After Sunday’s mortifying defeat in Chur, the Bees had to pull themselves together in front of their home crowd. Something beautiful and well done since Louis Matte’s men beat the reigning champions for the 3rd time this season in as many meetings.
The Abeilles presented us with a bit of faltering hockey at the start of the match, apart from an action led by Gilian Kohler and David Lindquist in the 3rd. The visitors then seemed more energetic and sent the puck towards Viktor Östlund without much danger, however. The HCC subsequently created two chances, but the last gesture was lacking. The first big alert from Valais came from the cane of Adam Brodecki whose shot was initially blocked by Joël Scheidegger (10th), before the Swede tried again while on his knees, then finishing in the Chaux-de-Foniers nets. In the 11th minute, it was Oliver Achermann who came up against Juho Markannen. In the 12th minute, Lucas Matewa escaped and sent a pass to Stefan Rüegsegger which the number 89 did not exploit. Lucas Matewa was the first player punished, still in the 12th. The Chaux-de-Fonier boxplay did the job by monopolizing the puck most often. A few seconds after number 54 returned to the game, Toms Andersons had an opportunity, but was the victim of a cane which earned a penalty to its author, Sandro Forrer (14th). The Abeilles were more convincing than their opponent in the exercise of power play, without more success in the end. With the two teams neutralizing each other, the spectators had little to look forward to in terms of flourishing action. Maybe the next two thirds would unlock the game.
In fact, we didn’t have to wait long since the Bees opened the scoring after 37 seconds, and an autogoal from Daniel Eigenmann, while Stefan Rüegsegger sent the puck to David Lindquist. The second goal came shortly after, on a try from Damian Gehringer, whose shot was deflected by a Valais skate. The Viège coach logically took a time out. The visitors were therefore more present in the Chaux-de-Fonier camp and Viktor Östlund had a lot to do. The Abeilles had to be content with counterattacks, but the one launched by the Böhler-Loosli-Eugster line ended superbly in the 29th minute. A foul committed by Joël Scheidegger in the 31st minute meant the latter had to sit on the pranks’ bench, without any problem for the Abeilles who only conceded one opportunity to Joël Marchon. In the 34th minute, Lucas Matewa suffered his second punishment of the evening. Uncomfortable during the first two sequences, the Valaisans were more threatening in this one, without however realizing their opportunities. In the 37th minute, a counter led by Toms Andersons saw the latter’s center too far removed by Oliver Achermann. Previously, it was Michael Loosli who had missed his chance against the Valais goalkeeper. The first line Chaux-de-Fondnier was going to show its advantage 5 seconds from the second siren, the send of the topscorer Chaux-de-Fondier passing between the legs of Juho Markannen. By scoring four goals, the last of which in the last seconds and without being dominant, the Abeilles had done the hard part, but had to start the 3rd third with the desire not to be pushed back.
The goal conceded in the final seconds of the middle third cost Juho Markannen his place, since it was Erik Liljequist who started the third period. In the 45th minute, the Viégeois were surprised to have too many players on the ice. Mute during the first sequence, Louis Matte’s men took advantage of this penalty to score the 5th by David Eugster, who took advantage of a failed check by Marco Forrer. In the 52nd minute, the Valais finally scored a goal, taking advantage of an initial foul against Steven Macquat. Sandro Forrer shot Viktor Östlund, masked by a Valais attacker. In the 55th minute, the bat came to the aid of Viktor Östlund on a try from Vincent Ryser. Andy Ritz was punished in the same minute for a foul on Evgeni Chiriaev. Nothing would be scored, despite a good presence in the opposing camp. The Bees, however, held on and didn’t give up until the final siren.
HC La Chaux-de-Fonds EHC Viège 5-1 (0-0; 4-0; 1-1)
Mélèzes ice rink, 2,676 spectators
Referees: MM. Fritschi and Sjoqvist, assisted by MM. Pitton and Baumgartner
Buts : 20’37 Rüegsegger (Kohler, Scheidegger) 1-0; 21’41 Gehringer (Böhler) 2-0; 28’49 Eugster (Böhler, J. Loosli) 3-0; 39’56 Andersons (Achermann, Huguenin); 45’03 Eugster 5-0; 51’34 p. Forrer 5-1
Penalties: 3 x 2′ (Matewa(2), Scheidegger) against HCC – 2 x 2′ against Visp
Teams:
HCC: Östlund (Simmchen); Scheidegger, Matewa; Huguenin, Jaquet, In-Albon, Gehringer; Grossniklaus; M. Loosli, Achermann, Andersons; Kohler, Lindquist, Rüegsegger; Böhler, J. Loosli, Eugster; Chiriaev, Macquat, Dubois; Burkhalter
EHCV: Markannen (40ème, Liljequist); Pezzullo, Eigenmann; Heinen, M. Forrer; Gerber, Gähler; Mile; Brüschweiler, Nilsson, Brodecli; S. Forrer, Fuss, Muggli; Marchon, Wuest, Lurati; Burgener, Ritz, Ryser
Notes :
HCC without Olden, Boucher, Frossard (injured), Imesch (supernumerary)
Visp without Lehmann, Perren (injured), Lovecchio, Boss (extras)
