SC Bern secured a crucial 3-0 victory against a struggling HC Lugano in Tuesday's National League action, scoring three late goals to ease pressure on the team. In another key matchup, Genève-Servette HC came out on top in a dramatic nine-goal game against HC Ambrì-Piotta, winning 5-4 with a late power-play goal.
Elsewhere, Fribourg-Gottéron defeated the ZSC Lions in a penalty shootout, Lausanne HC earned a convincing win over the SCL Tigers, and the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers continued their strong record against EHC Biel-Bienne.
Key Takeaways
- SC Bern defeated HC Lugano 3-0 with three goals in the final seven minutes.
- Genève-Servette won a high-scoring 5-4 game against HC Ambrì-Piotta.
- Fribourg-Gottéron secured a 3-2 shootout victory over the ZSC Lions.
- Lausanne HC, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, and EHC Kloten also recorded wins.
- HC Davos extended its winning streak with a shootout victory in Zug.
Bern Finds Relief with Late Goals in Lugano
In a matchup between two teams seeking to build momentum, SC Bern traveled to Lugano and left with a valuable 3-0 win. The game remained scoreless for over 53 minutes, reflecting the cautious play from both sides.
The deadlock was broken late in the third period when Lugano found themselves in penalty trouble. A double minor penalty gave SC Bern a two-man advantage, which they capitalized on decisively. Waltteri Merelä scored the opening goal at 53:14 to give Bern the lead.
Less than a minute later, with Bern still on the power play, Joël Vermin added a second goal at 54:11. An empty-net goal in the final moments sealed the 3-0 result. The victory provides a significant boost for SC Bern, while HC Lugano's difficulties continue, having secured only five points from their first seven games of the season.
A Tale of Two Teams
The game was widely seen as a "crisis duel" between two of Swiss hockey's major clubs, both of whom have had challenging starts to the season. Bern's ability to convert on the late power-play opportunities proved to be the critical difference in a tightly contested game.
Geneva Wins Dramatic Nine-Goal Contest
Fans at the Vernets arena were treated to a thrilling, back-and-forth game as Genève-Servette HC ultimately defeated HC Ambrì-Piotta 5-4. The deciding goal came from Josh Jooris on a power play at 53:08 in the third period.
Ambrì-Piotta held the lead for significant portions of the game. Dario Bürgler opened the scoring just two minutes into the first period. After Geneva tied the game, Jesse Virtanen scored a shorthanded goal to put Ambri ahead 2-1.
A Wild Second Period Sees Four Goals
The middle frame featured a remarkable burst of scoring. Ambrì-Piotta appeared to take control with a quick pair of goals from Nicolas Petan and Dominic Zwerger, scored just 62 seconds apart, to build a 4-2 lead.
However, Genève-Servette mounted an immediate and stunning response. Jesse Puljujärvi scored for the hosts, and just 15 seconds later, Jimmy Vesey tied the game at 4-4. This rapid exchange of goals set the stage for a tense final period, where Jooris's goal made the difference, handing Ambrì-Piotta its sixth consecutive loss.
Rapid-Fire Scoring
The second period saw four goals scored in a span of just 2 minutes and 17 seconds. Geneva's two goals to tie the game came in a remarkable 15-second window, completely shifting the momentum of the match.
Fribourg Outlasts ZSC Lions in Shootout
Fribourg-Gottéron earned a hard-fought extra point, defeating the ZSC Lions 3-2 after a penalty shootout. Sandro Schmid was the only player to score in the shootout, converting on the very first attempt to secure the victory for his team.
During regulation, the ZSC Lions took an early lead before Fribourg responded in the second period. Michael Kapla and Kevin Etter both scored their first goals of the season within a four-minute span to give Fribourg a 2-1 advantage.
The lead was short-lived, as Mikko Lehtonen scored for Zurich shortly after, following an impressive setup by Denis Malgin. The third period and overtime were scoreless, leading to the decisive shootout where Fribourg's goaltending and Schmid's single goal were enough for the win.
Lausanne Secures Convincing Home Win
Lausanne HC returned to winning form with a dominant 4-1 victory over the SCL Tigers. After a recent loss to Kloten, last season's playoff finalists established control early and never looked back.
The home team's special teams were effective in the first period, with Drake Caggiula and Théo Rochette both scoring on the power play to build a 2-0 lead. The game was effectively decided early in the second period with another quick scoring burst.
Antti Suomela found the net at 21:51, and just 23 seconds later, Floran Douay made it 4-0. The SCL Tigers managed to get on the scoreboard in the third period with a power-play goal from Harri Pesonen, but it was merely a consolation.
Other Results from Around the League
A summary of the other games played on Tuesday night in the National League.
Lakers Continue Dominance Over Biel
The Rapperswil-Jona Lakers defeated EHC Biel-Bienne 5-2, marking their fifth victory in the last six meetings between the two clubs. Goals from Malte Strömwall and Marlon Graf gave the Lakers an early lead. Although Biel managed to cut the deficit to 2-1 and later 3-2 through goals from Lias Andersson and Petr Cajka, they were unable to complete the comeback.
Kloten Takes Overtime Win Against Ajoie
In a game between two teams at the lower end of the standings, EHC Kloten edged HC Ajoie 2-1 in overtime. The winning goal came just 28 seconds into the extra period, with Petteri Puhakka scoring off an assist from fellow Finn Robert Leino. The result gives Kloten two points, while Ajoie secures one point for the overtime loss.
Davos Extends Winning Streak
HC Davos continued its impressive run of form by defeating EV Zug in a penalty shootout. The victory extends the team's current winning streak and keeps them among the top teams in the league standings early in the season.