Ludovic Waeber gave up his place after the first twenty minutes.
Laurent Daspres/freshfocus
Big disappointment for Genève-Servette. Having returned from the national teams’ break with a big victory obtained Tuesday in Lausanne on the continental scene, the garnet team had everything in hand to continue in the National League against Kloten, Saturday evening, at Les Vernets. But the Eagles, beaten five times in their last six outings before the international break, misused a perfect start to the match and two steps ahead against the terribly realistic Aviators (defeat 4-5 ap).
The GSHC dug its grave during a simply catastrophic second period: Keanu Derungs (26th, 3-2), Sami Niku (33rd, 3-3) and Thomas Grégoire (39th, 3-4) took turns deceived the vigilance of Robert Mayer and completely reversed the dynamics of a meeting until then perfectly controlled by the Garnets.
Author of his first goal of the season in the championship, veteran Arnaud Jacquemet (42nd, 4-4) however allowed his colors to save a point. Because the Germans forced the decision at the very start of extra time thanks to their top scorer Miro Aaltonen (61st, 4-5), author of the decisive goal while Marco Miranda had just served his penalty.
Before this frustrating outcome, Markus Granlund and his partners had started the game with flying colors, not letting the opposing gifts slip by. The Finn, fortunately found at the far post, took advantage of a first double numerical superiority to open the scoring (5th, 1-0).
A goal wrongly contested by the Zurich bench, which had offered the GSHC a new sequence with two more men on the ice. An offering seized by Sami Vatanen (6th, 2-0), decisive thanks to an unstoppable one-timer.
Particularly inspired in power play, Genève-Servette, which had conceded the reduction of the score signed by Niko Ojamäki (8th, 2-1) following a big error by captain Roger Karrer, had managed to regain two steps ahead in this exercise thanks to the same Markus Granlund (17th, 3-1). An advantage which would therefore prove insufficient.
The Eagles – without Vincent Praplan, Michael Loosli (injured) or Tanner Richard (ill) for this Kloten reception – will have to quickly turn the page and swallow their regrets. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening (kick-off at 7:45 p.m.), with the reception of Lausanne for the round of 16 second leg of the Champions Hockey League.
Geneva – Kloten 4-5 ap (3-1 0-3 1-0 0-1)
Les Vernets6102 spectators. Referees: MM. Kaukokari, Stricker; Urfer, Francey.
Buts: 5e Granlund (Hartikainen / 5c3) 1-0, 6e Vatanen (Granlund / 5c3) 2-0, 8e Ojamäki 2-1, 17e Granlund (Pouliot / 5c4) 3-1, 26e Derungs (Diem) 3-2, 33e Niku (Meier) 3-3, 39th Grégoire (Ramel) 3-4, 42e Jacquemet 4-4, 61e Aaltonen 4-5.
Geneva: Mayer; Vatanen, Chanton; Karrer, Bern; Jacquemet, Le Coultre; Schneller; Cavalleri, Jooris, Bertaggia; Hartikainen, Manninen, Granlund; Miranda, Spacek, Service; Imesch, Pouliot, Maillard. Coach: Jan Cadieux.
Shit: Waeber (21st Zurkirchen); Niku, Profico; Gregoire, Wolf; Sidler, S. Kellenberger; satirical; Ojamäki, Aaltonen, Audette; Meyer, Smirnovs, Ramel; Simic, Schäppi, Meier; Weibel, Diem, Derungs; Scribe. Coach: Lauri Majamäki.
Penalties: 2 x 2′ against Geneva; 5 x 2′ against Kloten.
Notes: Geneva without Descloux, Lennström, Völlmin, Guignard, Praplan, Hischier, Loosli, Rod (injured), Richard (ill), and Raanta (surplus). Kloten without Morley, Marchon, Steiner (injured), M. Kellenberger, Aebi, or Deussen (Swiss League).
