The situation is complicated for the LHC. In Zurich, the Lausannois bowed 3-2 (AP) during Act II of the Playoff final and are now led 0-2. However, there is best compared to Tuesday’s match. What give confidence to the Lake Geneva before replaying in front of their audience on Saturday.
While we are still at the dawn of this series, Lausanne is already in a way back to the wall. Having lost the first home game, the Vaudois are forced to win at least once in Zurich. Last year, they did not succeed. This Thursday was it going to be the day when the Lake Geneva were going to affix a historical imprint?
As it was to be expected, it was Zurich who dominated the game in the first minutes. Lausanne, without managing to put the game in her offensive area, therefore logically conceded the opening of the score. Tim Bozon, who returned to the alignment, was going to leave with the Puck. But Justin Sigrist stole him barely entered the neutral zone. The Zurichois then thwarted Gavin Bayreuther to go and deceive Kevin Pasche (4th).
The Lausanne goalkeeper then made a fear of the Vaud supporters. By wanting to block a shot, he received the puck in the thorax and seemed struck for a few seconds. A priori more fear of evil.
And Jason Fuchs put Lausanne back in the match! What a nice strike from n ° 14 after recovering the back the cage. Simon Hrrtec having the leg stuck to the post, Fuchs pulled in the air and it hits the bull’s eye (7th, assist: Kahun).
In boxplay, the Vaudois lions have held up well. Something to put yourself even more about to take the advantage. We had well felt Lukas Frick, in good position in front of the cage. The Lausanne defender received the Damien Riat Puck. He took his time before armoring the shot and sending to the nets (14th, assists: Riat and Suomela). It was now to manage the advantage because there were still 45 minutes at the chronometer. The men of Geoff Ward have in any case kept the momentum until the break.
One lion hunts another
Things were full up on the return from the locker room. Because it is an understatement to say that Zurich put pressure. The ZSC Lions have framed 11 shots, while Lausanne sent only 3 on Hrubec.
Like lions in the middle of a hunting session, the Zurichois seemed to make their opponents tired. Actions have become more and more dangerous. All the Lausannois also retained their breath when they saw Pasche come out of his cage while Brendan Perlini and Jesper Fröden skate after the puck. Frödén was able to seize it but in any way missed the empty cage. Phew of relief.
-Relief which will quickly turn into tension. In mid-game, we felt that Zurich was launching a clear message: that’s not how it happens here. Lausanne defense has again suffered. The more the minutes advanced, the more we said that this 1-2 was only holding a thread. And during this time, the caded shooting counter is taking place on the side of the locals.
What was to happen happened at the 39th. In an action well posed by Zurich, Willy Riedi attempted a first shot. The Lausanne goalkeeper just failed to block it. Sven Andrighetto took the opportunity to take the rebound and pass the Puck under the Pasche’s leg when he was repositioning himself (39th, Assists: Malgin and Marti). It was a question of milliseconds. How did the Lausannois live these 20 minutes?
Presque
In the third third, Lausanne returned with a marked desire to seek this additional goal. But we had to deal with well -organized Zurichois. Thus, 5 minutes from the end of regulation time, there were always 2-2 and the stress was at its climax, especially when you know Zurich scorers, with this ability to spring from nowhere.
“We would all like to be able to keep them on a leash, but these are good players,” said Geoff Ward after the meeting when it was launched on the “problem” represented by players like Andrighetto. Speaking of the N ° 10 Zurichois, the Lausanne coach adds that “he makes good playoffs and he is dangerous each time he is on the ice.” Defender Aurélien Marti confirms.
Théo Rochette, who had been able to leave in the area without too much embarrassment, found the shoulder of Hrushu in the 57th. An opportunity that the Lausannois could regret later. Because at a minute and 3 seconds from the siren, Gavin Bayreuther sent his cane to the face of Frödén. It is 2 minutes of penalty for the Vaudois defender. Fortunately without consequences for the end of this third party.
In overtime, the suspense will not have lasted long. Lausanne, however, put her own, but Grant, Weber and Frödén were stronger. The first two set up the triangulation so that the third went to register the goal of victory. A frustrating outcome for the Lausannois who were very close to equalizing in the series.
In the positive, there is the fact that the LHC played a little more physical.
The LHC will have to build on the basis of this Thursday’s performance, despite the result. Act III will be played on Saturday in the Vaudoise Arena. A victory at home seems almost essential for the men of Geoff Ward.
