Zugs warhorse Abdelkader polarized

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Intensity, emotions, hardness. When playoff hockey is celebrated, Justin Abdelkader rubs his hands. “That’s exactly my style of play.” The American attacker in the service of the champions likes to annoy opponents and get under their skin. In the three quarterfinal games, he played himself in the Lakers’ enemy image, as did SCRJ defenseman Michal Jordan. The ex-NHL player denies that the Czech has become his target: “I just play hard. I will continue to do that.” No matter what opponent.

Boes run off Abdelkader like water on a freshly waxed car. “Noise is better than an empty stadium like in Corona times. These are passionate fans,” says the 36-year-old with a shrug. “I enjoy these moments. I will look back on them one day.” Playoffs are his thing. He wants to finish checks, block shots, sacrifice himself for the team – and exhaust it. “I love these fights.” He spices EVZ with an element that was missing when the American with Jordanian roots made his debut two seasons ago.

“Keeping emotions in check”

But Abdelkader walks a fine line: As hard as he can fly an opponent into the gang, he can fall over the top when tackled. Like on Sunday, when he went overboard with theatrical after a push from Fabian Maier and a goal from Sandro Zangger. It is not the first time: in the semifinals of the 2021 playoffs against the Lakers, the former football player was fined for a swallow. Mysports pundit and ex-warrior Timo Helbling said at the time, “That’s absolutely ridiculous to me. And disrespectful to our league.”

Since Abdelkader was not suspended for his high stick to Zangger, the Lakers appealed to sports court. But that has now been rejected. The sports court of the association thus upholds the decision of the single judge for disciplinary matters in competitive sport at first instance and the American striker is not suspended.

Abdelkader, who will receive an annual severance payment of $1.055 million from the Detroit Red Wings until 2026 after contract termination, emphasizes that he needs to play smarter and more careful in relation to the penalty he received for a stick hit. Because he is more in the picture, also from the referees. “I am aware of that. I have to be able to control my emotions.” But Abdelkader needs that intensity, it should not be too low or too high. But just in the right playoff temperature.

Source : Blick