The mistake that saved the ZSC Lions against Biel

The answer to the question of why the ZSC Lions escaped unscathed in the end includes just one name: goalkeeper Joren van Pottelberghe wasn't good enough. a point. If you want to win in Zurich, you need a big last man. Bale's goalkeeper was average at best. A great goalkeeper would have prevented three goals. Even what the statistics show: Joren van Botelberg's catch rate (88.89 percent) falls in the gray area between average and inadequate.

He had to catch the puck out of his box a lot: Joren van Botelberg.Image: Cornerstone

Nobody beats the ZSC Lions with a goaltender saving less than 90 percent of pucks. Zurich are so good offensively that they need 92 to 93 percent. After Gutierron (175), the team has scored the second most goals in the playoffs (167). Bial 139 only. This in turn shows us: Bale is celebrating a lively attacking spectacle on a good evening. But not effective enough to make a decision against the best defense in the qualifiers (conceded 110 goals – Biel 140). We can twist it and transform it, explain it and analyse it, explain it and interpret it as we want: Biel's goalkeeper is the decisive figure.

Now Martin Steininger can use one of the best goalkeepers in the world: Harry Sateri (34). Olympic champion and world champion. He (almost) single-handedly got the Billers to the quarterfinals through two rounds of play. We have to give the dry numbers again to understand how important the goalkeeper is in this situation. In the 52nd and final qualifier, Harry Satiri won (2-1) in Geneva with a defense rate of 96.97 percent, which is what got Bale into the match in the first place. Now the numbers are in play.

1 round:
Servet – Biel 2: 3. Harry Sateri's catch rate is 93.33 percent.
Biel – Servette 2: 2. Harri Säteri's catch rate is 94.59 percent.

Second round:
Biel – Ambre 1:1. Harri Säteri has a catch rate of 95.83 percent.
Ambre – Biel 2: 4. Harri Säteri's catch rate is 90.48 percent.

Bale's team survived the match with only 10 goals in 4 matches. They owe their qualification to the quarter-finals to their goalkeeper. a point.

Harry Sateri upset Bell in the playoffs.Image: Cornerstone

With Harry Sateri, Bale was certain to win the opening quarter-final in Zurich. Titan is not safe. The “hockey machine” that overwhelms everything on a good evening is far from working perfectly. Actually there is no problem: if you want to become a champion, you are far from being in good shape in your first playoff game. Yes, it often pays to have the favorite struggle in the first round. A different bird is whistling now.

In the end, the win was enough (4:3). To get to this point: Harry Sateri could have prevented at least two, perhaps even three, of the four goals. The killer goal is always the first goal (1-0), which is what calms the people of Zurich at the moment. In the final third (44'), Luca Conte took the lead for Biel for the first time (3:2). Now the outside player dominates the final third with a shooting ratio of 13:6. The people of Zurich are faltering. With a great goalkeeper, Bale was going to maintain his lead over time. But Joren van Botelberg (26) couldn't stop two of the six pucks in the last 20 minutes.

So the cheap criticism is: Martin Steininger's mistake is what led to the ZSC Lions' victory. He ignored the “sacred” law of hockey: “Never change a winning team.” Never hand over a successful team.

Did Martin Stenger make a mistake in judgment or did he make a wise decision?Image: Cornerstone

This criticism is cheap because after that all fools become wise. The Bale coach, who has just suffered his first defeat after 60 minutes in his eighth match in Zurich, has good reasons for leaving Harry Sateri at home and giving Joren van Botelberg a chance. energy. Also statistic: Harry Satiri played 42 of the 52 qualifying matches. Only Zurich's Simon Hrubek (32) has been used more often. But Simon Hrubek has been able to rest since March 4, since the last qualifying round, while Hari Satiri had to play the four matches under maximum pressure to succeed.

• 7

  A leader who can decide the game and make his team better on and off the ice.

• 6-7

  A player with such great talent that on a good evening he can decide the game and be a leader.

• 5-6

  Good Premier League Player: Often as talented as iridescent butterflies, sometimes hard workers who take great advantage of their talents.

• 4-5

  Third or fourth block player, veteran or newcomer.

• 3-4

  The future is still ahead of you or the future is already behind you.

• The rating is North American hockey's grading scale, which ranges from 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). There are no scores below 3, because those who play in the Premier League are at least barely enough.

When asked why Joren van Buttelberg was appointed, Martin Steininger said: “It's about energy. Because we had to give Harry Sateri a break. Where he's right, he's right. There are no further questions for coach Bale after the first game. The mistake is in Reality is a reasonable and correct decision.

Harry Sateri is likely to be in goal again at the Bale on Monday. Then another bird whistles for the ZSC attackers.