Ajoie once again silences Langnau

The trips to Ajoie follow one another and are similar for the Tigres de Langnau, beaten 1-0 on Tuesday evening after having already suffered defeat there in early November with a score of 2-0.

If success eluded the two teams for a long time, it was not for lack of trying to resolve the situation. Even the special situations, numerous throughout the meeting, did nothing. However, the clumsiness of the actors or the vigilance of the two guards do not explain everything. Benjamin Conz and Stéphane Charlin have both been accompanied by luck on several occasions. Incidentally, it should be noted that the last Jura rampart achieved its second whitewash in the space of three matches after that of Davos on January 3 (0-3).

It almost seemed like we were in full activity in a steel factory, as the metal supporting the two goals suffered, with no less than six strikes on the uprights recorded after 40 minutes. Philip-Michaël Devos even screamed his rage when returning to the bench in the middle of the initial period. In the space of a few seconds on the first sequence of numerical superiority of the HCA, the Quebec center twice found the metal support of Charlin.

Baloo morality then came into action. Tuesday evening, in Porrentruy, it didn’t take much to be happy. The deliverance fell shortly before mid-match, when Jonathan Hazen was able to break through the Emmental wall (27th). Two days earlier against Ambri, Greg Ireland’s team had not been able to maintain its three-length lead built during the first quarter of an hour.

This time, she didn’t give up. And if his power play has undeniably lost productivity since Jerry Turkulainen’s injury, the box-play has gained considerably in efficiency in recent times. Whether it was 3 against 4, 4 against 5 or even 5 against 6 during the last 80 seconds (Charlin had left his place of work), the defensive system held up.

Thanks to this new success at home, HC Ajoie returns to nine lengths behind Lugano, its closest opponent in the standings. Opposition that he will receive on Saturday. Before that, he will travel to Bern on Friday.

Raiffeisen Arena. 3840 spectators. Arbitres: MM. Gerber, Hungerbühler, Duc et Francey.

But: 27e Hazen (Pedretti, Devos) 1-0.

Add: Cons; Honka, Fey; Nussbaumer, Maurer; Scheidegger, Fischer; Thiry, Pilet; Palve, Bellemare, Nättinen; Hazen, Devos, Pedretti; Robin, Garessus, Bozon; Sopa, Romanenghi, Veckaktins. Coach: Ireland.

Langnau: Charlie; Zanetti, Riikola; Saarijärvi, Meier; Guggenheim, Paschoud; Cadonau; Saarela, Kristof, Mäenalanen; Rohrbach, Flavio Schmutz, Pesonen; Berger, Fahrni, Allenspach; Petrini, Salzgeber, Lapinskis; Julian Schmutz. Entraîneur: Paterlini.

Penalties: 6 x 2′ against each team.

Notes: Ajoie without Frossard, Patenaude, Rundqvist, Schmutz, Turkulainen (injured), Brennan (supernumerary foreigner), Bernasconi, Minder nor Pouilly (supernumerary). Langnau without Baltisberger, Malone (injured) or Felcman (absent). Time out requested by Langnau (59th), who removes his goalkeeper in favor of a 6th outfield player (58’40 to 60’00).