons ago, has survived the preliminary round in all three participations so far. The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers advanced for the first time in their second participation. And champion Servette only missed the play-offs in three Champions League games in 2016. (SDA/mou)

Source : Blick