Zug, Langnau and the eternal “chicken problem” of goalkeepers.

The great Leonardo Genoni is currently out due to injury.Image: trapezoid

Leonardo Genoni was injured before the first championship game. It's unclear when he will return. His coach Dan Downes said: “He has never trained on the ice with the team before. In the best case, we can rely on him again after the national team break. But there is also the possibility that he will be later It will come back later.”

Without a World Cup final goalkeeper, the question remains: did the Swiss reach the final in 2018 and 2024 because of Leonardo Genoni, or did he become a World Cup final hero twice because of the man before him? – Zug won only four of its first ten games. The explanation seems simple: without Leonardo Genoni, none of this would work. His successor, Tim Wolfe, actually got to write down the “lottery goalie” statistics. In the 2:6 match in Davos, the hit rate was about 79.31%, and in the 3:6 match in Lausanne, the hit rate even reached 76.92%. With such fishing quotas, even if God were in the storm and Satan was on the chessboard, victory would be impossible.

But it's now clear that Tim Wolfe may be more of a victim than a perpetrator in what has been a rough start to the season. He was only charged because of the negligence of the person in front of him. Teams make goalies great, not the other way around.

• 7

  A leader who can decide games and make his team better on and off the ice.

• 6-7

  A talented player who can decide a game on a good night and is a leader.

• 5-6

  A good NL player: usually a rainbow butterfly of talent, sometimes a serious worker who brings out a lot of talent.

• 4-5

  Players on the third or fourth block, veterans or newcomers.

• 3-4

  The future is still ahead of you, or the future is already behind you.

• The rating is the North American hockey grading standard, ranging from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). There are no levels below level 3 because those who play in the top leagues are at least barely adequate.

But the “chicken question” is not so easy to answer. Over the past three games, Tim Wolfe has put up statistics that can even be attributed to Leonardo Genoni. Against Lugano (5:1) he had a block rate of 97.44%, against Servetus (5:1) he had a block rate of 95.00%, and now against Langnau (4:0) he has a block rate of 97.44%. He reached 100% for the first time this season.

Does Zug have a more focused defense and a taller goalkeeper? At least in the 4-0 win at Langnau, the answer was clear: it was the goalkeeper who made the team great and was able to “steal” the victory. Even his famous frontman makes outrageous mistakes from time to time. Fortunately for the people of Zug, they had the hockey gods on their side right from the start: referee Ken Morad blew the whistle too early. Joshua Fahrni's 1-0 win doesn't count. The goal might – just maybe – release much-needed energy reserves in Langnau and nerves in Zug.

But then Tim Wolfe became the hero of the night. He just saved every puck. Somehow. He is not a cool, elegant stylist like Leonardo Genoni. But this has nothing to do with style notes. This was almost certainly Tim Wolfe's best game against Zug to date. Only in the final minutes, when everything has already been decided, when the Langnau team wants to score at least a consolation goal with passion, is the team that makes the goalkeeper great: with a feeling that seems to Defensive determination – goals scored. Each helped their last man achieve his first 'lock' (the technical term for a game without conceding a goal) of the season. Tim Wolfe is the hardest-working goaltender in the league. The only one to play every game for his team.

The man in front also helped Tim Wolfe get his first shutout of the season.Image: trapezoid

Tim Wolfe is the father of Langnau Victory. The goaltender who makes his team great. The goalkeeper also plays an important role on the losing side. The question is legitimate: after heroic struggles against Bern on Wednesday (2:1 a.m.) and Friday in Friborg (3:2 p.m.), Langnauer simply did not have enough energy against Zug to allow Luka Boltshauser becomes great player goalkeeper?

Maybe. But maybe not. A goalkeeper can be the most important source of energy and a recharging station for empty batteries. When he gives those in front courage and confidence with his miraculous saves and ensures they play bigger, faster and stronger than they actually are.

Luca Boltshauser couldn't really replace Stefan Chalin against Zug.Image: trapezoid

Langnau coach Thierry Patellini turned down the gift from the hockey gods. They gave him the best goalie in the league in Stefan Charlin (96.09% catch rate). Stéphane Charlin was the man of victory against SCB (96.77% catch rate) and Gottéron (95.56%, plus 7 penalties saved). Even the NHL scouts in the stands bowed. He might be able to cast a spell on the Langnauers and give them victory over Zug. A third game in four days makes sense. Before the national team break, the only games in the program for the Langnauers are Davos at the top (Tuesday) and Plantroot (Saturday) at the bottom. Luka Boltshauser was not a great goalkeeper against Zug. His block rate is only 82.61%.

The question then goes to Thierry Patellini: why not play Stéphane Challin against Zug? His deployment was approved. “His recent performance this season has also been very good.” It may be true: recently, No. 2 saved 92.31% of shots against Kloten (0:2), and the second goal was into an empty net. Furthermore: It is also important that Luca Boltschauser’s sense of self is nurtured, cared for, groomed and sorted out. Next season will depend on Langnau. Stéphane Charlin will no longer be available.

What happens if Langnau's coach, Stephane Charlin, is appointed but still fails? Then someone will now say: Thierry Patellini nominated the wrong goalkeeper. It is incomprehensible that he expected Stéphane Charlin to play his third game in four days. Victory is possible if Luca Boltshauser rests. The smart ones will remember that just over a year ago, on October 6, 2023, Langnauer beat Zug 3-2 thanks to a goal from Luca Boltshauser Team (Zug).

Stéphane Charlin gets the breakthrough against Zug.Image: trapezoid

That's it. After that, every chronicler is a master trainer, and after the battle, every soldier is a general. And the “chicken question” — whether goaltending makes a team great or vice versa — remains unanswered.