Reigning CHL Champions Genève-Servette got their Quarter-Finals First Game off to the best possible start last night when they scored four unanswered goals against Pinguins Bremerhaven.
Not only do the Swiss team enter the Return Game with a hefty four-goal aggregate lead, but they have also taken revenge against the Germans who beat them earlier this season, and nobody can be thanked more than veteran goaltender Antti Raanta who played spectacularly in his third game of the season.
"Everyone put themselves on the line"Antti Raanta, Genève-Servette
"We faced a really good team. We took it to them in the first period, but they were really strong and had a lot of action, a lot of shots, themselves," started Raanta as he went back through the game that saw him face, and save, 35 shots on goal.
"We played well in the second and third periods as a team. Everyone put themselves on the line in the game, blocking a lot of shots and helping me in net," he added.
A four-goal lead sounds comforting, but does Raanta think this tie is done and dusted?
"Oh no," he replied instantly, "it's never easy on the road and their fans are really going to give it to us. I can't wait to see that, it's going to be loud!"
What will the recipe to keep the Bremerhaven offence that scored five goals last time at home against Skellefteå AIK be?
"We just have to keep our discipline and not take unnecessary penalties. Keep to what has worked for us recently," summarised the goaltender.
Don't miss the Return Game between Pinguins Bremerhaven and Genève-Servette that will be played on Tuesday, 17 December at 19:30 CET in Eisarena Bremerhaven!