- Geneva-Servette became the first Swiss team to win the “new” Champions Hockey League in its ninth edition.
- In the final against the Swedish top team Skelleftea, the Geneva team deservedly won 3-2 at home.
- The majority rule plays into the home team’s hands, Servette scored the goals to make it 2-1 and 3-1 in the same power play.
In the National League, Geneva-Servette was unable to shake off the championship blues this season. But the reigning Swiss champions always ran hot on the European stage. Geneva also showed its Champions League face in the final against Skelleftea AIK. Thanks to the 3-2 win against the Swedish top team, Geneva-Servette can become the first Swiss team to lift the trophy at the 9th edition in the new format.
Meanwhile, the final phase didn’t go through without trembling. After Anton Heikkinen’s 2-3 goal (49′), the guests from northern Sweden pressed vehemently for the equalizer. Just a few moments after the goal, it took Jussi Olkinuora in the Geneva goal to miraculously prevent the equalizer.
But even in the final minutes with six field players against four, Skelleftea was no longer able to equalize. 299 days after winning the Swiss championship title, the sold-out Les Vernets Hall was once again transformed into a festival hut.
Double strike in the power play
Coach Jan Cadieux’s team started fearlessly in their final debut and immediately took control of the game. In the 6th minute, the Geneva team rewarded themselves for their good start. Eliot Berthon scored his first goal in the current competition to make it 1-0. After the home team let an initial power-number situation go to waste, the guests from northern Sweden struck virtually out of nowhere. Martins Dzierkals tried from a tight angle and caught Servette keeper Olkinuora in the near corner (12th).
Geneva survived the subsequent period of pressure from the guests without conceding another goal. Towards the end of the first third, the “Grenats” were again able to compete with one more man. The home team took advantage of the fact that in the new mode the penalty does not expire after a goal:
- 18. Minute: Geneva’s Finns strike in the power play. Valtteri Filppula serves Teemu Hartikainen directly in front of the goal, who passes the disc backhand to the free-standing Sakari Manninen. The striker doesn’t have to be asked twice and puts the disc perfectly under the crossbar to make it 2-1.
- 19. Minute: Just 59 seconds later, Geneva celebrates again. Still in the majority, Daniel Winnik is successful after a shot from Tim Berni with a deflection.
The Genevans were in no way inferior to their courageous starting third in the middle section. With a solidarity performance, the Swiss champions defended their lead without any problems despite two outnumbered situations.
The Swedes wanted to use tactics to prevail against Geneva’s talent. But Servette defended star goalie Olkinuora’s goal skillfully and passionately. In the end it can be said that Servette was slightly superior to the opponent in terms of tactics and discipline.