Markus Granlund’s joy after the winning goal in overtime.
BASTIEN GALLAY / GALLAYPHOTO
The duel between the worst team in the National League at home and the weakest away smiled on the locals on Saturday at Les Vernets. Genève-Servette ended its marathon week with a fourth success in as many outings against HC Ajoie (4-3 ap). This, thanks to a new improbable turnaround.
Trailing 1-3 ten minutes from the final siren, the Eagles scored twice in thirteen seconds. The reduction in the score of Tim Berni (51st, 2-3), author of his third goal in three matches, then the equalizer of Josh Jooris (51st, 3-3) woke up the 5,998 spectators at the Vernets ice rink.
The Garnets finally completed their second comeback in a few days, after that of Monday against Ambri, by Markus Granlund (61st, 4-3) in overtime. Thus, they gleaned 9 points this week despite a squad decimated by injuries.
Regrets for HC Ajoie
Jan Cadieux was also forced to cope without two new players for this duel: Michael Spacek, slightly injured in Rapperswil on Friday, and Oula Palve, deprived of the game due to the loan agreement between the two clubs. These two absences did not prevent the Servettians from entering the game well.
GSHC opened the scoring with an own goal from Matteo Romanenghi. Success was granted to Marc-Antoine Pouliot (6th, 1-0). The opportunities to double the lead followed one another, but Benjamin Conz made several decisive saves. And what was supposed to happen happened. Jerry Turkulainen (20th, 1-1) completed a perfectly executed zone exit.
The Jurassians then found the fault with a powerful shot from Julius Nättinen in power play (37th, 1-2). La Vouivre widened the gap upon returning from the locker room through Kyen Sopa (42nd, 1-3). The outcome seemed sealed. This was before this epic outcome.
HCA will host Kloten on Wednesday. As for Genève-Servette, the Champions Hockey League awaits on Tuesday, at Les Vernets, against the Germans from Bremerhaven.
GE Servette – Ajoie 4-3 ap (1-1 0-1 2-1)
Les Vernets, 5998 spectators. Arbitres: MM. Hebeisen, Staudenmann, Steenstra, Bichsel.
Buts: 6e Pouliot 1-0, 20e Turkulainen (Bellemare, Brennan) 1-1, 37e Nättinen (Brennan, Turkulainen / 5c4) 1-2, 42e Sopa (Veckaktins) 1-3, 51e Berni (Manninen) 2-3, 51e Jooris (Richard, Miranda) 3-3, 61e Granlund (Richard) 4-3.
GE Servette: Raanta; Vatanen, Le Coultre; Jacquemet, Karrer; Schneller, Bern; Vouardoux; Praplan, Manninen, Granlund; Miranda, Richard, Bertaggia; Völlmin, Jooris, Pouliot; Imesch, Cavalleri, Loosli; Guignard. Coach: Jan Cadieux.
Ajoie: Conz; Nussbaumer, Maurer; Brennan, Fey; Minder, Pilet; Thiry; Hazen, Devos, Veckaktins; Turkulainen, Bellemare, Nättinen; Sopa, Romanenghi, Pedretti; Robin, Garessus, Schmutz; Pouilly. Entertainer: Greg Ireland.
Penalties: 3 x 2′ against GE Servette; 2 x 2′ against Ajoie.
Notes: GE Servette without Descloux, Chanton, Lennström, Hartikainen, Hischier, Rod, Spacek (injured) and Palve (absent). Ajoie without Ciaccio, Patenaude, Fischer, Honka, Bozon, Frossard, Rundqvist (injured), Scheidegger and Chèvre (extra). Shooting on the uprights: 28th Bellemare.
