Lugano holds the reins again in the relegation playoff against Ajoie. With a 4:3 win after overtime in Pruntrut, they evened the series at 2:2 and regained home-ice advantage.
21.03.2025, 22:52
21.03.2025, 22:54
SDA
Was the nail-biter with the goals from 0:1 to 2:1 in the last minute of the third game in Lugano the turning point in this nail-biting duel between the last and second-last team in the National League? There are some indications. With one and a half legs already in the league qualification (if Visp wins the Swiss League), everything is now open again - with the momentum clearly on the side of the Ticino side.
However, Ajoie showed no signs of a mental block, on the contrary. They fell behind three times and equalized three times - the last time to 3:3 through T.J. Brennan in the 52nd minute. Naturally, there was no response to the 3:4 scored by Lugano captain Calvin Thürkauf in the 6th minute of extra time.
Now everything is open again in the duel to stay in the league. The winner will stay in the National League, while the loser of the series will have to continue to worry. So far, Lugano, who on paper appear to be much stronger, are no better than bottom-placed Ajoie.
Telegram:
Ajoie - Lugano 3:4 (1:2, 1:1, 1:0, 0:1) n.V.
5025 spectators. - SR Kaukokari (FIN)/Dipietro, Steenstra (CAN)/Duc. - Goals: 12. Fazzini (Sekac) 0:1. 18. Bellemare (Honka, Palve/powerplay goal) 1:1. 20. (19:38) Arcobello (Carr, Thürkauf/powerplay goal) 1:2. 29. (28:50) Rundqvist (Fey/powerplay goal) 2:2. 30. (29:33) Zohorna 2:3. 52. Brennan 3:3. 66. Thürkauf (Carr) 3:4. - Penalties: 2 times 2 minutes against Ajoie, 6 times 2 minutes against Lugano. - PostFinance top scorers: Devos; Fazzini.
Ajoie: Conz; Honka, Brennan; Fischer, Fey; Maurer, Nussbaumer; Pilet, Thiry; Hazen, Bellemare, Romanenghi; Palve, Devos, Pedretti; Robin, Garessus, Schmutz; Veckaktins, Rundqvist, Bozon.
Lugano: Huska; Aebischer, Pulli; Guerra, Mirco Müller; Jesper Peltonen, Alatalo; Montandon; Zohorna, Thürkauf, Carr; Fazzini, Arcobello, Sekac; Zanetti, Canonica, Marco Müller; Cormier, Verboon, Morini; Patry.
Remarks: Ajoie without Nättinen and Turkulainen (both injured), Lugano without Dahlström, van Pottelberghe (both injured) and Joly (supernumerary foreigner).
