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The people of Geneva also win the 3rd duel of the season with the people of Zurich. The leader is the multi-sport talented Teemu Hartikainen.
There was a little light at the end of the tunnel for the ZSC Lions against Geneva in the final minutes: After a stab wound, Marc-Antoine Pouliot was sent under the shower for the last 5 minutes of the game. The ideal opportunity for the hosts to at least reduce the 1:3 deficit. But it happened as so often: Daniel Winnik (60th) decided the game with an empty netter. So the 3rd direct duel in the 39th NL round became the prey of the Servettiens.
Neo head coach Marc Crawford’s record is getting worse and worse. While the Canadian was able to win the first two games after his return to Zurich, his team now has their 4th defeat in a row. The leader from Calvinstadt also countered Biel’s attack (3:1 against Zug) on the throne.
Broken plexiglass as the initial spark
In the first third, an unexpected break after 6 minutes gave the game a new twist. The staff needed a full quarter of an hour, with the kind help of Geneva’s Linus Omark and a referee, to replace a Plexiglas pane that had cracked after a check.
The guests took over after the “restart”, led by Teemu Hartikainen (13th): First the Finn imitated football legend Jari Litmanen rather than his ice hockey counterpart Jari Kurri: So he started a veritable dribbling in kicker style, which culminating in a pinpoint footed pass (and converted 1-0 by Marc-Antoine Pouliot). Just a minute later, Hartikainen scored his 21st goal of the season himself, the first Geneva power play had already borne fruit after 7 seconds.
Legend:
He would probably also have become a passable football player
Geneva’s Teemu Hartikainen.
Keystone/Ennio Leanza
Texier’s hit is not enough
After the first break, Henrik Tömmernes (27th) even made it 3-0. Here, too, Hartikainen was among the template providers. Not the only bad news for ZSC: Keeper Ludovic Waeber injured himself when he conceded and had to be replaced by 24-year-old Robin Zumbühl, who only had 40 minutes of National League experience. What followed were some strong saves by the young goalie and a defiant reaction from Zurich. Shortly before the end of the third, this led to 1:3 through Alexandre Texier. The Frenchman stayed ice cold after a breakaway. He was to remain the only person from Zurich that evening with enough coolness.