Diaz and Friborg overcame the Lausannois of goalkeeper Kevin Pasche.
Estelle Vagne/freshfocus
End of series for Lausanne HC in Fribourg. The leader of the National League, who remained on eight consecutive victories in the championship, logically lost, Wednesday evening, on the ice of an excellent Gottéron (4-1). The team coached by Lars Leuenberger continues its rise in the standings, with a seventh match in which it gains at least one point. The one led by Geoff Ward suffered a slight setback, but retained its throne.
Undefeated since December 7 and deprived of their two top scorers, top scorer Antti Suomela (injured) and Théo Rochette (ill), the Lions were caught cold at the BCF Arena. After only 47 seconds of play, Kevin Pasche had to capitulate to Jakob Lilja (1st, 1-0), who perfectly cut a pass from Yannick Rathgeb at the near post. The Dragons took control from the start, never to let go again.
The Friborg team also deserved their victory, generally dominating the debates from one end of the meeting to the other. They quickly distanced themselves, thanks to a good service from Killian Mottet for Maximilian Streule (7th, 2-0).
Breakup model
The LHC, after having turned its back, relaunched from the first return from the locker room. Fabian Heldner (22nd, 2-1), with a powerful one-timer taken from the blue line, was able to reduce the gap, against the run of play. With full confidence, the Vaud team then believed they could get back on track in this derby. It didn’t happen.
Because, ten minutes later, Sandro Schmid intercepted a puck at his own blue line, before crossing the entire ice rink and serving on a plate Marcus Sörensen (32nd, 3-1) for the safety goal. A model of rupture.
The matter was then heard. And when the reigning Swiss vice-champion tried to come back to the mark, Reto Berra vetoed it and confirmed his rise to power. And Yannick Rathgeb (55th, 4-1) added to the bill. Enough to allow its colors to sign a benchmark victory in this final sprint of the regular season.
Lausanne will want to react as a leader, from Thursday evening (8 p.m.), on the ice in Bienne. Fribourg, for its part, will try to continue its climb towards the top 6 of the National League, Friday evening (7:45 p.m.), in Porrentruy, against the red lantern Ajoulote.
Friborg – Lausanne 4-1 (2-0 1-1 1-0)
BCF Arena, 9,262 spectators (box offices closed). Referees: MM. Hürlimann, Ruprecht; Duke, Gnemmi.
Buts: 1re Lilja (Rathgeb) 1-0, 7e Streule (Mottet, Nicolet) 2-0, 22e Heldner (Kuokkanen. Glauser) 2-1, 32e Sörensen (Schmid) 3-1, 55e Rathgeb (Walser) 4-1 .
Fribourg: Berra; Rathgeb, Gunderson; Sutter, Streule; Diaz, Jecker; sailors; Sörensen, Wallmark, Blacksmith; Sprunger, De la Rose, Marchon; Bertschy, Vey, Lilja; Nicolet, Walser, Mottet; Dorthe. Coach: Lars Leuenberger.
Lausanne: Pasche; Sklenicka, Bayreuth; Heldner, Frick; Glauser, Fiedler; Genazzi, Marti; Riat, Kuokkanen, Oksanen; Bozon, Jäger, Raffl; Pajuniemi, Fuchs, Hügli; Holdener, Prassl, Hammerer. Entrepreneur: Geoff Ward.
Penalties: 1 x 2′ against Fribourg; 0 x 2′ against Lausanne.
Notes: Fribourg sans Dufner (injured), Borgman, Gerber (surnuméraires), Rüegger, Binias, Etter, Rod, ni Näf (Swiss League). Lausanne sans Pilut, Vouardoux, Suomela (injured), Rochette (sick), Bougro (surnumeraire), Fatton, and Mémeteau (Swiss League).
