HC Ajoie surged past Genève-Servette 5-0 at the Raiffeisen Arena on Friday, marking their eighth win of the National League season and reaching 22 points in 15 matches under coach Ville Peltonen, while the visitors absorbed their third defeat amid a heavily depleted roster.
Last season, it took HC Ajoie a grueling 28 matches to accumulate 22 points. This autumn, the Jurassians reached that exact milestone in just 15 outings.
Friday’s 5-0 scoreline in front of a partisan crowd at the Raiffeisen Arena represents the largest victory of the campaign so far for Ville Peltonen’s squad.
How HC Ajoie Dismantled Genève-Servette at Porrentruy
The breakthrough arrived at the 8:33 mark of the opening period when Jesse Zgraggen beat goaltender Stéphane Charlin through a heavy screen of players.
Ajoie capitalized on a power-play just before the first intermission, with Julius Honka doubling the lead at 19:32. Deniss Smirnovs then capped a slick triangulation during the game’s midpoint to stretch the advantage to three.
In the final period, the hosts turned the pressure into a rout. Jeremy Wick struck with a precise one-timer at 49:51, and Cole Cormier rounded out the scoring at 58:21.
Throughout the evening, Antoine Keller proved impenetrable in the Ajoie crease, turning away all 38 shots he faced to preserve the shutout.
Genève-Servette Stumbles Under Injury Pressures and Dense Schedule
For Genève-Servette, the trip to Porrentruy laid bare the physical toll of a punishing schedule and an overflowing infirmary. Already missing key contributors such as Granlund, Manninen, Saarijärvi, and Praplan, the Grenat suffered another pre-game blow when Adam Boqvist was forced to withdraw during the warm-up.
Coach Sam Hallam watched his team slide to their third straight defeat following earlier losses to Ambri-Piotta and Lugano.
The evening was particularly difficult for the Eagles at the Raiffeisen Arena. Beaten 5-0 by Ajoie, Sam Hallam's men lacked energy and solutions against a more incisive Jurassian side. According
Despite the mounting fatigue, Genève has a margin of maneuver in the standings. However, the club acknowledged that the squad showed clear signs of wear after weeks of leaning heavily on a depleted core.
The Rest of the National League Friday Slate
HC Ajoie surged past Genève-Servette 5-0 at the Raiffeisen Arena. HC Ajoie surged past Genève-Servette 5-0 at the Raiffeisen Arena on Friday.
While Ajoie celebrated their milestone victory, Lausanne HC traveled to Zoug and fell 4-1, surrendering goals to Vinzenz Rohrer—the Austrian prospect on loan from the Montreal Canadiens—along with tallies from Sven Senteler and Rico Gredig.
| Matchup | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| HC Ajoie vs. Genève-Servette HC | 5 – 0 | Raiffeisen Arena, Porrentruy |
| EV Zug vs. Lausanne HC | 4 – 1 | Zoug |
| SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers vs. HC Ambri-Piotta | 6 – 3 | Rapperswil |
| HC Lugano vs. EHC Kloten | 2 – 5 | Lugano |
| HC Davos vs. SC Bern | 1 – 4 | Grisons |
What Ajoie’s Surge Means for the Rest of the Campaign
Since mid-September, Ajoie has established a remarkably consistent rhythm: the Jurassians have systematically followed every defeat with a victory, refusing to drop consecutive games since September 19.
With 22 points in 15 games, Peltonen’s team has seen its most convincing start since their promotion to the top flight in 2021.
Four fixtures remain before the upcoming international break, leaving Hallam’s squad little room to catch their breath. Whether returning bodies can restore depth remains the central question for a team currently running on fumes.