- Defending champion Geneva-Servette’s season ends in the play-ins against Biel.
- After the defeat in the first leg, a 2-2 draw in the second leg in Seeland is not enough for Geneva.
- The second-to-last playoff ticket goes to Lugano, which has the upper hand in the Ticino derby against Ambri-Piotta 3-1 in the second leg.
- From Monday, Ambri and Biel will fight for the 8th and final playoff place.
Biel – Geneva-Servette 2:2 (first leg: 3:2)
19 days ago, Geneva was still in a state of joy. The “Grenats” had sensationally climbed to Europe’s ice hockey throne and won the title in the Champions Hockey League. Less than 3 weeks later, Geneva’s season ended prematurely. And that as the reigning Swiss champion. The Geneva team in Biel were unable to correct their narrow defeat in the first leg against their own fans.
Legend:
An image with symbolic character
Biel’s Beat Forster beats Geneva’s Daniel Winnik.
KEYSTONE/Peter Schneider
From Geneva-Servette’s point of view, the second leg started optimally. After just 36 seconds, Sakari Manninen made it 1-0 before Teemu Hartikainen was able to double the lead in the 13th minute. Although the guests seemed to have the game under control, they suffered a setback before the first break. Fabio Hofer brought Biel within 1:2 21 seconds before the siren.
In a very hard-fought game with a total of 13 small penalties, it was Jere Sallinen who got the Biel team back on track with a 2-2 score in the 28th minute. Geneva-Servette then pressed for the lead again, but Biel guard Harri Säteri, who fended off a total of 35 shots, could no longer be defeated. This means Biel can continue to hope for playoff participation after long periods of weak qualification.
Lugano – Ambri-Piotta 3:1 (first leg: 4:4)
Biel’s path to the playoffs leads through Ambri. The Leventiners, who gave up a 4-0 lead in the first leg against Lugano on Thursday, lost 3-1 to their arch-rivals in the second leg. The Luganesi, for their part, can plan for the playoffs, they are ranked 7th in the seeding list and will face second-placed Fribourg-Gottéron in the quarterfinals.
Legend:
Shot into happiness
Lugano’s Daniel Carr finds a way past Ambri goalie Janne Juvonen.
KEYSTONE/Ti-Press/Pablo Gianinazzi
In a balanced starting third, Lugano defender Santeri Alatalo opened the score 14 seconds before the first break. With her back against the wall, Ambri increasingly took the initiative, but failed time after time due to the brilliant Mikko Koskinen.
When Daniel Carr increased the score to 2-0 for the “Bianconeri” in the 55th minute, it seemed like the end of the game in the Corner Arena. But Dario Bürgler brought the tension back 91 seconds before the end with the 1:2. However, the Ambri turnaround didn’t happen, Arttu Ruotsalainen made everything clear with his Empty-Netter.
This is how it goes
7 out of 8 playoff participants are now known. Ambri-Piotta and Biel are fighting for the last ticket. The first leg will take place on Monday in Biel, Ambri will welcome the Zealanders for the second leg on Wednesday. The winner of this duel will face the qualifying winners ZSC Lions. The quarter-final playoffs start on Saturday, March 16th.