Swiss National League Ice Hockey Playoffs saw intense action as the regular season draws to a close, leading to high stakes for teams vying for playoff positions. One particularly dramatic game unfolded between HC Lugano and Genève-Servette, culminating with Servette's 3-2 victory.
The match, held at Les Vernets, was pivotal for Lugano, who absolutely needed to win. They faced the possibility of relegation and had to overcome the challenge presented by Servette. The game was thrilling, beginning with Servette holding the lead at 1-0 following Arnaud Jacquemet's goal. It wasn’t until the 55th minute when Lugano's Samuel Guerra found the back of the net, equalizing for his team.
With time running out and the risk of relegation looming, Lugano pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, leading to them taking the lead at 2-1 thanks to Daniel Carr's effort. The tension heightened as Servette countered, also pulling their goalie and managing to score against the empty net, resulting in Teemu Hartikainen tying the score at 2-2. Just seconds before the final buzzer, Marcus Gränlund sealed the fate of Lugano by scoring the decisive goal for Servette, leaving them to face relegation for the first time since 2011.
This match marked the dramatic climax of the regular season for Lugano, and they can only hope for help from other teams to avoid dropping to the lower league. The other significant match occurred between HC Fribourg-Gottéron and Lausanne, where Gottéron struck with authority, leading to their 2-0 triumph. Goals from Jakob Lilja and Christoph Bertschy, alongside remarkable goaltending from Reto Berra, who saved all 30 shots he faced, kept Fribourg's playoff hopes alive.
Despite their best efforts, Gottéron wasn’t guaranteed safety, as Kloten also performed well, overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Zug to finish 3-2, with Axel Simic providing the late heroics. Kloten's turnaround puts added pressure on Gottéron, as both teams now vie for the last playoff spot, with Kloten needing to finish with more points than Fribourg.
Meanwhile, the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers kept their play-in hopes alive by defeating Ajoie 5-4, with Tyler Moy contributing significantly by scoring three goals, showcasing his stellar performance throughout the season. Coach's strategies paid off, but their fight continues as they remain at 12th place, needing to win their upcoming match against Davos to secure any chance of advancing.
Ambri-Piotta enjoyed their victory against SC Bern, winning 4-1, with standout performances from Chris DiDomenico, who scored the game-winner and provided two assists. This victory positions Ambri quite favorably as they head toward their final matches.”
Fans have eagerly watched these matches, with the fate of their teams hanging by the thread of each game. The excitement and tension are palpable as every point counts. On February 29, the final round will determine who advances to the playoffs and who faces possible relegation.
With only two weeks left until the playoff quarter-finals, the significance of players' health, such as EV Zug's Lukas Bengtsson, who is recovering from an injury, becomes increasingly important. The absence of such key players could pivot the playoff dynamics significantly. Each goal, save, and penalty could reshape the league as teams race for the playoffs.