Narrow, not necessarily 1:3 defeat at Ajoie
(Report: Reto Büchler, Photo: Casper Thiriet)
Defensively worked very well
After narrow defeats against the SCL Tigers (3:4 after penalties) and SC Bern (4:5), EHC Basel tested HC Ajoie for the third time against a National League team. Due to Stukel’s absence, Basel only fielded one foreign reinforcement, Supinski, while the Jura team had five of the six foreign licenses on the match sheet. Basel held up very well in the first period, was very present and did not allow Ajoie to combine. Both teams knew how to keep their respective strikers away from the goal. So chances were in short supply on both sides in the first period. Romanenghi took advantage of one of these with the first shot on goal to take an early lead. For Basel, Huber had the best chance to equalize in the 14th minute when he got to the puck directly in front of Paudenaude.
Basel better from mid-game
The middle third was the same story. Both teams worked excellently defensively and didn’t allow much. From the middle of the game, Basel became more courageous, showed some good combinations and had a few opportunities. The second Ajoie goal by Garessus came right in the middle of EHC’s best phase so far. Basel didn’t give up and kept going. Supinski deservedly managed to get back in the game with a nice pass from Bachofner after Basel had managed to establish themselves in Ajoie’s third once again. Huber almost scored the equalizer in the 38th minute.
Missed power play opportunities
In the final third, Basel tried everything to equalize. Huber had another chance, but only hit the edge of the goal against his former team. This was followed by further opportunities in Basel’s first power play. Patenaude was able to distinguish himself several times. A short time later, the EHC had the opportunity to play with a two-man advantage for over a minute. The Jurassians maintained their narrow lead. Sturny also failed to equalize after a counterattack while shorthanded. When Haller was substituted for a sixth field player half a minute before the end, a goal was scored, namely by Pedretti into the empty space.
EHC Basel’s next test match will be next Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. in the St. Jakob Arena against HC Sierre.
HC Ajoie – EHC Basel 3:1 (1:0, 1:1, 1:0)
Raiffeisen Arena, Porrentruy, 1270 spectators
Referees: Cedric Borga, Julien Staudenmann; Georges Huguet, Michael Stalder
Penalties: 2 x 2 minutes against Basel; 3 x 2 minutes against Ajoie
Shots on goal: Basel 24 Ajoie 26 (4:7, 13:10, 7:9)
Tore: 3. Romanenghi (Sopa) 1:0. 33. Garessus 2:0. 35. Supinski (Bachofner, Huber) 2:1. 59. Pedretti (Frossard) 3:1.
Comments: 45. Huber hits the post. 52. Basel timeout
EHC Basel: Haller (ET: Keienburg); Meile, Rouiller; Zubler, Bachofner; Törmänen, Aeschbach; Sturny, Kummer, Küng; Barbei, Supinski, Huber; Rexha, Brügger, Diezi; Liniger, Krayem, Schaub. HC: Eric Himelfarb AC: Michel Zeiter.
HC Ajoie: Patenaude (ET: Ciaccio); Brennan, Minder; Maurer, Nussbaumer; Scheidegger, Fey; Pouilly, Pilet; Nättinen, Devos, Turkulainen; Veckaktins, Frossard, Hazen; Pedretti, Romanenghi, Sopa; Schmutz, Rundquist, Garessus. HC: Christian Wohlwend.
