A good start to the year for the Genevans.
GABRIEL MONNET / GALLAYPHOTO
Genève-Servette and Bienne were keen to start the new year with a victory on Thursday evening. For the Genevans, it was necessary to show that the replacement, at the end of December, of coach Jan Cadieux by his assistants Yorick Treille and Rikard Franzén had created the expected shock. The people of Bienne, who have only won three matches in their last 12 outings, wanted to get back on track and get closer to the top 6. At the end of the match, it was the hosts who took advantage of this resumption match to winning 6-4.
The first period was a little disjointed, with a quick opening of the Biel score by Fabio Hofer (4th). The Genevans did not want to see Martin Filander’s men fly away and they took advantage of the first power play to equalize thanks to Teemu Hartikainen (12th). But Fabio Hofer was on fire in this first period and he gave his colors a goal back in the 14th minute.
Four goals in 243 seconds
In the locker room, before the second period, the words of the new Geneva coaches must have been impactful. And the players heard them since after four minutes and 44 seconds, they had scored four times thanks to Simon Le Coultre (21st) – first goal this season, Roger Karrer (22nd), Tanner Richard (25th) and Vincent Praplan (25th ).
The blow to the Biel residents’ heads was violent and they never really recovered. In the 33rd minute, Aleksi Heponiemi revived the visitors’ actions by reducing the score, but the damage was done.
After two such intense thirds, the home stretch was less exciting. However, the Genevans inflicted a stressful end to the match by conceding a fourth goal in the 58th minute (Andersson). Fortunately for them, a success from Praplan in the empty cage (60th) freed them.
Saturday (7:45 p.m.), Biel will host Rapperswil and Geneva will travel to Langnau.
Genève-Servette – Bienne 6-4 (1-2 4-1 1-1)
The Vernets. 6404 spectators. Referees: MM. Piechaczek, Mollard; Stalder, Meusy.
Buts: 4e Hofer (0-1), 12e Hartikainen (Manninen, Vatanen/5 c 4) 1-1, 14e Hofer 1-2, 21e Le Coultre (Manninen) 2-2, 22e Karrer (Praplan) 3-2, 25e Richard 4-2, 25e Praplan 5-2, 33e Heponiemi (Zryd) 5-3, 58e Andersson 5-4, 60e Praplan (cage vide) 6-4.
Genève-Servette: Raanta; Le Coultre, Vatanen; Chanton, Bern; Lennström, Karrer; Jacquemet; Granlund, Manninen, Hartikainen; bertaggia, Richard, Miranda; Pouliot, Jooris, Praplan; Loosli, Cavalleri, Völlmin. Entraîneurs: Treille et Franzén.
Bienne: Ray; Yakovenko, Christe; Grossmann, Burren; Zryd, Delémont; Kurt; Sallinen, Andersson, Hofer; Cunti, Heponiemi, Rajala; Kneubühler, Müller, Sablatnig; Tanner, Christen, Cattin; Bachofner. Entraîneur: Philander.
Penalties: None against Geneva, 4 x 2′ against Biel.
Swiss
