Smirnovs Records Assist, but Ajoie Lose to Lausanne in Swiss Hockey League
Latvian hockey player Deniss Smirnovs picked up an assist in Switzerland's top league, but his team Ajoie lost 6-3 away to Lausanne.
Latvian forward Deniss Smirnovs registered an assist on Wednesday in a regular-season game of Switzerland's top hockey league (NL), but his club Ajoie fell 6-3 on the road to Lausanne. The defeat kept Ajoie behind their higher-placed opponent in the league table.
How the game went
Ajoie were already 3-0 down after the first period and were unable to fully recover later. Smirnovs set up the team's second goal: in the 15th minute of the third period, Daniels Kars cut the deficit to 5-2. Lausanne's lead held until the final buzzer.
Smirnovs' numbers
Smirnovs spent 18 minutes and 26 seconds on the ice, took three shots on goal and won 11 of 20 faceoffs. He finished the game with a plus-minus rating of -1. Over 12 games this season, the Latvian has collected six points: one goal and five assists.
League standings
Ajoie sit sixth in the Swiss league with 16 points from 12 games. Lausanne are fifth with 18 points. The table leaders, on 27 points from ten games, are Zurich's Lions, who feature another Latvian player, Rudolfs Balcers.
