HC Davos bounced back from their earlier loss by delivering a commanding 5-0 victory over the Straubing Tigers during the Spengler Cup held on Friday evening. After suffering defeat against Team Canada, the Swiss team was eager to prove themselves, and they did so emphatically.
The game, held at the sold-out Vaillant Arena, began with both sides seeming cautiously optimistic. The HCD started steadily but, as noted, "Der HCD kam zwar gut in die Partie, aber vorerst nicht zwingend vors gegnerische Tor," (The HCD started well but initially struggled to create chances against the opponent). It would take some time for Davos to find their footing against the aggressive defense of the Tigers.
Throughout the first period, the defenses held strong, with Luca Hollenstein, Davos's goaltender, making several key stops early on, including three rapid saves against players like Justin Scott and JC Lipon who challenged him directly.
After a scoreless first period, the tide began to turn. The second period saw Davos gaining more control, leading to Calle Andersson scoring during their second power play opportunity at 28 minutes, firing the puck past Zane McIntyre, the Tigers’ goalkeeper. This goal sparked newfound energy within the team and their fans.
With the score 1-0 goinginto the final period, the HCD took full advantage of the momentum. Adam Tambellini, assisted by Yannick Frehner, doubled their lead to 2-0 at 47 minutes, marking the turning point of the game. Just two minutes later, it was Tino Kessler who heightened the score to 3-0, followed by Frehner scoring again for 4-0 at 54 minutes. To cap off the night, Brendan Lemieux added his name to the scoresheet by netting the fifth goal shortly after, cementing the final score at 5-0.
The goal-tally during the third period, where four goals found the net within rapid succession, showcased HC Davos's resilience and their ability to capitalize on opportunities, especially against the backdrop of their earlier defeat. This performance is pivotal for their chances of advancing through the tournament as, "Für den HCD bleibt der Gruppensieg und damit die direkte Halbfinal-Quali möglich, dafür müsste Straubing Kanada schlagen," (For the HCD, the group win and direct semifinal qualification remain possible, but Straubing needs to beat Canada).
With this decisive win, HC Davos demonstrated their prowess and determination to not only compete but also to contend for the Spengler Cup title, promising fans excitement for the upcoming matches, especially as they now await the outcome of the game between the Tigers and Team Canada.
