Close games in the NLA

Lakers vs. SCL Tigers 3:5

In this game the two bottom clubs of the National League A met each other. Both teams had to win to keep their playoff dreams alive. The guests couldn't have started better into the match as Claudio Moggi scored after just nine seconds by transforming a pass from behind the goal into the net. In the sixth minute it was Tobias Bucher who increased the lead immediatly after a won face-off. Now Rapperswil-Jona had to react and after two periods they had managed to turn the game around completely after goals from Reto Suri (12./15.) and Jordy Murray (26.). The Lakers could not get this boost into the third period. Instead the SCL Tigers scored two times within 90 seconds - in both occasions in a power play situation. One minute before the end of the regular time Pascal Pelletier surprised Lakers goalie Manzato with a nice shot over his shoulder and destroyed all hope for the hosts. For Langnau it was the first win after ten consecutive losses.

Ambri-Piotta - Bern 4:3 OT

Two early goals within 32 seconds in the third minute of the game brought the guests in front very early. This result stood for a long time and so Ambri-Piotta had the chance to find its way back into the match. Late in the second period the hosts tied the game with a brace within three minutes. Especially in their second goal they were a bit lucky when the puck was deflected two times in front of the goal and that the last deflection of a Bern defender found its way into the net. Raeto Raffeiner brought his colours in front for the first time (42.) when his shot from the blue-line went under the pads of the away goalie who had no goalie to see the puck as a Ambri-Piotta attacker stood in front of him. Only few minutes later a power play opportunity let Bern tie the game. In an even game both teams neutralized themselves and so the overtime had to find a winner - here the hosts were in a hurry and in a 2-on-1 after 41 seconds they decided the game against the favourites from Bern.

Fribourg-Gottéron - Kloten 4:3 OT

In Fribourg the overtime had to find a winner in a match between two candidates for the regular season title. It was home town player Julien Sprunger who brought hope back to the home crowd by scoring the 1-1 (14.) and the 2-3 (45.). Before Kloten scored through Liniger (6./30.) and Stancescu (27.). But the match winner of the night was Sprungers team mate Pavel Rosa. First he tied the game two minutes before the end of the regular time with a nice shot over the glove of Klotens goalie and then the Czech's wrist shot found the back of the net in the third minute of overtime to secure the extrapoint for the hosts.

Geneve - ZSC Lion 3:4 SO

After having lost their last three games the ZSC Lions wanted to find a way back on the track away against their neighbours in the NLA table from Geneve. The hosts had the better start and scored after 18 minutes through Mercier. Early in the second Jeff Tambellini could tie the game for the ZSC Lions. This goal couldn't impress Servette who instead scored another two goals (35./41.), both timns through Pothier in the power play. The special teams continued to play a decisive role in this game. First Bastl scored the 2-3 (48.) for Zürich with one player more on the ice and when Geneve could have decided the game in a 5 on 3 powerplay situation the guests tied the game again after a fast counter-attack 88 seconds before the end of the regular time. Also the over time did not bring a winner so that Jeff Tambellini secured the extrapoint for his colours in the shootout and therefore brought the losing-streak of the Lions to an end.

Lugano - Zug 3:5

In Lugano the EV Zug had the chance to become league leader and left no room for speculations from the beginning that they wanted to win this game. When Casutt had scored the 3-0 for the guests after 32 minutes the game seemed to be already over. Before Brunner and Rüfenacht had already been succesfull with their shots. Out of nowhere Vauclair and Romy brought their team back into the game within two minutes (45./47.). From now on there was a very offensive-oriantated game in which Zug always found an answer to the afforts of home team Lugano. Schnyder scored the 2-4 for the guests (53.), Bednar surprised the goalie from a very tight angle and brought his team back to one-goal margin (56.). 23 seconds before the end of the regular time Finnish player Esa Pirnes set the point behind the game with an empty-netter. Now Zug gave itself the best Christmas present by becoming leader of the NLA.

 

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