Legend:
Decides the third-longest game in NL history
Lausanne’s Jason Fuchs.
KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott
The players had to complete not one, not two, but three extra periods in Lausanne. It wasn’t until the 107th minute and the third extra time that Jason Fuchs made the decision 3-2 in favor of Lausanne.
It was the last act in a hard-fought and always close game, but one that found a just winner. The Lausanne team were the better team for long stretches and could easily have won after just 60 minutes. But in the crucial moments the final consequence was missing.
Things had gone back and forth in extra time. The strength and spectators were noticeably dwindling, but the teams still offered attractive game scenes. The two goalies, Reto Berra and Connor Hughes, continued to extend the game with their saves.
Freiburg is improving
Until a little halfway through the game, Fribourg-Gottéron had not even reached the second game of the playoff semi-final. The guests were behind 0-2 after Michael Raffl (11th) scored with a shorthander and Jiri Sekac (25th) in the power play for the dominant Lausanne team. And they could have led even higher, but they were too imprecise in front of the goal.
But then came a disastrous penalty against Joël Genazzi, who had to go to the penalty box for being hit with the stick (32′). The power play only lasted 15 seconds before Marcus Sörensen scored to make it 1-2.
Gunderson scores again
Inspired by this, Freiburg pressed on. Ryan Gunderson, who had been assisting a few minutes earlier, equalized the game with a wrist shot (36′). Hughes, who was guarding the goal again unlike two days ago, had his view obscured.
The Lausanne team had not been able to reward themselves for the effort they had previously put in; after a short phase of weakness, the game was level again. It was Gunderson’s second goal in this semi-final series.
Series completely open
In the final third the home team was more present again and tried to decide the game in regular time. But Gottéron had also definitely arrived in the game and was looking for the opening goal. However, this did not happen – which is why the extension had to be decided.
As is well known, Lausanne had the upper hand there thanks to Fuchs – and equalized the series. Game 3 takes place on Saturday evening in Freiburg. The players will definitely be able to use the extra day of recovery after the marathon match.