After just about scrapping through to the Quarter-Finals, Swiss side Genève-Servette made a statement by beating reigning SHL champions Växjö Lakers in the First Game of their QF match-up.
Genève scored two goals within the first five minutes of the game and added goal #3 by the end of the opening frame.
"I think it was a proper team effort," started Genève's Daniel Winnik, "every line was getting the puck in deep and forechecking - it was like waves hitting!"
"Hunting down the pucks was really important, the third goal from Tim Berni proves that," he added.
Växjö entered the game as the second-best team of the Regular Season and the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition after eight games played. Yet the reigning Swedish champions looked completely out of focus in the first period. What caught them off?
"I'm not sure really," said Winnik, "maybe they weren't expecting the speed, our intensity."
Near-perfect discipline really helped Genève in this game, was that part of the game plan?
"Yeah, it was a really good game for us, we really returned to our playing identity," explained Winnik.
With a three-goal buffer, the CHL Semi-Finals look well within Genève's reach.
"It's still too early," he replied without hesitation, "you really don't know what's going to happen in the Return Game and we haven't played a Swedish team this season as well so..."
What's the plan heading into next week's game? Defending the lead?
"No, I don't think so," responded Winnik rather firmly, "a lesson from our game with Munich was that it doesn't pay off - they sat back with a bit of a lead and I think that gave us the win against them," he ended.