This Tuesday evening at Les Vernets, Genève-Servette HC confirmed its great momentum by signing a fourth consecutive victory, winning 3-1 against Rapperswil. An important success in the race for the Top 6, acquired at the end of a match where the Garnets had to show patience… and strong nerves.
The first third was balanced, with Stéphane Charlin already in great demand. The Geneva goalkeeper has distinguished himself on several occasions, keeping his team afloat in a period where each team had its highlights.
The second third then turned into the Geneva demonstration. The Eagles outrageously dominated the proceedings: two goals, a multitude of clear chances, missed wide open goals… but no goal. Without an excellent Nyffeler in the Rapperswil net, the score could, and probably should, have been much larger. Despite this total control, the scoreboard remained frozen at 0-0 after 40 minutes, giving way to palpable frustration in the Vernets bays.
Against the run of play, Rapperswil opened the scoring on a power play at the start of the third period. A hard blow? Not for these Eagles. The reaction was immediate, and above all collective. Sutter equalized a few minutes later, before Praplan gave the Grenat the lead, perfectly served by Jason Akeson and Le Coultre. Vesey then sealed the victory in the empty cage, rewarding Geneva’s perseverance.
Beyond the result, the great story of the evening will remain Jason Akeson’s debut in the garnet jersey. Newly naturalized, the striker delivered a very convincing performance for his first match, with more than seven minutes of play and an assist on the winning goal.
With this success against a direct competitor, the GSHC continues its series and is already planning towards a new crucial meeting. Next match this Thursday at Les Vernets, against Lugano, for another crucial duel in the fight for the Top 6.
Genève-Servette – Rapperswil 3-1 (0-0;0-0;3-1)
Les Vernets 5513 spectators
Referees: Stolc, Dipietro, Steenstra, Francey
Buts: 41’36 Zangger (Wetter, Maillet at 5v4) 0-1, 46’54 Sutter 1-1, 51’04 Praplan (Akeson, Le Coultre) 2-1, 59’39 Vesey (Rutta in the empty cage)
Penalties: 4×2′ against Genève-Servette, 3×2′ against Rapperswil
Geneva-Servette: Charlin, Bern, Saaarijärvi, Chanton, Rut, Le Coult, Sutter, Granlund, Manninen, Puljujärvi, Vesey, Joori, Bozon, Ignatavicius, Pouliot, Rod, Verboon, Miranda, Akeson Akeson
Rapperswil: Nyffeler, Capaul, Honka, Maier, Bisig, Jelovac, Henauer, Flütsch, Lammer, Dünr, Wetter, Strömwall, Rask, Zangger, Hofer, Maillet, Moy, Hornecker, Graf