The semi-finals of the National League playoffs offered a breathtaking spectacle of which Lausanne and Zurich came out victorious. Passed to a success of the final, Friborg therefore saw its season endlessly ending. For his part, Ajoie saved his place in the elite against Visp with the elite. The 12th episode of the Fortnight of the Romans is in the past intense weeks.
Lausanne (1st)-Friborg (6th): 4-3
Led 3-1, the Vaudois suffered, but they ended up logically qualifying against a Friborg which undoubtedly paid its lack of offensive depth after the injuries of Lucas Wallmark, Rose Jacob and Nathan Marchon. The Foreign Legion of Dragons has passed through its series, registering only two successes, each time in Power-Play by Marcus Sörensen. This scarcity was added to that of Christoph Bertschy, who has remained silent since l’Act iv Against Bern (10 games) and only scored one goal in 14 playoff games, restricting the men of Lars Leuenberger to a low average of 1.9 purposes per match.
The merit also goes to the Lausannois, who were able to raise their level of play in decisive moments. Pointed out after the quarters, Kevin Pasche and Antti Suomela responded in half. The 22 -year -old goalkeeper finished the series with an excellent 94.1% stops and a laundry during Act IIwhile the Finn has obtained 10 points on his last 5 outings, including 4 in the decisive match. The LHC also regained its effectiveness in Power-Play (33.3%) after struggling against Langnau (9.5%). A good omen before a final where these kinds of details will be essential.
Zurich (2E)-Davos (5E): 4-2
On a mission to offer a seventh and last title to the legendary Andres Ambühl, Davos hung on as much as possible against Zurich thanks to a good solidity at home, but there was simply nothing to face the Zurich Armada. Decimated by the injuries of his attackers Enzo Corvi, Tino Kessler and Yannick Frehner, the Graubünden were dominated in all areas, notably framing 7 shots on average per match than the Lions. Handicapped by special units broken down (8.3% efficiency in Power-Play and 52.9% in Box-Play), the HCD was too dependent on its foreign players (6 out of 13 successes, or 46.2%).
A real winning machine, Marco Bayer’s impressive troop seems to be able to place a decisive acceleration each time she wishes. The ZSCs have indeed scored four times at least two consecutive goals in five minutes against Davos. Untenable in this series, Sven Andrighetto (See box) and Denis Malgin (8 points in 6 games) almost made you forget the immense talent of their teammates. To counter such striking force does not promise to be a pleasure for Lausanne.
A final in the form of revenge
Present in the final for the second time in their history, the second consecutive, the Vaudois lions will find as in 2024 their Zurich counterparts, who reach this stadium for the third time in four years. However, the “Z” appears with a less experienced coach than last year, since Marco Bayer never took part in a final as a main trail in the elite. He nevertheless had a champion title with Bern in 2016 as assistant from Lars Leuenberger, as well as a final of Swiss League lost with the lion cubs in 2023.
The native of Uter will be able to rely on the solidity to the foolproof “Z” at home, where he is undefeated in playoffs for 12 games, even if, unlike last year, it is Lausanne who will benefit from the advantage of ice. Each of the two teams has also won both at home and outside against their opponent during the regular season. Geoff Ward’s men will however have to deal with two major handicaps: they spent 252 minutes (4.2 games) more on the ice than Zurich and have 8 injured, against only 2 on the side of Altstetten. The balance therefore seems to be slightly leaning in favor of the reigning champions, but this series promises to be as disputed as the 2024 edition.
Ajie (NL) – Viège (SL): 4-1
The Jurassians ultimately did not suffer too much to ensure their place in the elite, even if the score is slightly misleading, the first three acts having completed extra time. With only three foreigners available on the four authorized, Viège did not have arms to compete with a training in National League during a whole series. The Valaisans have lost Swedish again Adam Brodecki from act IIand their goalkeeper Robin Meyer, future Langnau porter, from the start of l’Act ivwhich definitively buried their thin hopes of promotion.
On the addlot side, the “Porrentruy theorem”, which establishes that any historical moment of the HCA in the 21st century must necessarily involve Jonathan Hazen and Phil-Michaël Devos, was still checked in 2025. Surprined during Act I, the No4 finished the dam with 8 points on the clock and inscribed a quadrupled During act Vwhile the former captain obtained 7 in 4 parts. And to say that their place would have been threatened if Jerry Turkulainen and Julius Nättinen had not been injured … Among the Swiss players, the unexpected Cédric Aeschbach, 22 -year -old defender lent by Basel, deserves a special mention, just like Reto Schmutz. Good grades to finish a difficult season but bringing club promises to La Vouivre.
Bastien trotted
All figures are taken from the site of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation and nlicedata.com.
