Published
Genève-Servette faces the HC Lugano of its former coach in pre-play-offs, in a best-of-three mini-series. First act Friday at Les Vernets.
Chris McSorley is back in Geneva for a best-of-three series. It promises.
Eric Lafargue
Once again Chris McSorley will be the center of attention. Here is the 59-year-old Canadian back in Geneva, where he forged his legend for nearly two decades, to face his former club in the fight for accession to the play-offs. The Ontarian, who remains at odds with the Geneva leaders, will however not leave with the favors of the coast. His team, 9th at the end of the regular season, is one of the great disappointments of the season. Opposite, Genève-Servette seems much better equipped to overcome the obstacle, in particular thanks to its quartet of foreigners (five if we add Marc-Antoine Pouliot who has become Swiss) which is probably the best in the league.
The Eagles start as favorites, but in such a short series, the slightest misstep can be fatal. The pressure will be on Geneva’s shoulders during Act I, Friday, at Les Vernets. If McSorley were to succeed on the ice of his greatest exploits, the situation could very quickly become complicated for the formation of Jan Cadieux.
The winner of the series will face in the quarter-finals the reigning Swiss champions, EV Zug.
Will Chris McSorley, left, play a trick on his ex-club?
Eric Lafargue
The dates
Friday March 18, in Geneva (7:45 p.m.).
Sunday March 20, in Lugano (7:45 p.m.).
Possibly Tuesday March 22, in Geneva (7:45 p.m.).
Direct confrontations
2-2 between the two teams:
18.09.2021: Geneva – Lugano 3-5
30.10.2021: Lugano – Geneva 1-4
30.11.2021: Lugano – Geneva 3-0
08.03.2022: Geneva – Lugano 3-2
The best counters
The GSHC has the advantage of being able to count on the best player in the National League, the Swedish defender Henrik Tömmernes.
ERIC LAFARGUE
Henrik Tömmernes (2nd counter of NL: 51 matches, 10 goals, 48 assists, 58 points).
Mark Arcobello (6e compteur de NL: 52 matches, 22 buts, 29 assists, 51 points).
The most penalized
Daniel Winnik (4th in NL, 48 games, 86 penalty minutes).
Calvin Thürkauf (11th in NL, 50 games, 65 penalty minutes).
The gardians
Gauthier Descloux (30 matches, 2.38 goals/match, 92.16% saves)
Dominic Nyffeler (13 matches, 1,53 but/match, 93,46% d’arrêts)
Juho Markkanen, FIN (3 games, 4.25 goals/game, 92.24% saves)
Leland Irving, CAN (7 matches, 3,30 buts/match, 87,89% d’arrêts)
Thibaut Fatton, SUI (18 matches, 2.97 goals/match, 90.08% saves)
*Niklas Schlegel/Injured (24 games, 2.55 goals/game, 91.30% saves)
The coaches
Jan Cadieux, CAN/SUI (41 years old, 1st season as head coach of the GSHC)
Chris McSorley, CAN/SUI (59 years old, 1st season as head coach of Lugano)
The barometer
Five consecutive victories including four in regulation time. Eight successes in total in the last ten matches.
The Bianconeri are camping on two defeats in a row and six losses in the last ten matches. Goalkeeper Niklas Schlegel is injured, while Finnish goalkeeper Markkanen was injured in the last game of the regular season on Monday in Biel.