After three defeats in a row: Tölzer Löwen want to score against Kaufbeuren.
Bad Tölz - The two teams last met ten days ago.
Since the Tölzer Löwen defeated the ESV Kaufbeuren with 7: 3.
But before the home game on Sunday (5pm), some crucial things have changed, says Löwen coach Kevin Gaudet: “With Sasa Martinovic we lost one of our best defenders.
Markus Eberhardt replaces the veteran tolerably, but Gaudet could have used him for the offensive.
After three defeats in a row: Tölz needs points against Kaufbeuren
The coach warns that his team does not need to imagine anything about the victory in the previous home game.
Every game this year is extremely difficult because of the tight schedule and relatively balanced DEL2.
In addition: "Two games against the same opponent in a row are seldom won." The loser wants to settle the outstanding bill and is extremely motivated.
This is especially true for Kaufbeuren because the table eighth wants to stay on the play-off course.
In the Allgäu region, Gaudet identified top foreigners on the offensive.
There are the two Canadians John Lammers (49 points) and Tyler Spurgeon (40), in the past top scorer in the Austrian First League and now at the top of the internal list.
This is also his compatriot Branden Gracel (31) and above all the Finnish joker Sami Blomqvist, who was the best scorer in the DEL 2 last season. After his injury, he is getting better and better.
Again a challenge for the recently somewhat ailing Löwen defense.
A lack of concentration often led to bad mistakes and goals conceded.
"Martinovic's failure didn't improve this problem," said Gaudet.
In addition, two of the five defenders are still very young.
“Niklas Heinzinger and Maximilian Leitner do it well.
But we don't have seven defenders, so they have 20 minutes of ice time in every game, ”the coach said.
And the Tölzer team have to deal with concentrated Kaufbeurer offensive power.
One thing counts above all for the Lions: a solid defense.
“It all starts with staying out of the penalty box and defending yourself,” says Gaudet.
“We absolutely have to avoid goals, ideally take the lead straight away.” Surprisingly, Mario Lamoureux could take care of that again - as on Friday.
Actually, Tyler McNeely should come to his first missions after a long injury break.
But the 33-year-old Canadian has just become a father, but is now unable to do so privately.
So Lamoureux, whose contract expires at the end of next week, takes the center forward place in the second row.
With dots from the downward spiral
The lions in the storm also have to do without the two corona convalescents Thomas Merl and Hannes Sedlmayr.
At Sedlmayr, the season is probably over - he probably got myocarditis.
And even at Merl, there is still no real thought of being involved.
“He tries to train, but always has a headache afterwards,” says Gaudet.
Despite all the adversities: the coach and his team want to avoid falling into a downward spiral after two defeats in a row.
Gaudet: "We have to find a way to get the three points."