Will Kloten lose the pre-playoffs at the last minute?

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Ironically, Kloten drops out of the pre-playoff spots one round before the end. After Tuesday’s victory in Langnau (3-1), the promoted team secured a place in the league despite the penalty win against the Lakers (3-2). The lowlands of Zurich are one point behind their competitors Lugano, Bern and Lausanne. They must get one point more than at least one of them today. During the match in Davos, trainer Jeff Tomlinson is continuously informed of the standings via the button in his ear.

The fact that Kloten still has this starting position in the last qualifying round of his promotion season is an opportunity – not yet used by Tomlinson. The Canadian replies that his team has consistently held onto a pre-playoff spot in recent weeks. And regularly convinced with achievements and big victories. “If someone had offered me this starting position six months ago, I would have signed immediately,” says Tomlinson.

Consistency followed bitter applause

Think of the start of the season: the five bankruptcies in a row were followed by painful blows such as the 0:7 against Davos or a 1:9 against Fribourg. At the time, Tomlinson compared the team’s emotions to a spin cycle in the washing machine. But the 52-year-old put the Klotener on course and the opponents slipped away. They impressed the league competition with their consistency. However, as the coach emphasizes, expectations and goals only changed after the important victory against the SCL Tigers: “Of course we want more now. If it doesn’t work out with the pre-playoffs, it would be a disappointment for us.”

One thing is clear: with 70 points, Kloten is by far the strongest riser in recent years. By comparison, the Ajoie scored 26 points in his promotion season, the SCRJ Lakers (with Tomlinson) scored 32 four years ago and the SCL Tigers scored 57 points seven years ago. Of course, the increase in the number of foreigners helped to keep up with the competition.

«Christmas on the cake»

With Jonathan Ang (25, from Thurgau), Kloten has a mercenary in the ranks, who was just as positively surprised as the collective. The Canadian says: “We may have been a surprise after the start of the season. But after that we proved enough that we deserve a spot in the pre-playoffs. We know we can still do it. We are positive.” That’s why nobody in the dressing room thinks it could be the last game of the season in Davos.

As well as the last game for Jeff Tomlinson in his coaching career. “We won’t go into that,” said Ang, “because it shouldn’t be the last game for us either. It’s a confrontation full of tension. The icing on the cake.” This team has already won great duels in a great way. “If we don’t make it, it would be a bitter pill to swallow,” admits the top scorer. And an abrupt end to coaching for Tomlinson.

Source : Blick