Punnenovs makes 92.9% of saves as "Lakers" upset defending champions

In Switzerland's National League on Saturday, September 19, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers defeated defending champions Fribourg-Gottéron 3:2. Latvian goaltender Ivars Punnenovs started for the winning side, stopping 26 of 28 shots for a 92.9% save percentage. His counterpart Loic Galley made 26 of 29 saves for Fribourg, an 89.7% rate.

In another game, Lugano's Langnau Tigers, featuring Oskars Lapinskis, beat EHC Biel in a penalty shootout after the game ended 3:3 in regulation. Lapinskis played 13 minutes and registered one shot on goal.

Zurich Lions, led by Latvian national team captain Rudolfs Balcers, beat Geneva-Servette 3:0 at home. Balcers logged roughly 15 minutes of ice time, threatened the opposing net, blocked a shot and finished with a plus-one rating.

Meanwhile, Deniss Smirnovs helped Ajoie beat Kloten 4:3 in overtime. The forward played 16 minutes and 44 seconds, took one shot and won 28.6% of his faceoffs.

Second division and other results

In the Swiss second-tier league, teams featuring Rihards Melnalksnis and Rolands Nagļis faced off, with Olten winning 9:4 away against Chur. Nagļis scored a goal, took two shots and finished with a plus-one rating. Melnalksnis took four shots, won 40% of his faceoffs and also posted a plus-one rating.

Toms Andersons and La Chaux-de-Fonds beat Naurus Sējējs's Küsnacht Lions 5:1 at home. Andersons contributed an assist and five shots on goal, while Sējējs finished the game with a minus-one rating.