Will Christian Wohlwend, the coach of an HCA in distress, resist this new setback suffered on Saturday evening against GE Servette? Despite two not bad matches delivered this weekend, Ajoie’s accounting situation (4 points collected in 13 matches) no longer seems to leave any other alternative to the club’s management.
Embarked on an intensive period which will see them play nine championship matches in 16 days between October 18 and November 2, the Genevans, for their part, did not seem to want to drag things out in Porrentruy. Rather than having to skate after an unfavorable score, as they were forced to do the day before against Rapperswil (from 1-3 to 5-3), they immediately sought to knock out the Ajoulots. Saving yourself an evening with high energy expenditure, these days, is always a win.
Things, however, did not go as the start of the meeting might have suggested. The advantage taken by the visitors in the 5th minute, from a deflection by Cavalleri on a delivery from Hartikainen, was erased two minutes later. Snatching the puck from Tim Berni, Jerry Turkulainen crossed half of the playing area before crucifying goaltender Antti Raanta.
The domination of the Garnet during the initial period was then rewarded with the 2-1 signed Vincent Praplan (19th). However, the trend was drastically reversed after the first break. The Genevans let the bottom of the ranking dictate the pace. If the HCA did not manage to equalize during three sequences of power play between the 21st and the 31st minute – due to an excellent opposing box-play, it must be admitted – it ended up coming back, deserved manner, at the very end of the third following a deflection from Frossard following a strike from Palve.
Building on the momentum of their good match on Friday in Lugano (4-3 defeat), the Jurassiens took the lead with less than a quarter of an hour to go. Turkulainen, from the penalty spot, then brought the crowd to their feet. The fact remains that on Saturday evening, a Finnish topscorer could hide another. Teemu Hartikainen dampened the hopes of a second autumn success for Ajoie with a wrist shot into the top corner less than three minutes after the 3-2.
And then there was this hiccup in the 55th minute, when Damiano Ciaccio, surprised by a rebound in front of him, let a seemingly innocuous puck pass between his pads (Berni, 3-4). Stunned, Christian Wohlwend’s men conceded two additional successes, works by Hartikainen, in the final moments.
The number 70 of GE Servette will therefore have scored a hat-trick in the space of eight minutes (including the 6-3 in the empty cage). With six points obtained this weekend, Geneva can calmly approach the coming week which will see it hard at work four times (Langnau reception on Monday).
At the bottom of the hole, Ajoie will host Friborg on Tuesday. With Wohlwend in the band? Nothing is less certain.
Ajoie – GE Servette 3-6 (1-2 1-0 1-4)
Raiffeisen Arena. 4032 spectators. Referees: MM. Hebeisen, Hungerbühler, Schlegel et Nater.
Buts: 5e Cavalleri (Hartikainen) 0-1, 7e Turkulainen 1-1, 19e Praplan 1-2, 38e Frossard (Palve) 2-2, 48e Turkulainen (penalty) 3-2, 51e Hartikainen 3-3, 55e Berni (Spacek ) 3-4, 57e Hartikainen (Cavalleri, Manninen) 3-5, 59e Hartikainen (cage vide) 3-6.
Add: Ciaccio; Honka, Fey; Brennan, Fischer; Nussbaumer, Maurer; Minder, Thiry; Frossard, Palve, Nättinen; Turkulainen, Devos, Veckaktins; Pouilly, Rundqvist, Bozon; Sopa, Romanenghi, Pedretti. Trainer: Wohlwend.
GE Servette: Raanta; Vatanen, Berni; Schneller, Lennström; Le Coultre, Chanton; Jacquemet; Praplan, Richard, Bertaggia; Jooris, Spacek, Miranda; Hartikainen, Manninen, Cavalleri; Loosli, Maillard, Guignard. Coach: Cadieux.
Penalties: 5 x 2′ against Ajoie, 6 x 2′ against GE Servette.
Notes: Ajoie without Garessus, Hazen, Schmutz (injured), Bernasconi, Pilet, Robin nor Scheidegger (supernumerary). GE Servette without Descloux, Hischier, Karrer, Pouliot, Rod, Völlmin (injured) nor Granlund (supernumerary foreigner). Shot on the posts of Sopa (23rd) and Hartikainen (39th). Time out requested by Ajoie (59th), who removes his goalkeeper in favor of a sixth outfield player (58’37 to 58’58).
