Fribourg-Gottéron experienced a frustrating evening on Thursday. More involved and better off than at the start of the season, the Dragons – who won 1-4 on Tuesday in Bienne – missed the opportunity to score a second success in this last week before the international break. They were beaten 2-3 by Kloten who continues to surprise.
Less good on paper, the Zurich residents were extremely diligent, minimizing errors and giving Friborg very few scoring chances. The Dragons had the chances (32 shots to 16 in their favor in total), but their lack of confidence was felt. Particularly in the first period, when they spent 55 seconds on a double numerical advantage without being able to make a difference. The Saint-Léonard residents were already trailing at that time, after Diem opened the scoring in the 4th minute.
In a very closed and unattractive match, it was the defensive errors rather than the offensive strokes of genius that made the difference. As on the 1-2, when the Friborg rearguard, somewhat naive, let the Zurich parade line take the advantage a second time (28th). Streule had equalized with a perfectly executed break three minutes earlier.
Pushing so much in the third period, the Dragons were unable to get past the shoulder. They came up against a very good Zurkirchen and a Zurich team that was well established defensively. Pat Emond’s charges even conceded the 1-3 on a counterattack, before finally taking advantage of a numerical advantage 10 minutes from time. Sörensen then gave hope to the Freiburgers, in vain.
Failing to have played spectacular hockey, and despite the domination of Gottéron, the Aviators did not steal the three points. Their playing intelligence made the difference against the doubting Dragons, who will travel to Zurich on Saturday.
Fribourg-Gottéron – Kloten 2-3 (0-1 1-1 1-1)
BCF Arena, 9,119 spectators (box offices closed).
Referees: MM. Hebeisen, Staudenmann, Altmann and Gurtner.
Buts: 4th Diem (Meier) 0-1. 25th Streule (Dorthe, De la Rose) 1-1. 28th Aaltonen (Ojamäki, Audette) 1-2. 45th Morley (Ramel, Meyer) 1-3. 50th Sörensen (Gunderson, Wallmark) 2-3.
Fribourg-Gottéron: berry; Borgman, Diaz; Jecker, Gunderson; Streule, Sutter; Rathgeb; Schmid, Wallmark, Sörensen; Dorthe, De la Rose, Lilja; Mottet, Bertschy, Sprunger; Gerber, Walser, Nicolet; After. Coach: Emond.
Balls: Zurkirchen; Steiner, Niku; Bernd, Grégoire; Kellenberger, Sidler; satirical; Audette, Aaltonen, Ojamäki; Ramel, Morley, Meyer; Weibel, Smirnovs, Simic; Derungs, Diem, Meier; Scribe. Coach: Marjamäki.
Penalties: 2×2′ against Fribourg-Gottéron, 5×2′ against Kloten.
Notes: Friborg-Gottéron sans Galley, Näf, Rod, Binias (en Swiss League), Seiler (malade), Dufner ni Nathan Marchon (blessés). Kloten sans Kellenberger, Deussen, Joel Marchon (en Swiss League), Aebi (surnuméraire), Profico ni Schäppi (blessés).
