2020–21 National League (ice hockey) season

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
2020–21 National League season
League National League
Sport Ice hockey
DurationOctober 1, 2020 – March 22, 2021
Number of games52
Number of teams12
Regular season
Best record EV Zug
  Runners-up HC Lugano
Season MVP Jan Kovář
(EV Zug)
Top scorer Jan Kovář
(EV Zug)
Playoffs
Semi-Final champions EV Zug
  Semi-Final runners-up SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Semi-Final champions Genève-Servette HC
  Semi-Final runners-up ZSC Lions
Swiss champion NL
Champions EV Zug
  Runners-up Genève-Servette HC
National League seasons

The 2020–21 National League season was the 83rd season of Swiss professional ice hockey and the fourth season as the National League (NL).

Contents

ZSC Lions were the defending regular season winners. Due to the 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Switzerland there was no defending champion as the previous season's playoffs were cancelled.

Due to the 2019–20 league qualification series also being cancelled, the participating teams remained the same as the previous season.

The league announced changes to the format ahead of the season, meaning that 52 games rather than 50 would be played in the regular season. The playoffs would also be re-formatted, so that the top 6 teams now qualified directly for the quarter-finals, with the next four teams playing in pre-playoffs for the remaining two spots. There would also be no relegation from the season. [1] The two pre-playoffs series were played in a best-of-three, the quarter-finals in a best-of-seven and the semi-finals and final in a best-of-five. The series were shortened to allow enough time for the national team to prepare for the 2021 IIHF World Championship.

EV Zug won the regular season with 6 games remaining, having already clinched their club record points total, surpassing their previous best of 98 points from the 2011–12 season. [2] With two games remaining EV Zug broke the record for most points in a single regular season, held by HC Davos from the 2010–11 season. [3] Whilst this season was the first to be 52 games in length, EV Zug passed the milestone in the same number of games as the previous record holders.

EV Zug swept Genève-Servette HC 3-0 in the final to win its first NL title since 1998.

Teams

TeamCityArenaCapacityCOVID-19 Capacity
HC Ambrì-Piotta Ambrì Valascia 6,5000
SC Bern Bern PostFinance Arena 17,0310
EHC Biel Biel/Bienne Tissot Arena 6,5210
HC Davos Davos Eisstadion Davos 6,8000
Fribourg-Gottéron Fribourg BCF Arena 8,9340
Genève-Servette HC Geneva Patinoire des Vernets 7,1350
Lausanne HC Lausanne Vaudoise Aréna 9,6000
HC Lugano Lugano Cornér Arena 7,8000
SCL Tigers Langnau im Emmental Ilfis Stadium 6,0000
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Rapperswil St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena 6,2000
ZSC Lions Zürich Hallenstadion 11,2000
EV Zug Zug Bossard Arena 7,2000

Regular season

Due to coronavirus cases in both EHC Biel and SC Bern forcing late season stoppages to training, not all regular season games could be completed, and the league would use points per game to determine the final regular season standings. [4]

PosTeamPldWOTWOTLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 EV Zug 5233766197128+69119Advance to Playoffs
2 HC Lugano 52249217160137+2392
3 Fribourg-Gottéron 51264417159151+890
4 Lausanne HC 51237615159125+3489
5 ZSC Lions 52246616170143+2790
6 Genève-Servette HC 50227417167129+3884
7 EHC Biel 48206616149137+1278Advance to Pre-playoffs
8 HC Davos 51205422174177374
9 SC Bern 481535251291562756
10 SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers 501535271411803956
11 HC Ambrì-Piotta 511238281071585150
12 SCL Tigers 52826361071989134
Source: NLA
Rules for classification: 1) points per game 2) greater number of games played 3) greater number of away games played 4) head-to-head points

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the regular season. [5] If two or more skaters were tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters were shown.

PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Jan Kovář EV Zug 52164763+2458
Linus Omark Genève-Servette HC 49223961+855
Sven Andrighetto ZSC Lions 52272855+1018
Enzo Corvi HC Davos 44153752016
Roman Červenka SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers 49163551-163
Killian Mottet Fribourg-Gottéron 50232548-134
Mark Arcobello HC Lugano 52133548+1258
Chris DiDomenico Fribourg-Gottéron48153146-548
Daniel Winnik Genève-Servette HC49153146+846
Dario Simion EV Zug50242145+246
Ryan Gunderson Fribourg-Gottéron5193645+118

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes, at the conclusion of the regular season. [6]

PlayerTeamGPTOIWWOLOLGASOSv%GAA
Tobias Stephan Lausanne HC 29171912229654.9282.27
Niklas Schlegel HC Lugano 422359215212926.9282.34
Gauthier Descloux Genève-Servette HC 4225261942111005.9272.38
Luca Boltshauser Lausanne HC23135911225541.9202.38
Ludovic Waeber ZSC Lions 372204204110884.9182.40

Playoffs

Bracket

Pre-playoffs
(best-of-3)
Quarter-finals
(best-of-7)
Semi-finals
(best-of-5)
Finals
(best-of-5)
1 Zug 4
7 Biel 0 9 Bern 2
10 Rapperswil-Jona 21 Zug 3
10 Rapperswil-Jona 1
2 Lugano 1 (Pairings are re-seeded after the first and second round)
10 Rapperswil-Jona 4
1 Zug 3
6 Genève-Servette 0
3 Fribourg-Gottéron 1
8 Davos 1 6 Genève-Servette 4
9 Bern 25 ZSC Lions 0
6 Genève-Servette 3
4 Lausanne 2
5 ZSC Lions 4

Pre-playoffs

(7) EHC Biel vs. (10) SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

7 AprilEHC Biel1–2OTSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Tissot Arena, Biel/Bienne Recap  
Fabio Hofer (1) – 6:41First period15:17 – Dominik Egli (1)
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
No scoringFirst overtime period16:31 – Dominik Egli (2)
Joren van Pottelberghe (31 shots / 29 saves)Goalie stats Melvin Nyffeler (37 shots / 36 saves)
9 AprilSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers3–1EHC Biel St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena, Rapperswil Recap  
No scoringFirst period1:37 – Damien Brunner (1)
Andrew Rowe (1; PPG) – 6:04Second periodNo scoring
Third periodNo scoring
Melvin Nyffeler (35 shots / 34 saves)Goalie stats Joren van Pottelberghe (22 shots / 20 saves)
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers win series 2–0

(8) HC Davos vs. (9) SC Bern

7 AprilHC Davos3–4OTSC Bern Eisstadion Davos, Davos Recap
Robert Mayer (9 shots / 6 saves)
Sandro Aeschlimann (21 shots / 20 saves)
Goalie stats Tomi Karhunen (60 shots / 57 saves)
9 AprilSC Bern0–3HC Davos PostFinance Arena, Bern Recap  
No scoringFirst period8:59 – Aaron Palushaj (1)
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
No scoringThird period
Tomi Karhunen (31 shots / 28 saves)Goalie stats Sandro Aeschlimann (34 shots / 34 saves)
11 AprilHC Davos0–3SC Bern Eisstadion Davos, Davos Recap
Sandro Aeschlimann (15 shots / 13 saves)Goalie stats Tomi Karhunen (53 shots / 53 saves)
SC Bern win series 2–1

Quarter-finals

(1) EV Zug vs. (9) SC Bern

13 AprilEV Zug4–2SC Bern Bossard Arena, Zug Recap  
First period04:24 – Jan Neuenschwander (1)
Carl Klingberg (1; PPG) – 5:52Second period15:58 – Colin Gerber (1)
Carl Klingberg (2) – 9:47Third periodNo scoring
Leonardo Genoni (26 shots / 24 saves)Goalie stats Tomi Karhunen (43 shots / 39 saves)
15 AprilSC Bern6–2EV Zug PostFinance Arena, Bern Recap  
First period10:29 – Dario Simion (1)
André Heim (1; PPG) – 6:28Second periodNo scoring
Third period11:53 – Gregory Hofmann (1; PPG)
Tomi Karhunen (34 shots / 32 saves)Goalie stats Leonardo Genoni (29 shots / 24 saves)
17 AprilEV Zug3–0SC Bern Bossard Arena, Zug Recap
Leonardo Genoni (25 shots / 25 saves)Goalie stats Tomi Karhunen (31 shots / 28 saves)
19 AprilSC Bern6–2EV Zug PostFinance Arena, Bern Recap  
First period1:13 – Yannick Zehnder (1)
No scoringSecond period12:55 – Justin Abdelkader (1)
Third period
Tomi Karhunen (37 shots / 35 saves)Goalie stats Leonardo Genoni (26 shots / 22 saves)
21 AprilEV Zug5–2SC Bern Bossard Arena, Zug Recap  
14:02 – Cory Conacher (1; PPG)First period
18:56 – Thierry Bader (1)Second period
Third period Geisser Tobias (1; ENG) – 19:56
Leonardo Genoni (25 shots / 23 saves)Goalie stats Tomi Karhunen (24 shots / 20 saves)
23 AprilSC Bern0–1EV Zug PostFinance Arena, Bern Recap
Tomi Karhunen (31 shots / 30 saves)Goalie stats Leonardo Genoni (15 shots / 15 saves)
EV Zug win series 4–2

(2) HC Lugano vs. (10) SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

13 AprilHC Lugano6–2SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Cornér Arena, Lugano Recap  
Reto Suri (1) – 3:54First period10:29 – Kay Schweri (1; PPG)
Jani Lajunen (1; PPG) – 2:59Second periodNo scoring
Third period2:03 – Leandro Profico (1)
Niklas Schlegel (26 shots / 24 saves)Goalie stats Melvin Nyffeler (40 shots / 34 saves)
15 AprilSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers4–1HC Lugano St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena, Rapperswil Recap
Melvin Nyffeler (42 shots / 41 saves)Goalie stats Niklas Schlegel (17 shots / 13 saves)
17 AprilHC Lugano2–3OTSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Cornér Arena, Lugano Recap  
Giovanni Morini (1; PPG) – 16:03First period14:05 – Michael Loosli (1)
Dominic Lammer (1) – 19:26Second period10:51 – Jeremy Wick (1)
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
No scoringFirst overtime period17:21 – Sandro Forrer (1)
Niklas Schlegel (28 shots / 25 saves)Goalie stats Melvin Nyffeler (52 shots / 50 saves)
19 AprilSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers3–1HC Lugano St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena, Rapperswil Recap
Melvin Nyffeler (34 shots / 33 saves)Goalie stats Niklas Schlegel (21 shots / 19 saves)
21 AprilHC Lugano3–42OTSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Cornér Arena, Lugano Recap
Niklas Schlegel (48 shots / 44 saves)Goalie stats Melvin Nyffeler (62 shots / 59 saves)
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers win series 4–1

(3) HC Fribourg-Gottéron vs. (6) Genève-Servette HC

13 AprilHC Fribourg-Gottéron2–1Genève-Servette HC BCF Arena, Fribourg Recap  
Yannick Herren (1) – 18:59First periodNo scoring
Dave Sutter (1) – 14:38Second periodNo scoring
No scoringThird period19:07 – Arnaud Montandon (1)
Reto Berra (24 shots / 23 saves)Goalie stats Gauthier Descloux (35 shots / 33 saves)
15 AprilGenève-Servette HC3–1HC Fribourg-Gottéron Patinoire des Vernets, Geneva Recap
Gauthier Descloux (33 shots / 32 saves)Goalie stats Reto Berra (33 shots / 31 saves)
17 AprilHC Fribourg-Gottéron3–8Genève-Servette HC BCF Arena, Fribourg Recap  
Mauro Jörg (1) – 8:57First period12:05 – Eric Fehr (1; PPG)
No scoringSecond period
Third period
Reto Berra (36 shots / 28 saves)Goalie stats Gauthier Descloux (45 shots / 42 saves)
19 AprilGenève-Servette HC4–0HC Fribourg-Gottéron Patinoire des Vernets, Geneva Recap
Gauthier Descloux (4 shots / 4 saves)
Daniel Manzato (34 shots / 34 saves)
Goalie stats Reto Berra (23 shots / 20 saves)
21 AprilHC Fribourg-Gottéron0–5Genève-Servette HC BCF Arena, Fribourg Recap
Reto Berra (42 shots / 47 saves)Goalie stats Daniel Manzato (29 shots / 29 saves)
Genève-Servette HC win series 4–1

(4) Lausanne HC vs. (5) ZSC Lions

13 AprilLausanne HC3–2OTZSC Lions Vaudoise Aréna, Lausanne Recap  
Charles Hudon (1; PPG) – 18:22First period8:48 – Justin Sigrist (1)
Ronalds Kenins (1) – 11:50Second period16:55 – Raphael Prassl (1)
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
Denis Malgin (1) – 6:32First overtime periodNo scoring
Tobias Stephan (39 shots / 37 saves)Goalie stats Ludovic Waeber (27 shots / 24 saves)
15 AprilZSC Lions5–0Lausanne HC Hallenstadion, Zürich Recap
Ludovic Waeber (26 shots / 26 saves)Goalie stats Tobias Stephan (32 shots / 28 saves)
17 AprilLausanne HC0–3ZSC Lions Vaudoise Aréna, Lausanne Recap
Tobias Stephan (27 shots / 25 saves)Goalie stats Ludovic Waeber (39 shots / 39 saves)
19 AprilZSC Lions3–1Lausanne HC Hallenstadion, Zürich Recap
Ludovic Waeber (33 shots / 32 saves)Goalie stats Luca Boltshauser (30 shots / 27 saves)
21 AprilLausanne HC5–2ZSC Lions Vaudoise Aréna, Lausanne Recap  
Charles Hudon (1; PPG) – 15:17First period3:28 – Raphael Prassl (1)
Denis Malgin (1; PPG) – 19:21Second period12:40 – Sven Andrighetto (1)
Third period
Tobias Stephan (40 shots / 38 saves)Goalie stats Ludovic Waeber (32 shots / 28 saves)
23 AprilZSC Lions3–0Lausanne HC Hallenstadion, Zürich Recap
Ludovic Waeber (29 shots / 29 saves)Goalie stats Tobias Stephan (17 shots / 15 saves)
ZSC Lions win series 4–2

Semi-finals

(1) EV Zug vs. (10) SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

25 AprilEV Zug6–1SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Bossard Arena, Zug Recap  
First periodNo scoring
Second period10:54 – Kevin Clark (1)
Justin Abdelkader (2) – 13:34Third periodNo scoring
Leonardo Genoni (30 shots / 29 saves)Goalie stats Melvin Nyffeler (28 shots / 23 saves)
Noël Bader (19 shots / 18 saves)
27 AprilSC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers2–4EV Zug St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena, Rapperswil Recap
Melvin Nyffeler (28 shots / 24 saves)Goalie stats Leonardo Genoni (40 shots / 38 saves)
29 AprilEV Zug1–2SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Bossard Arena, Zug Recap  
Gregory Hofmann (1) – 13:21First period
No scoringSecond periodNo scoring
No scoringThird periodNo scoring
Leonardo Genoni (17 shots / 15 saves)Goalie stats Melvin Nyffeler (32 shots / 31 saves)
1 MaySC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers3–6EV Zug St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena, Rapperswil Recap  
No scoringFirst period
Second period12:57 – Jan Kovář (1)
Nando Eggenberger (1) – 13:11Third period
Melvin Nyffeler (34 shots / 29 saves)Goalie stats Leonardo Genoni (37 shots / 34 saves)
EV Zug win series 3–1

(5) ZSC Lions vs. (6) Genève-Servette HC

25 AprilZSC Lions1–2Genève-Servette HC Hallenstadion, Zürich Recap
Ludovic Waeber (30 shots / 28 saves)Goalie stats Daniel Manzato (22 shots / 21 saves)
27 AprilGenève-Servette HC4–1ZSC Lions Patinoire des Vernets, Geneva Recap
Daniel Manzato (36 shots / 35 saves)Goalie stats Ludovic Waeber (20 shots / 16 saves)
29 AprilZSC Lions1–4Genève-Servette HC Hallenstadion, Zürich Recap  
Dario Trutmann (1) – 11:38First period8:40 – Daniel Winnik (1; PPG)
No scoringSecond period9:41 – Daniel Winnik (2)
No scoringThird period
Ludovic Waeber (23 shots / 20 saves)Goalie stats Daniel Manzato (21 shots / 20 saves)
Genève-Servette HC win series 3–0

Final (1) EV Zug vs. (6) Genève-Servette HC

3 MayEV Zug1–0Genève-Servette HC Bossard Arena, Zug Recap
Leonardo Genoni (35 shots / 35 saves)Goalie stats Daniel Manzato (30 shots / 29 saves)
5 MayGenève-Servette HC1–2EV Zug Patinoire des Vernets, Geneva Recap
Daniel Manzato (28 shots / 26 saves)Goalie stats Leonardo Genoni (23 shots / 22 saves)
7 MayEV Zug5–1Genève-Servette HC Bossard Arena, Zug Recap
Leonardo Genoni (35 shots / 34 saves)Goalie stats Daniel Manzato (37 shots / 33 saves)
EV Zug win series 3–0

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References

  1. "League assembly: no relegation, 52 games and pre-playoffs". swisshockeynews.ch. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. "Zug is qualification winner" (in German). SRF. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. "Round-up National League" (in German). SRF. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. "Jetzt zählen Punkte pro Spiel" (in German). blick.ch. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. "Player stats" (in German). SIHF.ch. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  6. "Goalie stats" (in German). SIHF.ch. Retrieved 10 October 2020.