Several National League teams secured vital points in recent games, significantly impacting their standings and playoff aspirations. Bern, Zug, Fribourg-Gottéron, Davos, Ajoie, and Biel all emerged victorious, marking a pivotal moment in the regular season.
Key Takeaways
- Bern ended a three-game home losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Lausanne.
- EV Zug achieved their second consecutive win under new coach Benoît Groulx.
- Fribourg-Gottéron extended their winning streak to six games after beating ZSC Lions in a shootout.
- Leader Davos maintained its strong form with a 4-1 win against Lugano.
- Ajoie surprised Kloten with a 4-2 win despite being outshot significantly.
- Biel showed strong resilience, coming back to defeat Lakers 5-4.
Bern Secures Play-In Position
Bern delivered a strong performance against Lausanne, winning 3-1. This victory marks their fourth success in the last five games. The team also broke a difficult streak of three winless home games, boosting morale and their position in the standings.
Lausanne initially took the lead through Théo Rochette. However, Bern quickly responded. Mats Alge and Marco Lehmann turned the score in Bern's favor before the end of the second period. In the final period, Waltteri Merelä extended Bern's lead to 3-1.
Game Fact
Waltteri Merelä’s goal in the third period solidified Bern’s lead, making a comeback for Lausanne difficult. Penalties taken by Lausanne further hindered their chances.
Lausanne's attempts to mount a comeback were hampered by several penalties, allowing Bern to control the game's final minutes effectively. This win is crucial for Bern as they push for a spot in the play-ins.
Fribourg-Gottéron Extends Winning Streak
Fribourg-Gottéron continued their impressive form, defeating ZSC Lions 4-3 in a penalty shootout. This victory marks their sixth consecutive win, showcasing their strong momentum this season.
The game was tightly contested, living up to expectations. Fribourg took a 2-0 lead in the first period. The ZSC Lions responded in the second, leveling the score. Attilio Biasca then put Fribourg ahead again.
"Our team showed incredible resilience tonight. Five penalty saves by Reto Berra were instrumental in securing the extra point for us."
Jesper Fröden scored a late equalizer for ZSC in the 59th minute, forcing the game into overtime. However, Fribourg's goalkeeper, Reto Berra, became the hero of the shootout, saving five penalties. Christoph Bertschy was the only successful shooter for Fribourg, clinching the win.
Coaching Impact
The EV Zug's recent success highlights the immediate impact of new head coach Benoît Groulx. His ability to quickly motivate the team has led to back-to-back victories.
Zug and Biel Show Resilience
EV Zug secured their second win under new coach Benoît Groulx, beating SCL Tigers 3-1. Andreas Wingerli opened the scoring for Zug late in the first period. Harri Pesonen equalized for the Tigers in the 39th minute.
Dominik Kubalik then scored twice in the final period, first with a skillful individual effort on a counter-attack, then with an empty-net goal to seal the victory. The SCL Tigers faced an early setback when goalie Luca Boltshauser had to leave the game in the 25th minute after a collision with teammate André Petersson.
EHC Biel also demonstrated significant determination in their 5-4 win against the Lakers. They trailed 4-3 with just four minutes remaining after Dominic Lammer put the Lakers ahead. However, Gaëtan Haas and Petr Cajka scored late goals to secure a dramatic comeback victory.
Davos and Ajoie Earn Points
League leader Davos, coming off a rest day, appeared fresher and defeated Lugano 4-1. Top scorer Matej Stransky broke his scoring drought with two goals in three minutes, bringing his season total to 21. Adam Tambellini and Sven Jung added further goals for Davos.
Carrick Conor scored a consolation goal for Lugano, denying Luca Hollenstein a shutout. This marks Davos' fourth consecutive win against Lugano, solidifying their position at the top of the league.
Surprise Victory
Ajoie's 4-2 win against Kloten was unexpected, especially considering Kloten outshot Ajoie 39-16. This result highlights the unpredictable nature of the league.
Ajoie delivered a surprising 4-2 win against Kloten. Kloten had a poor start, finding themselves 3-0 down after just 14 minutes. Despite a strong effort from Dario Meyer and Keijo Weibel, who brought Kloten back into the game, they could not overcome the deficit.
Kloten's late push, including playing with six skaters against five for over two minutes, yielded no results. Philip-Michael Devos scored an empty-net goal 15 seconds before the end, securing Ajoie's victory. Kloten now faces a nine-point gap to the play-in spots with only nine games remaining in the regular season.
Looking Ahead in the National League
The recent results have intensified the competition for playoff and play-in spots. Teams like Bern are gaining momentum at a critical time, while others like Kloten face an uphill battle to recover.
The league leaders, such as Davos and Fribourg-Gottéron, continue to demonstrate their dominance, setting a high bar for the rest of the teams. The remaining games of the regular season promise to be exciting as teams fight for every point.
- Bern's Position: Moved closer to securing a play-in spot.
- Zug's Turnaround: Benefiting from a coaching change.
- Fribourg's Streak: A formidable force with six consecutive wins.
- Kloten's Challenge: Facing a significant points deficit for play-ins.