We all thought, the hegemony of the Top 4 was finally over. Zurich, Lugano and Davos have already failed, now it depends on everything in the club. And they were initially on the ropes while trying to stay upright against the young upstarts from Biel would beat mercilessly on you. But then the SCB woke up. We maintain in Canada, to say: “Wake up never a sleeping bear!” Perhaps this had been said by the Bieler also, as they crept up on Saturday in the Postfinance-Arena to steal the victory. But that’s in today’s Playoff ice hockey not more. And Biel could pay dearly for this.

With a dominant appearance of the Bernese brushed the ice with a Biel-based Team, which gave me the impression that it is quite satisfied with himself and his 2:0 lead. It was the classic case of a Challenger who has yet to learn how to fire samples. The Bieler waited to see what might bring the evening. They no longer dictated the style and pace of the game – the 2:6 was the logical consequence.

Speed and accurate passes

The Track of the semi-finals creeps a question in my head: What a Finn is doing, to beat one of the other Finns? Still Finnish? Kari Jalonen duel with his pre-predecessor in the SCB, Antti Törmänen. And Jalonens former apprentice, pardon of assistant, it guides Lausanne in the other semi-final. The EVZ, except play all of the Teams now in Finnish. Don’t get me wrong. Not that it wouldn’t be good hockey. Tactically, it is even more wonderful. But it subscribes to the destructive game. Set the Puckführenden under pressure, do every Check is finished, you win the territory in front of goal – at any price. But if these three Teams see that they can exert no pressure, they retreat into the neutral Zone and force your opponent to weave through the middle, and the Puck clean zuschiessen. As before, the North-country Coaches have found a way to neutralize the individual skills of the opposing players.

Sometimes we see wonderful hockey. As the Bieler at the beginning of game 2 on Thursday said its 3-against-2-lock, was some of the Best that I have seen in Switzerland. It was a combination of Speed and inch-perfect passes, which showed the possibilities opened up by a the current pace of the game. Fox launched Earl with a flip pass, this played a cross through the legs of a defender to Brunner, who was forced to shoot the Puck, only in the past Hiller in the past. Everything went so quickly – stunning!!!

It is exciting to see what they think of the Coaches, in order to surprise the opponent. The third SCB-goal on Saturday was a rehearsed version. Rüfenacht won the offensive face-off, the Puck came back to Blum at the blue line, Arcobello and Moser exchanged their positions in order to confuse the Biel. So Arcobello came to the gang uncovered the Puck, Rüfenacht drove back, and sander sprinted to the gate. “Who covers who?” the Biel wondered. And before they had fitted, had under sander the laser pass Arcobellos the face of the goal to 3:0 used.

What’s the name of the so for the Biel Bienne? Run, run, as fast as you can! Run! to see

Törmänens face was priceless. He was so upset that I couldn’t account for on the basis of his lips, whether he is Finnish or English cursing. He knew this, his Team also. I’m sure that Törmänen had shown its players that play in the Video. Therefore, it is to coach as challenging and sometimes as frustrating. You can still so much to plan and to tell, in the end it are the players who run it. Or not.

I have often written that the Bernese like to play in their comfort zone and effort have to raise your level, if it is necessary. You playful in the quarter-final against Servette three times in the third section, a 2:0, came as a pleasant surprise even me. And in game 2 against Biel the same thing happened to them almost as they were after the 2:1 back to passive, and in Overtime lost. On Saturday, the Bernese stopped after their 3:0 lead again to attack, not have been punished.

The question for me is: Can impose on the SCB to the opponent of his will? From my experience, large teams, guided tours manage to bring home. In my most teams this was the last piece in the jigsaw Puzzle – an important. But the Biel do not yet know what it really takes to win. I think it is still the SC Bern , which will decide the outcome of the series. But where, pray tell, is Scherwey?

New dominance of distribution

As I saw on Thursday, as the Berne key players failed, I thought: Maybe the times are changing, Yes, really. The Top 4 have won in the last 20 years of each championship. Ebbett ran over to her before the 0:1 Brunner’s. And Moser was in front of the Overtimetor Rajalas the Puck away as a novice Junior. I think train is the dominance of the big four to break through. But we still have enough time to talk in the Final over of the EVZ.

But: Never, you should awaken the sleeping bear. And if you do, you will need to take the following advice to heart: If you’re being hunted by the bear, you have to see to it that you’re faster than the Person next to you. What this means for the Biel Bienne? Run, run, as fast as you can! Run!

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 02.04.2019, 17:57 PM