Earlier today, Dustin Brown suited up with the ZSC Lions for the second time and the first of back-to-back games he’ll play in Switzerland this weekend. The match-up took place in Zurich vs Geneve-Servette and featured the top two teams in the league. Things were tied 1-1 with six minutes remaining in regulation – then the real fun began.
Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks put the visiting team up 2-1 at 14:21 of the third period. However, ZSC scored two goals of their own during the next few minutes, taking a 3-2 lead with time running out.
The outcome was far from over though. With just a 1:26 left in regulation, Geneve tied it again and they game went to overtime, 3-3.
Just 2:11 into the extra session, Brown had the puck coming up the wing, but chose to pass it off.
Marco Mauerer scored and ZSC beat the top team in the division by a final of 4-3.
“I had picked up the puck from Wicker (Roman Wick) and I had a quick two-on-one,” Brown said, describing the game-winning goal. “But I was outside and with the wide ice it’s hard to judge where you are on the ice. I think I was too wide to get a good shot, so I saw Marco coming down the wing and I just laid it over for him.”
Brown earned the assist, which was far better than the punches to the face he had been taking earlier in the game.
“This reminded me more of an NHL game, with the physicality,” he remarked. “It’s a little bit faster, there’s more forecheck, fast-paced. It was probably harder on me physically, but it will get me into even better shape quicker.”
Even with a goal and an assist in his two games played so far, Brown says he still not up to his usual level of play.
“It’s going to take me a week or two to kinda get up to full speed, where I like feel myself out there. Part of it’s skill work and handling the puck, part of it’s just the conditioning. I’ve now played two games since June 11th. I jump right in and I feel pretty good. But, once I get my legs under me and get playing five, six, seven games, then I’ll start to feel better.”
For the second game in a row he was also caught sticking his tongue out on the ice (in two pictures below and here during his first game) – not sideways, ala Rob Blake. This is more like Gene Simmonds of KISS. No comment on this new addition to his repertoire just yet. But, we’ll check back in with the Kings’ captain later…
Select photos above were provided courtesy of ZSCblog.ch
Brown and the Lions will travel to play EHC Biel tomorrow, a team that features Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks and Tyler Seguin of the Edmonton Oilers. Then, next Tuesday, they’ll return home for a game vs. the Flyers.
Sadly, that’s a team from Kloten – not Philadelphia.
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Do you know why DB has his tongue sticking out? Because he can!! He’s the man!!
Hello hockey friends. For more info on Brown’s team in Switzerland, visit here: http://www.zscblog.ch