In the first meeting since Game 7 of last year’s playoff quarter-final series, the Bernese are likely to be looking for revenge. After qualifying for 2023/24, SCB was only two points behind EVZ and so a duel on equal terms was inevitable, even if Zug started the hottest phase of the season with a series of defeats at the end of the regular season. So it happened that the quarter-finals were only decided in the seventh game and the Mutzen are still waiting to win a playoff series after their last title win in 2019.
After being eliminated again in the first round, a lot has happened at SCB: Since May 1st, the sports department has been led by “superior sports director” Martin Plüss and “sub-sports director” Patrik Bärtschi, to quote a well-known chronicler. And the roster was also “cleaned out” – a total of 12 (!) players left the capital. Five foreigners have recently joined the team: Anton Lindholm (Leksands IF, SHL), Kalle Kossila (Växjö Lakers, SHL), Waltteri Merelä (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Victor Ejdsell (Färjestad BK, SHL) and Austin Czarnik (Detroit Red Wings, NHL). What remains are striker and leader Dominik Kahun, Defense Minister Patrick Nemeth and goalie Adam Reideborn. The American Czernik is currently wearing the flame helmet in Bern.
