Abols' assist helps Bern win in overtime in Swiss league

Latvian forward Rodrigo Abols recorded an assist on Sunday in a Swiss top-flight ice hockey league (NL) game, helping his team Bern beat Lugano 2-1 in overtime at home. The period scores were 0-0, 1-0, 0-1 and 1-0 in overtime. The result matters for Bern's position near the top of the table.

The winning goal came in the fourth minute of overtime from Valtteri Merela, with assists credited to Abols and Jens Mitchell. Lugano played without Latvian player Harijs Cjunskis, who was not included in the lineup.

Abols' numbers

Abols spent 16 minutes and 25 seconds on the ice. In that time he blocked one shot, won eight of 16 face-offs and finished with a plus-one rating. He has collected 12 points (6 goals and 6 assists) in 13 games at the start of the season.

Other games and standings

In another Sunday game, Zurich's Lions, playing without Rudolfs Balcers, won 5-1 away against Geneva's Servette. The period scores were 4-1, 0-0 and 1-0.

Lions lead the table with 39 points in 15 games. Bern are fifth with 25 points in 14 games. Langnau Tigers, who are without the injured Oskars Lapinskis, are seventh with 23 points in 16 games. Ajoie, represented by Denis Smirnovs, are one place lower with 22 points. Lugano are 11th with 19 points in 15 games, while Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, with Ivars Punnenovs, are 13th with 17 points in 16 games in the 14-team league.

Last season, Fribourg-Gotteron won its first Swiss championship title.