The Geneva-Servette cleaver week got off to a bad start. Tuesday evening, the Eagles lost against Berne (2-3), in front of their home crowd of Vernets, at the end of a performance without much relief. After four matches with the team, the coaching duo composed of Yorick Treille and Rikard Franzen presents a neutral record of two victories for as many defeats. Far from the takeoff hoped for by Garnet leaders.
This duel between Eagles and Bears took place at a false rhythm, in a cozy atmosphere. Difficult in these conditions to fall into madness. The opening score also fell on a confused action, after a good ten minutes of observation: with a harmless shot, Simon Moser (11th, 0-1) took advantage of an unfortunate deviation from Roger Karrer to take Robert Mayer on the wrong foot, starting in the Geneva cage for the second time in a row.
We only had to wait 122 seconds to witness the second goal of the match, again achieved by the Bernese. Posted at the blue line, Fabian Ritzmann (14th, 0-2) didn’t ask any questions and fired a shot on reception which ended up at the bottom of the garnet cage, thanks in particular to the traffic placed in front of Robert Mayer .
With their backs to the wall, Genève-Servette then showed a reaction, without however offering an exhilarating game. After several big opportunities, including an amount found by Roger Karrer (34th), the GSHC managed to reduce the gap at the end of the middle period. Vincent Praplan (37th, 1-2), positioned in front of Philip Wüthrich, victoriously took back – with a volley – a rebound awarded by the goalkeeper. A success that the referees validated after a video check, the Valais striker’s cane not being judged too high.
The Garnets tried to take advantage of their momentum to equalize, but neither Simon Le Coultre (49th) nor Dmytro Timashov (53rd) managed to find the fault. A lack of efficiency which ended up costing them dearly, Berne giving itself a break thanks to its top scorer Austin Czarnik (53rd, 1-3).
The Eagles, who reduced the gap 21 seconds from time by Teemu Hartikainen (60th, 2-3), will have the opportunity to bounce back on Wednesday evening (7:45 p.m.), on the ice of Zug. They will then play two more matches this weekend: Friday in Ambri, then the next day, against Fribourg-Gottéron, in Les Vernets. With the obligation to make points.
Genève-Servette – Bern 2-3 (0-2 1-0 1-1)
Les Vernets, 5671 spectators.
Referees: MM. Ruprecht, Fonselius; Stalder, Gurtner.
Buts: 11e Moser (Kreis) 0-1, 14e Ritzmann (Loeffel, Schläpfer) 0-2, 37e Praplan 1-2, 53e Czarnik (Merelä, Loeffel) 1-3, 60e Hartikainen (Lennström, Manninen / 6c5) 2-3.
Geneva: Mayer; Le Coultre, Vatanen; Chanton, Bern; Karrer, Lennström; Jacquemet; Granlund, Manninen, Hartikainen; Timashov, Jooris, Praplan; Miranda, Pouliot, Bertaggia; Loosli, Cavalleri, Völlmin. Entraîneur: Yorick Treille.
Berne: Wuthrich; Untersander, district; spoon, clog; Vermin, Kindschi; Füllmann; Moser, Bader, Scherwey; Merelä, Czarnik, Ejdsell; Kahun, Baumgartner, Marchon; Schild, Ritzmann, Schläpfer. Entrainer: Jussi Tapola.
Penalties: 0 x 2′ against Geneva; 1 x 2′ against Bern.
Notes: Genève sans Descloux, Hischier, Richard, Rod (blessés), Raanta (surnuméraire), ni Guignard (Swiss League). Berne sans Lindholm, Lehmann (blessés), Nemeth (malade), ni Ryser (Swiss League). Genève sans gardien de 57’20” à 60’00”.
