Last year's playoff finalist Lausanne stops its mini crisis after three defeats in a row. They won 1-0 at home against Biel, who were also weakening.
Lausanne HC celebrated a highly deserved but too narrow victory against Biel, who were harmless for long stretches. In the end, the one goal by Finland's Lauri Pajuniemi in the 23rd minute was enough for the win.
A strong goalie Harri Säteri (39 saves) kept the Seelanders in the game for a long time. In the end, however, it was young Kevin Pasche who celebrated his fifth shutout of the season, saving 23 shots. In general, scoring goals is Biel's big problem. They lost 1-0 for the third time in the last seven games, and the suspension of top scorer and captain Toni Rajala did not bear fruit.
After a good phase, the young team of Swedish coach Martin Filander has now lost seven of its last eight games and - with the exception of a 6-1 win against Lausanne - has only scored eight goals. Lausanne, on the other hand, returned to winning ways after three defeats in a row.
Telegram and standings:
Lausanne - Biel 1:0 (0:0, 1:0, 0:0)
8929 spectators. - SR Stricker/Kova (FIN), Stalder/Steenstra (CAN). - Goal: 23rd Pajuniemi (Fiedler) 1:0. - Penalties: 1 x 2 minutes against Lausanne, 2 x 2 minutes against Biel. - PostFinance top scorers: Suomela; Rajala.
Lausanne: Pasche; Sklenicka, Bayreuther; Glauser, Fiedler; Heldner, Frick; Vouardoux, Marti; Riat, Suomela, Oksanen; Bozon, Jäger, Hügli; Pajuniemi, Kuokkanen, Fuchs; Holdener, Benjamin Bougro, Genazzi.
Biel: Säteri; Zryd, Yakovenko; Burren, Grossmann; Stampfli, Blessing; Christe; Neuenschwander, Heponiemi, Sallinen; Greco, Luca Christen, Rajala; Hofer, Müller, Kneubuehler; Bachofner, Tanner, Schläpfer; Cattin.
Remarks: Lausanne without Pilut, Prassl, Raffl and Rochette (all injured), Biel without Andersson, Brunner, Bärtschi, Cunti, Gaëtan Haas and Lööv (all injured). Biel without goalkeeper from 57:58.
Ranking: 1. Davos 27/55. 2. ZSC Lions 24/52. 3. Lausanne 27/49. 4. Bern 27/48. 5. Kloten 27/44. 6. Zug 27/43. 7. Biel 27/37. 8. SCL Tigers 25/35. 9. Genève-Servette 24/34. 10. Fribourg-Gottéron 27/34. 11. Ambri-Piotta 26/33. 12. Lugano 25/32. 13. Rapperswil-Jona Lakers 27/32. 14. Ajoie 26/21.
