Winner of the SCL Tigers Sunday afternoon in its Vaudoise arena after its 23rd match of the 2024-2025 regular season (4-1), Lausanne HC completed an almost perfect weekend (it won 2-3 in extra time on Friday at Fribourg) to move into second place in the National League standings. With 45 units, it is only one point behind the leader, HC Davos.
Although it took time to materialize, the success of the team coached by Geoff Ward is the result of patience and self-sacrifice. Faced with an opponent forced to deal with only three foreign skaters, the Lions did not find a solution during five minutes spent with one more man on the playing area.
But they had reason to curse the goalkeeper of the Emmental club Luca Boltshauser (head to head win against Antti Suomela who escaped, 18th). Or his posts (Frick, 28th). And also his own lack of gumption (how could Ken Jäger miss the target in the 25th?).
But, in its lair, where it has only lost twice in 12 outings, even deprived of Théo Rochette and Andrea Glauser (injured), the LHC is a mixture of talent, balance, solidity and maturity.
He knew how to bide his time, in this case a sequence during which Boltshauser lost his cane, to take the lead thanks to Damien Riat (31st). Who exploited a clever pass from Suomela and had the power to create a shower of fluff (31st).
Nine minutes later, thanks to offerings from American defender Gavin Bayreuther and Suomela, it was 3-0 again.
The rest only nourished the little book of anecdotes, the Lausanne HC naturally not having drawn on its resources. He will indeed be back in action on Tuesday at the Tissot Arena, where he will face HC Bienne.
Lausanne – SCL Tigers 4-1 (0-0 3-0 1-1)
Vaudoise arena. 9,600 spectators (box offices closed).
Arbitres: MM. Hürlimann, Magnusson (Sue); Duc et Steenstra.
Buts: 31e Riat (Suomela, Fuchs) 1-0, 36e Beyreuther (Kuokkanen, Frick) 2-0, 40e Suomela 3-0, 52e (51”26”) Schmutz (Jenni) 3-1, 52e (51’34) ”) J. Bougro (Sklenicka) 4-1.
Lausanne: Easter; Heldner, Frick; Sklenicka, Bayreuther; Fiedler, Marty; Horses; Riatt, Sumela, Fuchs; Hügli, Jäger, Bozon; Pajuniemi, Kuokkanen, J. Bougro; Holdener, B. Bougro, Genazzi; Memeteau. Coach: Ward.
SCL Tigers: Boltshauser; Mathys, Baltisberger; Paschoud, Zanetti; Cadonau, Meier; Schwab; Schmutz, Kristof, Saarela; Rohrbach, Schmutz, Berger; Fahrni, Malone, Allenspach; Petrini, Felcman, Lapinskis; Jenni. Entraîneur: Paterlini.
Penalties: 3 x 2′ against Lausanne, 1 x 2′ + 1 x 5′ (Felcman, 18th) + match misconduct penalty (Felcman, 18th) against the SCL Tigers.
Notes: Lausanne without Raffl, Prassl, Pilut, Oksanen, Vouardoux, Rochette and Glauser (injured): the SCL Tigers without Mäenelanen, Guggenheim, Salzgeber (injured), Riikola (ill), Pesonen (suspended) and Saarijärvi (birth of a child) .
