The game between Kloten and Ambri-Piotta was turbulent at times
Image: Keystone
ZSC forward Juho Lammikko (front) pushes the puck over the line to supposedly tie the game 3-3 against SC Bern
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Biel's top scorer Toni Rajala beats HCD goalie Luca Hollenstein with the 14th attempt in the penalty shootout
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Czech David Sklenicka impressed as a two-time assist man in Lausanne's 3-0 home win against Servette
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Lakers goalie Ivars Punnenovs celebrates a shutout in the 4-0 win against Fribourg-Gottéron
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Finland's Saku Mäenalanen makes a strong comeback with a goal and an assist for the SCL Tigers after a three-month injury layoff
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Ajoie, here with Philip-Michael Devos on the puck, clearly misses its second away win of the season in a 4-0 loss in Zug
Image: Keystone
The game between Kloten and Ambri-Piotta was turbulent at times
Image: Keystone
ZSC forward Juho Lammikko (front) pushes the puck over the line to supposedly tie the game 3-3 against SC Bern
Image: Keystone
Biel's top scorer Toni Rajala beats HCD goalie Luca Hollenstein with the 14th attempt in the penalty shootout
Image: Keystone
Czech David Sklenicka impressed as a two-time assist man in Lausanne's 3-0 home win against Servette
Image: Keystone
Lakers goalie Ivars Punnenovs celebrates a shutout in the 4-0 win against Fribourg-Gottéron
Image: Keystone
Finland's Saku Mäenalanen makes a strong comeback with a goal and an assist for the SCL Tigers after a three-month injury layoff
Image: Keystone
Ajoie, here with Philip-Michael Devos on the puck, clearly misses its second away win of the season in a 4-0 loss in Zug
Image: Keystone
The in-form EHC Kloten concedes a rare home defeat in a crazy game against Ambri-Piotta. These are the facts of Saturday's full National League round.
21.12.2024, 23:18
21.12.2024, 23:27
SDA
The fact that EHC Kloten is in the top half of the table is not least due to the home strength of the Zurich lowlanders. On Saturday, however, they put the fans' nerves on edge. The visitors from Ambri were 3:0 ahead by the first interval and still led comfortably 4:1 at the start of the final period before the home team started to catch up. Daniel Audette, Reto Schäppi, Keanu Derungs and Mischa Ramel managed to turn the tide with their goals between the 45th and 56th minutes - but not to secure victory.
Ambri equalized again through Philippe Maillet in the 59th minute and ultimately secured the extra point in the penalty shootout. Maillet and Dario Bürgler (in his 1001st game in the National League) scored twice again to hand Kloten only their fourth home defeat of the season.
Big trouble for the ZSC Lions
A few kilometers to the west in Zurich-Altstetten, the final phase of the top game between the ZSC Lions and SC Bern was also quite turbulent. Defenseman Lukas Klok put Bern ahead for the first time with his first goal of the season five minutes before the end. However, ZSC coach Marc Crawford complained about an offside when SCB made it 3:2, but this could not be clearly proven during the video review. To the Lions' great dissatisfaction, the same thing happened again a little later when Juho Lammikko poked the puck over the line to supposedly equalize the score at 3:3. The champions, who were without their two best Swiss forwards in Denis Malgin (injured) and Sven Andrighetto (ill), thus left the ice as losers for the first time in their third season duel with SCB.
Davos' slump continues
After two recent home defeats, HC Davos, who were replaced as leaders on Friday, are also unable to get back on the winning track away from home. After an early power play goal by Valentin Nussbaumer (6th), the Grisons were in the lead in Biel until the 54th minute, before the home team was finally rewarded for its strong offensive efforts with the equalizer by Jere Sallinen. The decision was only made in the penalty shoot-out and after the 14th attempt. Top scorer Toni Rajala ultimately secured Biel the extra point.
Lausanne takes revenge for European Cup exit
In the round of 16 of the Champions Hockey League, Lausanne were clearly beaten twice by arch-rivals Genève-Servette (0:5 and 4:7). In the National League, however, the Vaud team has a clean sheet in the Léman derbies. They also won their third duel in the current championship with a 3-0 victory, thus moving to the top of the table. David Sklenicka played a decisive role in the home win. The Czech was at the forefront of both the 1-0 goal by top scorer Antti Suomela (8th) and the 2-0 goal by Makai Holdener (31st) with a superb pass.
The Lakers with their next win
The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers continued their upward trend since the change of coach and also won their third game since Johan Lundskog was promoted from assistant to head coach. Their 4-0 win at home against Fribourg-Gottéron was the second time this season that they did not concede a goal. While Ivars Punnenovs saved all 30 shots on his goal, the Dane Nicklas Jensen scored twice up front. The final result was already clear before half-time.
Tigers win on Mäenalanen's comeback
The SCL Tigers managed to turn the tide in their home game against Lugano in the final third. The Emmentalers were trailing 0:1 and 2:3 before Phil Baltisberger and Dario Allenspach scored to give the home team the win. Saku Mäenalanen made a successful comeback for the Tigers. The Finn, who injured his upper body at the end of September, provided the pass for the 1:1 goal (13.) and scored the 2:1 (28.) himself. Lugano's wait for their third away win of the season thus continues.
Zug rehabilitates itself
Bottom team Ajoie, who have never won after 60 minutes on foreign ice this season, were also unable to overcome their weakness on the road in Zug. The team from Jura were already 3-0 down after 27 minutes, and in the end it was 4-0 to EVZ. The team from central Switzerland thus made amends for the 5-2 defeat in Lugano on Friday.
Telegrams:
Kloten - Ambri-Piotta 5:6 (0:3, 1:1, 4:1, 0:0) n.P.
6208 spectators. - SR Kaukokari (FIN)/Hungerbühler, Altmann/Francey. - Goals: 15. Kubalik (DiDomenico, Maillet) 0:1. 18. DiDomenico (Heed, Virtanen/powerplay goal) 0:2. 20. (19:08) Maillet (DiDomenico, Kubalik) 0:3. 26. Schreiber 1:3. 36. DiDomenico (Kubalik) 1:4. 45. Ramel (Audette) 2:4. 49. Schäppi 3:4. 53. Derungs 4:4. 56. Ramel 5:4. 59. Maillet (Virtanen) 5:5 (no goalkeeper). - Penalty shootout: Heed -, Smirnovs -; Kubalik -, Ojamäki -; DiDomenico -, Morley 1:0; Bürgler 1:1, Niku -; Maillet 1:2, Derungs -. - Penalties: 1 times 2 minutes against Kloten, 3 times 2 minutes against Ambri-Piotta. - PostFinance top scorers: Ojamäki; Kubalik.
Kloten: Waeber; Niku, Profico; Grégoire, Wolf; Sidler, Steve Kellenberger; Sataric; Ojamäki, Morley, Audette; Meyer, Smirnovs, Ramel; Derungs, Schäppi, Schreiber; Matthew Kellenberger, Lindemann, Stehli.
Ambri-Piotta: Fadani; Heed, Pezzullo; Virtanen, Zgraggen; Wüthrich, Curran; Isacco Dotti; DiDomenico, Maillet, Kubalik; De Luca, Landry, Zwerger; Bürgler, Kostner, Pestoni; Grassi, Heim, Müller; Douay.
Remarks: Kloten without Aebi, Diem, Marchon, Simic, Steiner, Weibel (all injured) and Aaltonen (sick), Ambri-Piotta without Juvonen (sick). Ambri-Piotta without goalkeeper from 57:46 to 58:36.
ZSC Lions - Bern 2:3 (1:1, 1:1, 0:1)
12'000 spectators. - SR Stolc (SVK)/Ruprecht, Gnemmi/Nater. - Goals: 6. Lammikko (Kinnunen, Lehtonen/powerplay goal) 1:0. 19. Baumgartner (Loeffel, Ejdsell) 1:1 (no goalkeeper). 36. Rohrer (Segafredo, Lehtonen) 2:1. 39. Merelä (Ejdsell, Czarnik/powerplay goal) 2:2 (without a goalkeeper). 55. Klok (Scherwey, Loeffel) 2:3 (without goalkeeper). - Penalties: 5 times 2 minutes against ZSC Lions, 7 times 2 minutes against Bern. - PostFinance top scorers: Grant; Czarnik.
ZSC Lions: Hrubec; Kinnunen, Lehtonen; Kukan, Geering; Yannick Weber, Marti; Trutmann, Schwendeler; Frödén, Lammikko, Zehnder; Baltisberger, Grant, Sigrist; Riedi, Rohrer, Segafredo; Baechler, Olsson.
Bern: Wüthrich; Untersander, Nemeth; Loeffel, Klok; Füllemann, Kindschi; Merelä, Czarnik, Ejdsell; Kahun, Baumgartner, Marchon; Bader, Schläpfer, Scherwey; Schild, Ritzmann, Simon Moser; Ryser.
Remarks: ZSC Lions without Andrighetto (sick), Balcers and Malgin (both injured), Bern without Vermin (sick), Lehmann, Lindholm (both injured) and Reideborn (supernumerary foreigner). ZSC Lions without goalkeeper from 58:25 to 60:00.
Biel - Davos 2:1 (0:1, 0:0, 1:0, 0:0) n.P.
6436 spectators. - SR Hürlimann/Mollard, Humair/Bürgy. - Goals: 6th Nussbaumer (Tambellini, Honka/powerplay goal) 0:1. 54th Sallinen (Heponiemi, Burren) 1:1. - Penalty shoot-out: Heponiemi -, Kessler -; Rajala -, Stransky -; Greco -, Corvi -; Sallinen 1:0, Tambellini -; Christen -, Ryfors 1:1; Honka 1:2, Hofer 2:2; Stransky -, Rajala 3:2. - Penalties: 6 times 2 minutes against Biel, 3 times 2 minutes against Davos. - PostFinance top scorers: Rajala; Tambellini.
Biel: Säteri; Zryd, Yakovenko; Burren, Grossmann; Stampfli, Blessing; Delémont; Sallinen, Heponiemi, Rajala; Greco, Nicolas Müller, Kneubuehler; Hofer, Luca Christen, Cunti; Cattin, Tanner, Bachofner; von Rohr.
Davos: Hollenstein; Jung, Gross; Honka, Dahlbeck; Calle Andersson, Barandun; Guebey; Stransky, Corvi, Frehner; Kessler, Ryfors, Tambellini; Nussbaumer, Egli, Lemieux; Wieser, Ambühl, Knak; Parrée.
Remarks: Biel without Lias Andersson, Brunner, Bächler, Bärtschi, Haas, Lööv and Sablatnig (all injured), Davos without Fora, Nordström (both injured) and Zadina (sick).
Lausanne - Genève-Servette 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
9600 spectators. - SR Lemelin (USA)/Gerber, Stalder/Meusy. - Goals: 8. Suomela (Sklenicka) 1:0. 31. Holdener (Sklenicka) 2:0. 60. (59:46) Pajuniemi 3:0 (into the empty net). - Penalties: 5 times 2 minutes against Lausanne, 4 times 2 minutes against Genève-Servette. - PostFinance top scorers: Suomela; Manninen.
Lausanne: Pasche; Sklenicka, Bayreuther; Heldner, Frick; Fiedler, Marti; Vouardoux, Genazzi; Riat, Suomela, Oksanen; Bozon, Jäger, Fuchs; Pajuniemi, Kuokkanen, Rochette; Hügli, Benjamin Bougro, Holdener.
Genève-Servette: Raanta; Vatanen, Le Coultre; Chanton, Berni; Karrer, Lennström; Jacquemet; Praplan, Manninen, Granlund; Miranda, Richard, Bertaggia; Loosli, Jooris, Pouliot; Völlmin, Cavalleri, Imesch.
Remarks: Lausanne without Glauser, Pilut, Prassl and Raffl (all injured), Genève-Servette without Mayer (sick), Descloux, Hartikainen, Hischier, Palve and Rod (all injured). Genève-Servette without a goalkeeper from 58:30 to 59:46.
SCL Tigers - Lugano 4:3 (1:1, 1:2, 2:0)
6000 spectators. - SR Tscherrig/Ströbel, Cattaneo/Gurtner. - Goals: 11. Sekac (Thürkauf) 0:1. 13. Paschoud (Mäenalanen) 1:1. 28. Mäenalanen (Petrini/underpaid goal!) 2:1. 32. Marco Müller (Canonica) 2:2. 38. Carr (Fazzini, Pulli) 2:3. 49. Baltisberger (Malone) 3:3. 59. Allenspach (Malone) 4:3. - Penalties: 5 times 2 minutes against SCL Tigers, 4 times 2 minutes against Lugano. - PostFinance top scorers: Rohrbach; Joly.
SCL Tigers: Charlin; Brian Zanetti, Riikola; Saarijärvi, Paschoud; Guggenheim, Baltisberger; Meier; Mäenalanen, Malone, Saarela; Rohrbach, Flavio Schmutz, Pesonen; Fahrni, Canova, Petrini; Allenspach, Salzgeber, Lapinskis; Julian Schmutz.
Lugano: Nyffeler; Aebischer, Dahlström; Pulli, Alatalo; Jesper Peltonen, Guerra; Meile; Fazzini, Arcobello, Carr; Reichle, Canonica, Marco Müller; Joly, Thürkauf, Sekac; Aleksi Peltonen, Verboon, Patry; Marco Zanetti.
Remarks: SCL Tigers without Berger (sick), Erni (injured) and Kristof (supernumerary foreigner), Lugano without Morini, Mirco Müller, Zohorna, van Pottelberghe (all injured) and Huska (supernumerary foreigner). Lugano without goalkeeper from 58:52.
Rapperswil-Jona Lakers - Fribourg-Gottéron 4:0 (1:0, 3:0, 0:0)
5039 spectators. - SR Wiegand/Staudenmann, Huguet/Urfer. - Goals: 10. Nardella (Capaul) 1:0. 24. Moy (Dünner) 2:0. 27. Jensen (Aberg, Nardella/powerplay goal) 3:0. 30. Jensen (Rask) 4:0. - Penalties: 5 times 2 minutes against Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, 6 times 2 minutes against Fribourg-Gottéron. - PostFinance top scorers: Strömwall; Wallmark.
Rapperswil-Jona Lakers: Punnenovs; Baragano, Nardella; Maier, Holm; Capaul, Jelovac; Colin Gerber; Aberg, Rask, Jensen; Moy, Dünner, Strömwall; Hofer, Taibel, Lammer; Wick, Wetter, Zangger; Alge.
Fribourg-Gottéron: Berra; Diaz, Borgman; Gunderson, Jecker; Sutter, Streule; Rathgeb, Dufner; Bertschy, Wallmark, Mottet; Binias, Vey, Lilja; Sprunger, De la Rose, Marchon; Nicolet, Walser, Jeremi Gerber.
Remarks: Rapperswil-Jona Lakers without Albrecht, Djuse, Larsson, Quinn (all injured) and Fritz (supernumerary foreigner), Fribourg-Gottéron without Etter, Schmid and Sörensen (all injured).
Zug - Ajoie 4:0 (1:0, 3:0, 0:0)
7507 spectators. - SR Piechaczek (GER)/Dipietro, Schlegel/Bichsel. - Goals: 19th Senteler (Künzle) 1:0. 27th (26:02) Simion (Senteler) 2:0. 27th (26:54) Wingerli (Carlsson, Leuenberger) 3:0. 39th Olofsson 4:0. - Penalties: 6 times 2 minutes against Zug, 4 times 2 minutes against Ajoie. - PostFinance top scorers: Vozenilek; Turkulainen.
Zug: Wolf; Tobias Geisser, Riva; Hansson, Stadler; Schlumpf, Carlsson; Mischa Geisser; Vozenilek, Kovar, Hofmann; Martschini, Olofsson, Herzog; Simion, Senteler, Künzle; Eggenberger, Leuenberger, Wingerli; Lindemann.
Ajoie: Ciaccio; Honka, Fey; Nussbaumer, Fischer; Minder, Maurer; Thiry, Pilet; Turkulainen, Bellemare, Nättinen; Hazen, Devos, Pedretti; Sopa, Romanenghi, Schmutz; Veckaktins, Garessus, Bozon.
Remarks: Zug without Bengtsson and Biasca (both sick), Ajoie without Frossard, Patenaude and Scheidegger (all injured).
