Hawks Lose Victoria Cup

After routing the Swiss champion HC Davos 9-2, the Hawks lost a tight game to the ZSC Zurich Lions, 2-1. After all the hype, and of course the butt-kicking the previous game, it was a quite a shock that the Chicago Blackhawks lost this game. Whatetver, they are to busy getting ready for the Florida Panthers in the season opener in Finland. Here's the full story. Courtesy of NHL.com:
Lions roar against Blackhawks
Tuesday, 09.29.2009 / 4:30 PM / 2009 Compuware NHL Premiere
By Shawn P. Roarke - NHL.com Managing Editor

ZURICH -- The ZSC Zurich Lions shocked the hockey world Tuesday night at Hallenstadion, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1, to win the Victoria Cup.Patrik Barschi and Lukas Grauwiler scored goals against Cristobal Huet to counter a goal by Cam Barker of Chicago and deliver the Lions one of the biggest wins in their history.The Lions used a steadfast commitment to defense and positional play to limit the Hawks' scoring chances throughout the game, often sacrificing their bodies against the bigger, more physically imposing Hawks. Youngster Blaine Down, called up from the Baby Lions for this game, was a perfect example. At least three times during the game Down blocked a shot and left the ice hobbling, only to take his next shift.Defenseman Daniel Schnyder was another example of Zurich's tenacity. Locked in a crease battle with the hulking Dustin Byfuglien in the third period, Schnyder never backed down and never gave an inch, frustrating Byfuglien into taking a retaliatory slashing penalty.And so it was throughout the Lions roster.But perhaps nobody stood taller than Finnish legend Ari Sulander in goal. Sulander, known as "The Wall," is on the wrong side of 40, but on this night he recaptured the magic that made him a Finnish national icon almost two decades earlier. Sulander stared down some of the best offensive players in the NHL and never blinked -- allowing nothing more than Barker's first-period goal on an awkward slapper that hit of the goalie's knee and bounced into the net.His teammates picked their goaltender up after that mistake, tightening the screws in the defensive zone as a timely offense put the Lions back in the game. First, Patrik Barschi scored on a breakaway just six minutes after Barker's opening goal.Then it was the unsung Grauwiler with one of the most famous goals in the proud history of the reigning European champions. Grauwiler was in the right place at the right time to beat Barker to the rebound of a shot by teammate Cyrill Buhler and give the Lions a lead they never would relinquish.