Game seven in Fribourg: heroic epic or twilight of the gods?

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It is said that the biblical Samson lost his strength when his enemies cut off his long hair. However, it would be far-fetched to draw a connection between this legend and Friborg coach Christian Dubé: before the play-offs, he visited the hairdresser of his choice to get rid of his feathers.

Since then, however, Friborg has lost none of its strength and momentum. Unless you believe that HC Lugano should go on holiday in a quarter-final series without significant resistance. The Ticino team really deserved the decider thanks to their adaptability, great emotional involvement and a goalkeeper change after two defeats at the start.

What was before? Can be forgotten

With this best-of-seven series reduced to home advantage, all the twists, errors and masterstrokes, penalties, suspensions, goals and saves from the previous matches have been forgotten. And whether that’s unfair or not: for Fribourg, this one game is about everything and more. One defeat, and the club’s well-documented play-off history is rolled out again, lost finals from the early days of the knockout stages, missed opportunities, lost advantages. Twilight of the gods. Lack of killer instinct. Friborg is not made for the play-offs, they say, although no one can prove this theory scientifically. A curse? Witchcraft? Or is it a Biblical punishment for going to the hairdresser at an inopportune time?

Will the curtain fall at La Scala in Milan?

Christian Dubé has won just one playoff series since taking over as coach in October 2019. This is an irrefutable fact. However, he has brought this team into shape for this season with proven talent and paid attention to resilience. The team must now be able to master a play-off in its own stadium. In this arena, which is also admired as the Scala of Swiss ice hockey stadiums because of its splendor and operatic appearance, Gottéron keeps the canton happy with his performances. Tickets are scarce. If you don’t know anyone who knows you, stay out. We are the only club in the competition that can achieve an occupancy rate of 100 percent in the regular competition.

If this team wins against Lugano, the victory will become a heroic epic and a chapter in their own history. You can then celebrate in front of your own audience and run into the semi-finals with the certainty that you have overcome an obstacle.

Source : Blick