Lugano wins for the third time in a row

Good captains lead the way even when a team is going through difficult times. Calvin Thürkauf also seemed to take this credo to heart. HC Lugano's captain shone with two goals in the fifth act of the relegation playoff against Ajoie on Sunday and thus played a decisive role in the Luganesi coming off the ice as winners for the third time in a row against the Jura side.

The 27-year-old international scored 38 seconds into the second period. However, as Uwe Krupp's team subsequently failed to extend their lead and were repeatedly thwarted in their efforts by Damiano Ciaccio, Ajoie stayed in the game for a long time. Until Thürkauf again dashed any hopes of a comeback for Greg Ireland's team with his second goal with just over eight minutes remaining.

Thürkauf deflected a shot from Mark Arcobello in the power play to make it 2:0, and 46 seconds later top scorer Luca Fazzini finally made everything clear with a powerful shot.

The momentum has finally shifted to the Bianconeri, who can end a botched season with an away win on Tuesday. Ajoie, meanwhile, are in danger of qualifying for the league against Visp, who are still one win away from the Swiss League title in the second-highest division.

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Lugano - Ajoie 3:0 (0:0, 1:0, 2:0)

4864 spectators. - Referees Tscherrig/Stolc (SVK), Fuchs/Huguet. - Goals: 21st (20:38) Thürkauf 1:0. 52nd (51:49) Thürkauf (Arcobello, Alatalo/powerplay goal) 2:0. 53rd (52:35) Fazzini (Arcobello, Pulli) 3:0. - Penalties: 2 times 2 minutes against Lugano, 3 times 2 plus 5 minutes (Pilet) plus playing time (Pilet) against Ajoie. - PostFinance top scorers: Fazzini; Devos.

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.

Ajoie: Ciaccio; Honka, Brennan; Fischer, Fey; Maurer, Nussbaumer; Pilet, Thiry; Hazen, Bellemare, Romanenghi; Palve, Devos, Pedretti; Robin, Garessus, Schmutz; Veckaktins, Rundqvist, Frossard.

Remarks: Lugano without Dahlström, van Pottelberghe (both injured) and Joly (extra foreigner), Ajoie without Bozon, Nättinen and Turkulainen (all injured). Ajoie without a goalkeeper from 56:40 to 59:41.