After yesterday’s great victory in Zurich, the Lions return to their home at the Vaudoise arena today to face the EV Zug players this Monday, January 6 at 7:45 p.m. The pre-match is presented to you by our main partner, Vaudoise assurances.
A start of 2025 in continuity with the end of 2024
A little in difficulty before the international break in December, the men of Geoff Ward had rectified their situation perfectly at the end of the year with a series of four successes in a row in a few days against HC Ambri-Piotta, HC Davos, Genève-Servette HC and the SCL Tigers. And if you were wondering about Lausanne’s resolutions for the new year, it would seem that they are essentially the same. With two consecutive successes since the restart, including one yesterday at the ZSC Lions’ Swiss Life Arena, the Lions have scored their sixth victory in a row. A good state of form which places the LHC at the forefront with a solid first place in the general ranking at the start of January.
With an almost complete squad, the LHC is in the best position to accumulate even more points this evening against an opponent who has done well so far. Beyond the last defeat of November 15, the Lausanne Hockey Club was on a series of four successes against the players of Dan Tangnes. At home, our players achieved great success against the Zug Bulls. Recently at the Vaudoise arena, the LHC won three times by fairly large scores (6-3, 4-1, 4-1).
For its part, the EV Zug performed up and down, alternating between good and less good results. Beaten at home by HC Fribourg-Gottéron before the break, the teammates of Jan Kovar failed to win on the ice of the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers. Despite these two defeats, EV Zug rectified the situation in the last match against HC Davos in difficulty. To see the training carried out by the Norwegian technician, Dan Tangneschain two consecutive successes, we have to go back exactly a month, with the victories against HC Ambri-Piotta and the SCL Tigers. Let’s hope our players have everything in their hands to start the week in the best possible way.
Lausanne HC (1er – 67 points)
- 34 matches played, 23 victories (including 2 in overtime and 3 on penalties) and 11 defeats (including 2 in overtime and 1 on penalties)
- 108 goals scored and 89 goals conceded
- 30.34% efficiency in powerplay and 83.18% efficiency in boxplay
- 1088 shots taken on goal (9.65% efficiency)
- 7 shutouts
EV Zug (6ème – 52 points)
- 33 matches played, 18 victories (including 3 in overtime) and 15 defeats (including 1 in overtime).
- 107 goals scored and 87 goals conceded
- 26.04% efficiency in powerplay and 79.57% efficiency in boxplay
- 1000 shots taken on goal (10.80% efficiency)
- 1 shutout
Players to follow
During the first two confrontations between the LHC and the EV Zug, we did not have the pleasure of seeing the evolution Leonardo Genonithe legendary goalkeeper of the Swiss team. Injured for many weeks, the 37-year-old goalkeeper was effectively replaced by Team Wolf. Back on the ice since the beginning of December, number 30 of EV Zug has not missed his return, posting an impressive save rate of 92.96% in 7 games. This performance is close to his standards from last season. Still looking for his first clean sheet this season, Leonardo Genoni represents a serious challenge for the Lausanne attackers before this meeting!
The Lausanne attack starts the year off to a flying start, driven by the trio Damien Riat, Antti Suomela and Ahti Oksanen. Last Thursday, against EHC Kloten, Ahti Oksanen shone with two goals and two assists before doing it again yesterday in Zurich by finding the net again. His complicity with Antti Suomelathe real offensive engine of the team, is obvious. Already a triple assist against Kloten, the PostFinance Top Scorer added two points to his tally yesterday, including a goal. For his part, Damien Riat stands out for his generosity and altruism, as evidenced by his two assists in Lausanne’s achievements against the ZSC Lions. With 25 points in 34 games, he maintains a pace comparable to that of the previous season.
The return ofAndrea Glauser strengthens an already solid Vaud rearguard. In front Kevin Paschethe LHC defense will have to remain vigilant to avoid another disappointment like during the last match at the BOSSARD Arena (6-2 defeat). With seven shutouts this season, Kevin Pasche hopes to continue this momentum, supported by a compact defense and the energy of the Vaudoise arena.
To advance towards this objective, our goalkeeper and his defense will have to keep a particularly vigilant eye on the men in form of EV Zug. Newly arrived in Zug this season from HC Bienne, Mike Künzle has already achieved a better accounting performance than in the previous financial year. As good in the role of scorer as in making his teammates shine, the number 73 of EV Zug totals 18 points, including 9 goals this season. With two additional assists during the match against HC Davos, he greatly contributed to his team’s success. The line of Jan Kovarof Dominik Vozenilek and Lino Martischini will certainly be one to watch this Monday as the two Czech players and the Swiss international can be realistic in the offensive zone.
Last five matches against EV Zug
- 15/11/2024 : EV train 6-2 Lausanne HC
- 04/10/2024 : Lausanne HC 6-3 EV train
- 04/03/2024 : Lausanne HC 4-1 EV train
- 17/01/2024 : EV Zug 2-3 Lausanne HC (AP)
- 18/11/2023 : Lausanne HC 4-1 EV train
Practical information
In addition to this new home meeting, here is the practical information to know before the start of the meeting:
- 5 p.m. – Start of entertainment on the square in front of the Vaudoise arena (bars, food trucks, etc.)
- 6 p.m. – Opening of the doors of the Vaudoise arena
- 7:45 p.m. – Start of the meeting
