[NHL] Part 11 - Het lange wachten is weer begonnen

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Lions roar against Blackhawks

ZURICH -- The ZSC Zurich Lions shocked the hockey world Tuesday night at Hallenstadion, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1, to win the Victoria Cup.

Patrik Barschi and Lukas Grauwiler scored goals against Cristobal Huet to counter a goal by Cam Barker of Chicago and deliver the Lions one of the biggest wins in their history.

The Lions used a steadfast commitment to defense and positional play to limit the Hawks' scoring chances throughout the game, often sacrificing their bodies against the bigger, more physically imposing Hawks.

Youngster Blaine Down, called up from the Baby Lions for this game, was a perfect example. At least three times during the game Down blocked a shot and left the ice hobble, only to take his next shift.

Defenseman Daniel Schnyder was another example of Zurich's tenacity. Locked up in a crease battle with the hulking Dustin Byfuglien in the third period, Schnyder never backed down and never gave an inch, frustrating Byfuglien into taking a retaliatory slashing penalty.

And, so it was throughout the Lions roster.

But perhaps nobody stood taller than Finnish legend Ari Sulander in goal. Sulander, known as "The Wall," is on the wrong side of 40, but on this night he recaptured the magic that made him a Finnish national icon almost two decades earlier Sulander stared down some of the best offensive players in the NHL and never blinked -- allowing nothing more than a first-period goal to Cam Barker on an awkward slapper that hit of the goalie's knee and bounced into the net.

His teammates picked their goaltender up after that mistake, tightening the screws in the defensive zone as a timely offense put the Lions back in the game. First, Patrik Barschi scored on a breakaway just six minutes after Barker's opening goal.

Then, it was the unsung Grauwiler with one of the most famous goals in the proud history of the reigning European champions. Grauwiler was in the right place at the right time to beat Barker to the rebound of a shot by teammate Cyrill Buhler and give the Lions a lead they would never relinquish.

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Op donderdag 1 oktober 2009 21:42 schreef nyny83 het volgende:
Oh en ik zou gaan voor Habs - Leafs. Beide selecties zijn grondig vernieuwd, ik ben wel benieuwd wat ze kunnen