Biel – ZSC Lions 2: 3 nP
John Quenneville secured the additional point for the ZSC Lions in Biel. The Canadian was successful with the 17th penalty. Gaëtan Haas, who had previously sunk his attempt, then failed because of Jakub Kovar. In a balanced game, the two teams had long neutralized each other. The meeting of the table neighbors really picked up speed in the 3rd period. Maxim Noreau gave the guests the lead for the first time with one of his dreaded shots from the blue line on the power play (45th). But Damien Brunner was able to equalize after a successful combination with Luca Cunti to make it 2:2 (48th). The Zurich team celebrated a win for the 9th time in the last 10 games.
Bern – Friborg 0:3
SC Bern’s situation is getting more and more precarious: After the 4th defeat against Freiburg this season and the 7th in a row, the “Mutzen” have to let Ambri catch up in terms of points, but have played one game less. The disaster took its course early on: Benoît Jecker put his colors ahead in the 2nd minute after Nathan Marchon blocked Daniel Manzato’s sight in the Bern goal. It was Marchon later who benefited from a dropout at Mika Henauer. The young talent lost the disc behind the goal, after which Marchon only had to insert it before Manzato rushed back into the goal. Daniel Brodin’s deflection from a Raphael Diaz shot was the decisive factor with 6 minutes to go.
Rapperswil-Jona Lakers – Geneva-Servette 2: 1 nP
Lakers goalie Melvin won the brother duel against Geneva goalie Dominic Nyffeler. It was the Romands who were rewarded after fifteen minutes for Josh Jooris’ attacking style of play. The lead seemed to hamper the guests, however, because the East Swiss then took over the game. In the power play two minutes after the equalizer, they only needed 4 seconds to mark the equalizer through Emil Djuse. Stefan Hedlund’s team also dominated the game in the goalless middle and final sections as well as in extra time, but failed several times against the older of the Nyffeler brothers. So the penalty shoot-out had to bring about the decision where the Rosenstadters kept their nerve. With the 2-1 win and points 77 and 78, they not only set a new record for points, but also ended the Geneva winning streak.
SCL Tigers 0-4 Ambri
The match between second and third last started as you would expect from a basement duel: on a modest level. Until Zaccheo Dotti woke up the Ticino: The defender simply took aim in the 11th minute and made it 1-0. As a result, Ambri played a little more freely with the lead behind him and added just before the break thanks to Steve Moses and the inadequate Tigers defense. Langnau then did too little to defend himself against the 10th defeat in a row. Daniele Grassi and Dario Bürgler on the power play ensured the further goals in the unchallenged success of the Leventine.
Ajoie – move 3:6
In Pruntrut, Ajoie could only briefly dream of his 7th win this season. Philip-Michael Devos put the Jurassic in the lead after just 30 seconds. But the master’s reaction was not long in coming. Just 75 seconds later, Yannick Zehnder equalized for Central Switzerland. After that, the game went as expected. Dominik Schlumpf, whose goal from the crowd was recognized by the referees (the goal was only postponed afterwards) and Fabrice Herzog ensured a comfortable 3:1 lead before the break in the first period. Carl Klingberg’s shorthand to make it 5:2 (48 th ) definitely broke Ajoie’s neck. The Swede also made it 6:3.