Third success of the week for the Lausanne Hockey Club. The Lions largely dominated their best enemies from Genève-Servette and won 3-0.
Saturday evening, it was already Christmas at the Vaudoise Aréna. Fir tree in the ultras' kop (yes, a supporter really came with a real fir tree in the middle of the west turn), snowflakes invaded the Videotron and the traditional end-of-year sweaters (with the image of the LHC) adorned the stands. And the icing on the cake (or star on the tree), a Lake Geneva derby to end the year well in Lausanne.
Successful introduction
Christmas match certainly, but the Lions did not give any gifts. From the kick-off, the intensity was at its highest. However, with the Genevans putting a lot of pressure on Kevin Pasche. The Lausanne players needed a few minutes to fully get into it and we thought for a moment that they were going to be dominated.
But just as we began to wonder to what extent the meeting in Davos the previous evening would weigh on this derby, Geoff Ward's men seized the momentum. David Sklenicka attempted a first shot, which landed straight on Antti Raanta. In the process, the defender once again found himself in a good position. However, he decided to play as a team and pass to Antti Suomela on the left of the cage. The Finn finished the job perfectly to open the scoring.
For its part, Genève Servette tried to equalize, but Jan Cadieux's men notably failed to take advantage of 4 minutes in numerical superiority. The LHC, on the other hand, did not go far from 2-0 at the end of the third with this beautiful sequence between Janne Kuokkanen and Théo Rochette at first. Rochette who then served a perfect pass to Lauri Pajuniemi on the other side of the goal, but the No. 48 narrowly missed the net.
An escape to unlock your counter
Lausanne continued the same momentum in the second half. Ken Jäger (26th) and Ahti Oksanen (29th) offered themselves very good chances. Enough to ignite the audience who increased the sound volume by a few decibels.
It was enough to push the Lions towards the net. Makai Holdener was able to escape (31st). An action which finds its origin, once again, with Sklenicka who waited at the blue line for Holdener to arrive to serve him the puck. Holdener who scores his first goal of the season.
The Lions nevertheless played to scare themselves since directly after this success, they found themselves numerically inferior. Makai Holdener immediately returned to the ice. A shift which has nothing to frustrate the Lausanne attacker.
“In the right direction”
Geneva will not have succeeded in stopping the fervor of the Lausanne residents in the 3rd third either. The Servettian Defense twice allowed the Lions to escape (Jason Fuchs in the 50th and Holdener, again, in the 55th). And Pajuniemi came to seal the score in the empty cage 14 seconds from the end.
The LHC therefore had the perfect week with three victories in three matches. Results which leave some after-effects. During interviews, Kevin Pasche's first words are said with a smile, but also with deep sincerity: “I'm tired, I just want to go to bed.”
Fatigue has indeed marked the face of the Lausanne goalkeeper. But it did not prevent him from signing his 7th shutout of the season. He is thus getting closer and closer to the record of Leonardo Genoni who had signed 10. There is no doubt that Kevin Pasche is keeping the accounts. But when asked what this represents, he keeps his feet on the ground, as usual. “You shouldn't get complacent, but it's clear that it's nice to see 0 on the board at the end.” While he admits that it boosts his confidence, he also recalls that “it gives confidence to everyone.”
The goalkeeper therefore had a great match, just like David Sklenicka who, as we said, allowed Suomela and Holdener to score. The people of Lausanne therefore seem to have found a good recipe to end the year, but certainly also the season, in apotheosis.
Now there remains one last effort to be made before the holidays. On Monday, the LHC travels to Emmental to face Langnau. “It’s clear that the matches are a bit tricky,” notes Makai Holdener. People always say that you shouldn't go on vacation too early. Now we have to regroup, rest, to arrive ready on Monday and put a good match on the table.”
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