Straubing Tigers celebrate a strong 3-1 win against Zurich Lions!

Straubing Tigers celebrate a strong 3-1 win against Zurich Lions!

On Sunday afternoon the time had come: The Straubing Tigers achieved another victory in their series of test games at the Vinschgau Cup in Latsch. The team under head coach Craig Woodcroft defeated the ZSC Lions from Zurich 3-1 and particularly shone in defense and in the power play. Nick Halloran took the early lead in the second minute of the game after being optimally played by Elis Hede.

Goalkeeper Henrik Haukeland proved to be a reliable support and prevented Zurich from having several promising chances. Despite the pressure exerted by the Lions, the Straubing defense held firm. A power play that the Lions received after a tripping penalty remained unused - further evidence of the Tigers' concentrated defensive performance. The first period ended with the Tigers taking a 1-0 lead.

A quiet second third

Not much happened in the second third. Both teams had their phases, but nobody was able to prevail permanently. In the 37th minute it was Stephan Daschner who increased the score to 2-0 - of course supported again by Elis Hede. And it got even better: Shortly before the second break, Tim Fleischer scored on the power play, which meant the Tigers took a 3-0 lead.

The ZSC Lions, who also take part in the Vinschgau Cup, had only suffered defeats in previous test matches, including against Ingolstadt. According to her own assessment, integrating new players into the team was a challenge. The serious battle in the Champions Hockey League starts next Friday against the penguins from Bremerhaven, which is why the Lions were under pressure to find their form.

Tension until the end

In the final third, the Tigers initially started outnumbered as Skyler McKenzie had to serve a penalty. But once again Straubinger's defense was strong and they didn't concede a goal for a long time. In the 55th minute, the Lions scored a consolation goal through Dario Trutmann to make it 1:3. But the Tigers played home the victory confidently.

With this triumph against the top Swiss club, the Straubing Tigers show that they are well prepared for the start of the new season. It remains to be seen how the ZSC Lions will fare in the coming competitions, but the first two friendly games this weekend were anything but pleasant for them. The Vinschgau Cup once again put both teams to the test and provided exciting approaches to the challenges ahead.

Overall, the ZSC Lions not only had to learn how to play, but also strengthen their defensive presence in box play in order to survive in the Champions Hockey League. The Tigers, on the other hand, are taking the momentum from this victory into their final preseason games.

Further information about the games can be found on the website Straubing Tigers and the ZSC Lions.