The LHC’s victory in this first match should have been quiet. There was indeed only one team on the ice until mid-match and the vibrant tribute paid by the Lausanne public to his former glory Claude Verret, who died on Wednesday at the age of 61.
Except that the two Lausanne goals signed Damien Riat and Antti Suomela have not sufficiently sheltered the men of Geoff Ward. The latter then multiplied the defensive approximations that the Tigers were able to exploit.
“Things are going in front of the net …”, justifies the Canadian LHC coach. “The three goals that we conceded could have been avoided during another evening. But it is play-off hockey. It is a good reminder of things that we have to be more careful.”
Much more threatening than in the first 40 minutes, the Emmentalois showed during the third third time that their place in the play-off was not usurped, especially since they evolved with only five foreign players. “They never got out of their match, even led 2-0. They found flaws in our defensive that we will have to correct,” admits Damien Riat.
Before the evening is complicated, the top scorer in the LHC – he made the nets tremble for the 18th time of the season – had only put 21 seconds to capsize Malley. “The cane itching a little. I expected that, that these play-offs begin. In truth, we’ve been waiting for them for a year,” he said.
Damien Riat assures him, however, Lausanne did not underestimate the tigers. “We know very well that the team opposite has a lot of qualities. On our side, we must above all be careful not to shoot ourselves in the foot as is the case from time to time,” warns number 9 of the LHC.
Heying, Lausanne can still be satisfied with having kept the advantage of the ice. A year ago, at home, the Lions conceded act I of their quarter -final against Davos. This series, finally won in seven matches, had left traces.
Aurélien Marti, victim of a fracture of a wrist during act V, had notably had a premature end of the season. Thursday, the 30 -year -old defender struggled to get up after a charge of Dario Rohrbach and was no longer reappeared later. Will it be on Langnau ice cream on Saturday? Nothing is less certain.
