Biel in a play-off spot

Biel 5 Ambri 0

Biel is for the first time since the 7th December again in good position for a play-off spot. Ambri is one of the favorite opponents of Biel. Although Biel lost the last game in Ticino (4:5), but before that they had won ten times in a row.  

The basis for the  Biel victory happen in the first 20 minutes. After 90 seconds, Eric Beaudoin, scores after a pass from Marc-Antoine Pouliot into an empty net because Ambri goalkeeper Nolan Schaefer had slipped behind the goal. In the 16th minute Ryan MacMurchy scores from a tight angle to make it 2-0. The Canadian player also score the fourth goal for Biel. 

Reto Berra celebrated his first shutout of the season, he had to stop only 18 shots from Ambri. While Biel celebrated the third win in a row, Ambri suffered the sixth defeat in their last seven games.

Davos 2 Kloten 0

After five defeats in a row Davos had finally a win. The Flyers slip for the first time since the 13th November under the play-offs spot..

For the first time with Giroux and Willsie with Kloten, the two newcomers were unable to solve the team problem... goals! Davos goalie Leonardo Genoni stopped everything... 39 times. Second shutout this season. Kloten suffered in the twelfth game in the new year, the ninth defeat.

Langnau 6 Bern 5 (OT)

Langnau defeat Bern in a mad derby 6-5 after overtime. The decisive goal was scored by Pascal Pelletier after 33 seconds into overtime.

At first everything looked good for Bern after the five victories in a row. Jaroslav Bednar with a fine individual performance and Geoff Kinrade with a superb shot on the powerplay in the first five minutes put a 2-0 lead.  But the Tigers responded and by the 25th minute the home team had 3-2 lead, the goals were scored  by Kurtis McLean(twice)  and Pelletier. 

But the Bern fought back. Joel Vermin (35th), Pascal Berger(38th) and Ryan Gardner (49th) put Bern in a comfortable 5-3 lead. End of the game? Not at all,  Etienne Froidevaux (55) and Simon Moser (59) rescued  Langnau with two Shorthander goals! 

 Langnau ended a three games losing streak whit a second victory in row against Bern..

Lakers 2 Zürich 3 (OT)

The Lakers lost their third home game of the season against the defending champions Zürich. Zürich earned the win thanks to an increase in performance after the second break. The Lions dominated the final third with 9-4 shots on goal. 

The Lakers can't be satisfied to play only 40 minutes against a team like Zürich. They pointed to a four-day training camp in Arosa, but at the end they lacked the strength and they acted too passive. Finnish star player Mikka Lehtonen begins his career in Swiss LNA with two assists. 

Lugano 3 Zug 4

Zug owed their victory to their impressive power play. Diaz, Brunner and Zetterberg are not there anymore but the power-play is still awesome. Not only Lugano lose tonight but Larry Huras has a new problem.  Number 1 goalkeeper Daniel Manzato had a knee injury. Not a very good for prepare the play-offs. 

Geneva 5 Fribourg 4 (OT)

Geneva picked a unlikely 5-4 success after extra time against Fribourg. After ten (!) straight wins outside, Fribourg Gottéron lose finally a game, yet there was no indication such a scenario when Benjamin Plüss scored the 2-4 in the 46th minute after an incredible misunderstanding between Tobias Stephan and his captain Goran Bezina. At this time, the advantage Hans Kossmann team had no discussion. 

And then Geneva made a surprising return, initiated by Fritsche cousins. At the 52nd, John Fritsche reduced the score to 3-4 for his second goal of the season and  two minutes later, his cousin Dan set on fire the old Vernets Arena for the tie game. 

The overtime was largely dominated by Geneva. With three victories in their last four games, McSorley's team is now in good position to play the play-offs without pressure.

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